Coinciding with the historic Baliyatra festival at Cuttack beginning from November 8 to commemorate the great maritime culture of Kalinga, a three-day national event known as ‘Samudramanthan’ will be held in the millennium city to focus on India’s glorious ancient maritime traditions, its present situation and future possibilities and challenges.
The conference, being organised by the Indian Knowledge Systems Division of the Ministry of Education in association with Ministry of Culture and SOA Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, seeks to create awareness about the sophisticated knowledge that existed in India in the realm of maritime traditions. It will also involve discussions about the present status of national maritime presence and about its future possibilities.
The conference will include round table and panel discussions on maritime history, locations, ship building, navigation, trade and cultural exchange, education and skill development in maritime studies, maritime security and international law and reconnecting with maritime traditions through museums.
The inauguration of the conference will be held in the auditorium of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan at Bhubaneswar on November 8 which will feature launching of a Stitched Boat Project by the Ministry of Culture along with the Ministry of Defence, particularly the Indian Navy, as part of ongoing ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.