Visakhapatnam Chapter

The Visakhapatnam Chapter started functioning from September 1, 2009. Prof A Prasanna Kumar was the first Regional Director of this Chapter from September 1, 2009 – August 31, 2012. Prof.Dr. Rao Tatavarti was the second Regional Director. The present Regional Director is Mrs.G.Padmaja who was appointed in August 2015.

Visakhapatnam is called the ‘City of Destiny’. It is located on India’s east coast in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Visakhapatnam entered the golden pages of world navy history when it hosted the International Fleet Review in February 2016 wherein 50 navies of the world participated. Interestingly, the city and the Indian Navy have always had an enduring relationship. The Eastern Naval Command with its headquarters located in Visakhapatnam is the symbol of that enduring relationship. This is poised to get stronger with India’s Act East Policy and primacy being given to maritime diplomacy in addressing India’s national interests. Thus the city will be part of the critical global maritime discussions and debates.

On the other hand the Government of the coastal state of Andhra Pradesh is pursuing a coast led economic development agenda and is set to realise the full potential of its coastline of 974 kms. It is focussing on development of ports and its hinterland, shipping, coastal tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, energy, biotechnology etc in the context of Blue Economy. It has incorporated in its Port Policy the central governments vision of both ‘Act East Policy’ and ‘Sagarmala’.

In such a scenario, wherein the city and the state of Andhra Pradesh are in the midst of momentous developments, the Visakhaptnam Chapter assumes great importance. The role and charter of the Visakhapatnam Chapter are synonymous with the vision and mission of NMF and will undertake such activities to promote maritime awareness and thinking. Within the broad framework of the objectives of the Foundation, the Visakhapatnam Chapter focuses on the following aspects of interest to the maritime fraternity:

• Geopolitics & International Relations • Area Studies on various sub-regions of Indo-Pacific Region • Maritime Strategy and Policy • Maritime Technology • Maritime Industry & Commerce • Ocean Economy/ Blue Economy • Maritime History & Heritage • Human Resource

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Regional Director, Visakhapatnam Chapter

The present Regional Director is Mrs.G.Padmaja who was appointed in August 2015.

Mrs.G.Padmaja

Designation: Regional Director (National Maritime Foundation, Visakhapatnam)

Experience: An alumni of Jawaharlal Nehru University, she did her M.A in International Studies and M.Phil in South Asian Studies from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. She graduated in Political Science from Delhi University. She has been a Fellow at The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) New Delhi. She has also been a Visiting Research Fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. Mrs. G.Padmaja has also worked as a Consultant for SAARC Affairs at the National Commission for Women, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

Publications/Presentations: Mrs.G.Padmaja has over sixty papers published in edited volumes, journals and international publications. As a Fellow at IDSA she has given presentations to Defence Attache Designates; Probationary Officers of the Indian Foreign Service; Senior Officers of the Ministry of Defence; and to BSF Officers at BSF Academy, Tekanpur, Gwalior. She has been closely associated with the UGC Centre for SAARC Studies, Andhra University and has regularly made presentations at their annual Workshops and International Conferences for the past ten years. She has also made presentations at the United Nations in Geneva; Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi ; NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad and many other educational institutions and think tanks.

Email id: [email protected]

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Publications by Mrs.G.Padmaja, Regional Director, Visakhapatnam Chapter (from August 2016 – May 2017)

1. Sheikh Hasina’s Visit to India: Consolidating Maritime Cooperation, 3 May 2017

http://maritimeindia.org/View%20Profile/636293680405315131.pdf (Issue Brief)

2. Significance of Civilizational Nautical Narratives in India’s Maritime Diplomacy; 14 March 2017;

http://www.maritimeindia.org/View%20Profile/636250579689047907.pdf (Issue Brief)

3. IMOs Views on Shipping and India’s Sagarmala: Examining the Convergences; 09 January 2017

http://www.maritimeindia.org/View%20Profile/636196072414376142.pdf (Issue Brief)

4. The Maritime Dimension in SAARC: Redefining Relations ; 26 December 2016

http://www.maritimeindia.org/View%20Profile/636183073963599867.pdf (Issue Brief)

