Igorzen: further adjusted structure further and improved wording based on references

2025-11-27T06:47:05Z

further adjusted structure further and improved wording based on references

imported>Ifnord: Reverted 1 edit by 2A02:8108:3D3F:F140:6C3D:34A9:457B:AADC (talk) to last revision by Monkbot

2021-07-06T17:30:47Z

Reverted 1 edit by 2A02:8108:3D3F:F140:6C3D:34A9:457B:AADC (talk) to last revision by Monkbot

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{{further|Indian Ocean trade}}
{{short description|Indian Ministry of Culture initiative}}
{{Main|Economy of India}}

{{Infobox project
| abbreviation =
| native_name = Project Mausam
| logo =
| image = [[File:Indian-Flag.png|Indian-Flag.png]]
| caption =
| motto =
| type = Cultural and economic
| country = India
| primeminister =
| ministry = Ministry of Culture
| key_people = Ravindra Singh
| launched = April 2014
| launch_place = 38th session of the World Heritage Committee
| closed = 
| budget =
| website = https://indiaculture.nic.in/project-mausam
| status =
}}

'''Project Mausam''' is a cultural and economic project by the Indian [[Ministry of Culture (India)|Ministry of Culture]] and [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) with the [[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]] which aims to connect countries on the Indian Ocean. Initially, the idea of was proposed by Ravindra Singh, then-secretary of the Ministry. Afterwards, the [[government of India]] was preparing to nominate the project as a transnational inscription on the UNESCO [[World Heritage List]]. The term "mausam" refers to the Arabic word ''mawsim'', which refers to the season when boats can safely sail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiaculture.nic.in/project-mausam|title=Project Mausam|website=login.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> The Indian government has increased financial investments to explore potential benefits for future generations.

Project Mausam aims to rebuild maritime and economic connections with the 39 countries bordering the [[Indian Ocean]]. The project also aims to bring together historical and archaeological researchers to record the diversity of [[Economy|economic]], cultural, and religious interactions between countries in. There are two visions for Project Mausam: the first is to understand national cultures between countries and the second is to rebuild communications between countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://login.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au/login?qurl=https://search.proquest.com%2fcentral%2fdocview%2f2153357615%2fAF63FDB3930D4825PQ%2f1%3faccountid%3d14757|title=People-Politics-Policy-Performance-Maritime Diplomacy: Whispers of an Indian Wind|last=Shankar|first=Kumar|website=login.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref>
[[File:World Factbook (1990) Indian Ocean.jpg|thumb|The Indian Ocean, as depicted in the CIA World Factbook (1990)]]

== Objectives ==
The project has four main objectives to complete its vision. First, it aims to revive lost connections with countries. The nations in the Indian Ocean have been interconnected for many centuries. The project seeks to document and celebrate the common economic ties and cultural values of countries in the Indian Ocean world, beyond contemporary ethic{{Clarify|reason=|date=September 2019}} and national boundaries, to strengthen the connections between countries in the Indian Ocean sphere and to set a precedent for future cooperation.<ref name=":1" />

Second, it plans to create connections and relationships to the existing World Heritage sites. The project would provide a platform to link the sites of cultural and natural [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]] in the Indian Ocean world through a cross-national and cross-cultural narrative.<ref name=":1" /> Third, the project wishes to redefine cultural landscapes by identifying gaps in World Heritage sites and filling them through creating relationships between existing sites of cultural and natural heritage. It will also provide a multilayered and holistic perspective, which will allow for a fresh strategy to help understand past and contemporary relationships.<ref name=":1" />

Finally, it aims to achieve cross-national World Heritage nomination. The project would advocate for maritime routes of the Indian Ocean to achieve cross-national nomination with sustainable tourism, heritage development, research, visibility, and promotion of cultural conventions.<ref name=":1" />

== Historical background ==
Geographically, the [[Indian Ocean]] is bounded by the Antarctic or [[Southern Ocean]] in the south and forms a confluence with the [[Bay of Bengal]] and the [[Arabian Sea]] in the north. The ocean is bordered by [[Africa]] in the west and by [[Asia]] in the northeast, surrounding [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]]. Naval trade on the Indian Ocean dates back to the third millennium BCE, when residents of the Indus Valley opened maritime trading with [[Mesopotamia]], [[Egypt]], [[East Africa]], and the [[Roman Empire]]. Through these maritime trade networks, many goods were exchanged, including medicine, aromatics, spices, dyes, wood, grain, gems, textiles, metals, livestock, and stones. Those goods were then sold along the coastline of the Indian Ocean. The trade facilitated the exchange of religions, cultures, and technologies, contributing to the expansion of [[Buddhism]], [[Christianity]] and [[Hinduism]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.iaspreparationonline.com/project-mausam/|title=Project 'Mausam • IAS Preparation Online|last=cholan|date=2014-06-25|website=IAS Preparation Online|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-31}}</ref>

There was an increase in trade between India and [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] after the [[Final War of the Roman Republic|Roman annexation of Egypt]]. According to the Greek historian [[Strabo]], 120 boats left the port of [[Myos Hormos]] annually for India when [[Aelius Gallus]] was [[prefect]] of Egypt.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} Indian states controlled the ocean until the thirteenth century without the influence of foreign powers. However, after the thirteenth century, the economic structure of India had changed due to the control of the sea by foreign powers. For instance, the Indian economy became dependent on foreign businesses after European powers took control of Indian Ocean sea routes. The ocean was controlled by the [[British Empire]] until [[World War I]], during which [[Germany]] took over the sea. The [[Japan]]ese subsequently gained maritime supremacy in [[World War II]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://login.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au/login?qurl=https://www.taylorfrancis.com%2fbooks%2f9780203414132|title=The Indian Ocean|last=Pearson|first=Michael N.|website=login.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> Currently, the Indian Ocean carries half of the container ships, a third of the cargo, and two-thirds of the oil tankers in the world.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://chinaindiadialogue.com/mapping-indias-lost-roots-project-mausam-and-the-spice-route-1|title=China India Dialogue {{!}} Mapping India's Lost Roots: Project Mausam and the Spice Route|website=chinaindiadialogue.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-19}}</ref>

== Achievement and development ==
During 2014, there was a publication called "Maritime Cultural Landscapes Across the Indian Ocean" by [[Himanshu Ray]].{{Explain|reason=|date=November 2019}} Nineteen lectures about Project Mausam were held on a range of themes in the same year. There was also an exhibition called "Africans in India: A Rediscovery" in the IGNCA held in India, October to November with a one day conference.{{When|date=November 2019}} A national conference about maritime trade routes was organized by Kerala Tourism and ASI in [[Kochi]]. There was an exhibition called "Histories, Cultures, and Crossings" in the [[National Museum, New Delhi|Indian National Museum]] in 2014. This exhibition was also called "Unearthing Pattanam." The archaeological [[Pattanam]] site is located about 25 kilometres north of Kochi in [[Kerala]]. The site is about four kilometres from the coast and sits in the Periyar River delta. The location of Pattanam and the archaeological evidence unearthed in the site indicate the possibility that Pattanam could have been an integral part of the port of Muziris or Muciri Pattinam, which are mentioned in Tamil [[Sangam literature|Sangam]] and Greco-Roman literature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sahapedia.org/unearthing-pattanam|title=Unearthing Pattanam|website=Sahapedia|language=en|access-date=2019-06-04}}</ref>

In 2016, ASI and IGNCA held an international conference about maritime routes on 16 February in [[Mumbai]]. During the same year, the director of [[World Heritage Committee|World Heritage]] came to several Asian countries to explore the potential of Project Mausam.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

On 28 January 2017, there was a conference discussing Indian maritime culture and its potential. At 22/3/2018, a conference about traditions of Indian maritime was held in [[Kerala]], which lasted two days. Finally, there was a 150 million rupees fund allocation approved by the SFC for the development of Project Mausam from 2015 to 2017, of which 4 million rupees had been used. A fund of 60 million rupees has been approved to extend the project through 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA566208044&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w|title=India: Project Mausam extended up to 2020 with the pre-approved fund of Rs 60,039,297|website=login.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref>

== Commentary ==
Project Mausam is India's answer to the [[Maritime Silk Road]] of China, according to Akhilesh Pillalamarri, who wrote that "China is developing MSR in the backyard of India with strong support from Sri Lanka and the Maldives. India is planning to join the MSR for its potential economic benefits in the future."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/09/project-mausam-indias-answer-to-chinas-maritime-silk-road/|title=Project Mausam: India's Answer to China's 'Maritime Silk Road'|last=Pillalamarri|first=Akhilesh|website=The Diplomat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref>

As reported in ''The New Indian Express'', "China has stopped spanning in the process of Project Mausam, which is an Indian maritime project, after China blocked India's demand to declare that [[Masood Azhar]], an international terrorist at the UN." According to an officer of the Ministry of Culture, the Indian government has been trying to move for UNESCO to award transnational heritage status to Project Mausam while China has been countering on the argument that it will be detrimental to the revival of the Maritime Silk Road.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2017/jan/08/project-mausam-hits-a-chinese-wall-1557291.html|title=Project Mausam hits a Chinese wall|last=Sharma|first=Ritu|date=2017-01-08|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref>

An article in ''[[Economic and Political Weekly]]'' by Seethi argued that due to the increasing significance and influence of China, especially in building new maritime connect with Indian Ocean countries, India launched Project Mausam to balance the increasing status of China in the Indian Ocean world and revive historical ties in a new sustainable cross-cultural connection with other countries.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Seethi|first=K M|date=2015-06-05|title=A 2014 Project to Revive India's Historical 'Spice Route' Remains a non-starter|url=https://www.epw.in/engage/article/india-should-consider-project-mausam-more-seriously-order-counter-chinas-belt-and|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|language=en|pages=7–8}}</ref>

Mallapur wrote that the "Indian Ocean region has attracted attention from the world due to its strategic location and lanes for naval trade. As being the two largest countries in Asia, China and India are trying to build and enhance connections between countries in which trade is a significant factor." Project Mausam indicates that the Indian government is strategically using its soft power. The government will have to take strong measures to effectively implement the project by minimizing overlapping governing bodies with a single dominating agency. Once the project is implemented, it will provide more opportunities for India's economy and trade as well as build international contact, in accordance with the "Look East" and "Link West" policies.<ref name=":0"/>

== References ==
<references />

{{Navbox
| name = Navbox/doc
| title = Project Mausam
| listclass = hlist
| above = Ministry of Culture
| image = [[File:Emblem of India.svg|80px|Emblem of India]]
| group1 = History
| list1 =
* [[History of India]] [[Indian maritime history]] [[Timeline of Indian history]]
| group2 = People
| list2 =
* [[Indian people]] [[Demographics of India]] [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin]]
| group3 = Geography
| list3 =
* [[Geography of India]] [[Geography of South India]] [[India]]
}}

[[Category: Economy of India]]
[[Category: Ministry of Culture (India)]]

Project Mausam - Revision history

Igorzen: further adjusted structure further and improved wording based on references

imported>Ifnord: Reverted 1 edit by 2A02:8108:3D3F:F140:6C3D:34A9:457B:AADC (talk) to last revision by Monkbot