5. Sri Lanka’s Proposal for an ‘Indian Ocean Order’: An Assessment; 28 September 2016; http://www.maritimeindia.org/View%20Profile/636106245154669264.pdf (Issue Brief)

6. Modi’s Visit to East Africa: Transforming Historical Relationships into Modern Partnerships; 02 September 2016; http://www.maritimeindia.org/View%20Profile/636083748496049525.pdf (Issue Brief)

7. Maldives President Visits India: Bilateral Partnership for Regional Security; 04 August 2016

http://www.maritimeindia.org/View%20Profile/636058827010293203.pdf (Issue Brief)

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Some Activities wherein Visakhapatnam Chapter of National Maritime Foundation has participated (from August 2016 – May 2017)

Event: International Consultative Workshop on ‘India’s Maritime Connectivity: Importance of the Bay of Bengal’, organized by Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata

Date: 15-16 May 2017 Venue: Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata

Title of paper presented by Mrs. G. Padmaja, Regional Director, NMF Vizag Chapter: “India’s Maritime Diplomacy: The Themes ”

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Event : Talk on “Indian Maritime Heritage” on the occasion on World Heritage Day, organized by VISAKHA MUSEUM, and supported by Andhra Pradesh Tourism

Date :18 April 2017 Venue: VISAKHA MUSEUM, Visakhapatnam

Speakers: • G.Padmaja Regional Director, NMF Vizag Chapter • Mr. Edward Paul (Historian)

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Event: International Seminar on Three Decades of SAARC: A Critical Appraisal. Organized by UGC Centre for SAARC Studies, Andhra University Date: 30-31 March, 2017 Venue: Seminar Hall, Platinum Jubilee Guest House, Andhra University Title of the Paper presented by Mrs.G.Padmaja, Regional Director, NMF Vizag Chapter: “Maritime Cooperation in SAARC: Re-defining Relations, Reorienting Cooperation”. Mrs.G.Padmja also Chaired a session whose theme was – “Social Cultural Issues in SAARC”

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Event: International Conference on Water Sharing in SAARC Region: Legal Issues and Challenges. Organized by M K Nambyar SAARC Law Centre, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad Date: 25-26 March 2017 Venue: Video Conference Hall, M K Nambyar SAARCLaw Centre, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad Title of the Paper presented by Mrs.G.Padmaja, Regional Director, NMF Vizag Chapter: “ Examining Some South Asian Perspectives on Rivers as Navigation Channels” ; Also Chaired a session whose theme was – “International Water Sharing Conventions”

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Event : 31st SAARC Foundation Day, 8 December 2016 Organized by UGC Centre for SAARC Studies, Andhra University in collaboration with National Maritime Foundation Date : 8 December,2016 Venue: Seminar Hall, Platinum Jubilee Guest House, Andhra University Speakers: G.Padmaja; Dr.Anusuya Ray Bhattarchya (ORF,Kolkata); Academia from Andhra University Title of the Paper presented by Mrs.G.Padmaja, Regional Director, NMF Vizag Chapter: “Prospects for Regional Cooperation in the Maritime Domain in SAARC”

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Event : Talk on “Kalinga East Coast: Then and Now”

Date: 2 Dec 2016 Venue: Seminar Hall, Department of History and Archaeology, College of Arts, Andhra University

Speakers: Commander Satish Kumar, Commander Akash Joseph, Maritime Warfare Centre, Eastern Naval Command; Ms. G.Padmaja, Regional Director, NMF Vizag Chapter

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Event : Talk on “Navy and Nation Building’ and “50 Years of Submarine Arm”

Date: 29 Nov 2016 Venue: Seminar Hall, Little Angels School, Visakhapatnam

Speakers : Mrs.G.Padmaja, Regional Director, NMF Vizag Chapter; Lt.Cdr Puneet Bhatt, Eastern Naval Command ; Lt Vineeth N V, Eastern Naval Command

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Media Coverage of the Events where reference to NMF Visakhapatnam Chapter has been made:

http://epaper.deccanchronicle.com/articledetailpage.aspx?id=7913431

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Newspaper Clippings of Regional Media Coverage of SAARC Foundation Day held on 8 December 2016 jointly organised by UGC Centre for SAARC Studies, Andhra University and National MaritimeFoundation

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