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Journal of Indian Ocean Studies-A UGC-CARE Listed Journal

Published in Association with Society of Indian Ocean Studies (SIOS)

Current Volume: 33 (2025 )

ISSN: 0972-3080

Periodicity: Tri-annual

Month(s) of Publication: April, August & December

Subject: Political Science & International Affairs

DOI: 10.32381/JIOS

Online Access is free for Life Member

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The Journal of Indian Ocean Studies is a publication of the Society for Indian Ocean Studies (SIOS). Having completed twenty-eight years of publication, the Journal, published three times a year-in January, May and September, aims at bringing out articles contributed by defence experts, diplomats, eminent scholars and renowned thinkers on the various aspects of the Indian Ocean and the littoral regions of South and Southeast Asia, Africa, the Gulf and Australia.

The Editorial Advisory Board Comprising Strategists and former practitioners of foreign affairs and defence as well as distinguished scholars on economy, history, etc. of the region provide regular guidance and advice. The journal has a vast readership among the Parliamentarians, think-tanks, maritime establishments, universities and institutions of excellence in  various fields as also individual scholars.
 

ProQuest

 

Editor -in -chief
Ambassador Sudhir T. Devare (Retd.)

Amb. (Retd.) Sudhir T. Devare is a retired career diplomat former Indian diplomat who served in various diplomatic capacities from 1964 to 2001.
He had been Indian Ambassador to Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Myanmar and Indonesia before retiring as Secretary in-charge of India’s economic relations. He was a member of the National Security Advisory Board, Visiting Professor at the Centre of East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Vice-Chairman of the Research and Information System (RIS) of Developing Countries, Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore. Currently, he is the Ram Sathe Chair Professor, at the Symbiosis School of International Studies, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune.

He is on the Advisory Board of the India International Centre, New Delhi and a Member of the Eminent Persons' and Experts' Group of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) besides being the Chairman of the Society for Indian Ocean Studies and Editor-in-chief of its flagship publication.


Managing Editor
Ambassador (Retd.) J. K. Tripathi

Amb. (Retd.) J. K. Tripathi is a retired career diplomat with his career spanning for thirty three years.
Having served in Indian missions in Zambia, the Maldives, Hungary, Sweden, Venezuela and Oman, he rendered his services as the Consul general of India in Sao Paulo, Brazil before retiring as the Ambassador of India to Zimbabwe. Currently he is the Managing Editor of the Journal of Indian Ocean Studies.


Editorial Advisory Board
Admiral Arun Prakash

Chief of Naval Staff (Retd.)


Amb. Sheelkant Sharma

Former Secretary General,

SAARC


Lt. Gen. Shamsher Singh Mehta

Trustee,

Pune International Centre


Amb. Biren Nanda

Former Ambassador to

Indonesia and Australia


Prof. P. V. Rao

National Professor, ICSSR

Visiting Professor, NALSAR


Vice Admiral (Retd.) Anup Singh

Director Strategic Studies, SIOS


Prof. Swaran Singh

Professor of Diplomacy, JNU

Chairman,

Association of Asian Scholars


Commodore (Retd.) C. Uday Bhaskar

Director,

Society for Policy Studies,

Former D. G., IDSA


Prof. Vinayshil Gautam

Vice Chairman,

Foundation of Organisational

Research and Education (FORE)


Dr. Krishnendra Meena

Associate Professor at Centre for International Politics
Organization and Disarmament, School of International Studies,
awaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
He specializes on the topics of Geopolitics, Indian Ocean, Borders and BRICS. He joined SIOS as Secretary General in December 2020.


Volume 33 Issue 3 , (Sep- to Dec-2025)

Editorial

By: Sudhir T. Devare

Page No : i-iii

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Tribute

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The Indian Ocean as a Cradle of Globalisation Bridging Africa, Asia and the World throughout History

By: Anil Sooklal , Jaimal Anand

Page No : 281-292

Authors
H.E. Anil Sooklal is the High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to India.
Mr. Jaimal Anand is the Director, Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Republic of South Africa.
 

DOI : https://doi.org/10.32381/JIOS.2025.33.03.1

Price: 101

Maritime Strategy - Emerging Pivot of India’s Strategic Vision

By: Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty

Page No : 293-306

Author
Ambassador Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty
is a seasoned diplomat who has served as India’s Ambassador/High Commissioner to Philippines, Bangladesh and Thailand.
 

DOI : https://doi.org/10.32381/JIOS.2025.33.03.2

Price: 101

The Indian Ocean Region: People, Connect and Culture

By: Sudhir Singh

Page No : 307-321

Abstract
Indian Ocean have been an identity of India since ancient times. It stretches from the Horn of Africa to the shores of Australia. Indian Ocean is mentioned frequently in the Vedas-exclusively in the Rigveda, which is earliest among Vedas and was composed roughly 4000 to 5000 years ago. Indian Ocean connects India to all seven seas of the globe and facilitates India’s civilizational and economic connectivity since ages. Indian Ocean is full of minerals and other natural assets which could propel our stage of growth further. In ancient times, Indian emperors used it to connect with the people outside our periphery. The Chola kingdom had one of the earliest navy fleets. In the changing global order and security architecture when, China is negating the legitimate rights of littoral countries of South China and East China Sea to establish its own crafted hegemony over Asia, Indian Ocean has become more significant. India is already 4th global GDP and slated to be 3rd global economy by 2030 with $ 7 trillion economy. India is all set to add fresh trillion dollars in its economy every 11 months. In this prevailing scenario, the safety of the sea lanes of communication in the Indian Ocean is paramount for India. India under current dispensation is working well but we need to reformulate our policies to cope up with the evolving challenges.

Author
Dr. Sudhir Singh
has taught Politics and International Relations at Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi for last 25 years.
 

DOI : https://doi.org/10.32381/JIOS.2025.33.03.3

Price: 101

India and the Southeast Asia: A Fascinating Journey through Shared Vision and Converging Destiny

By: Callistine Lewis , J Cathrine , Anup Mudgal

Page No : 323-337

Authors
Callistine Lewis is Research Fellow, Maritime Research Centre (MRC), Pune.
Cathrine J. is Head of Research, Maritime Research Centre (MRC), Pune.
Ambassador Anup Mudgal is member, Strategic Advisory Board, Maritime Research Centre (MRC), Pune, former Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius and member of the Blue Economy Task Force at FICCI, India.
 

DOI : https://doi.org/10.32381/JIOS.2025.33.03.4

Price: 101

Cultural and Coastal Linkages: Shaping India-Sri Lanka Relations

By: Abhishek Srivastava

Page No : 339-353

Abstract
The relationship between India and Sri Lanka is a multifaceted and dynamic one that spans over 2,500 years of history. The countries share geographical closeness, historical linkages, and deep cultural, religious, and linguistic connections. The India-Sri Lanka relationship is often viewed through the lens of Buddhism, the Ramayana folk narratives, and the migration of Tamils to Sri Lanka via the Palk Strait and maritime routes. Historically, there is the legacy of Ashoka’s peaceful religious propagation in Sri Lanka. The continuous nature of geography between these countries makes them close and reliable partners in the region. India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy also fits into this process very precisely. This paper examines the impact of geographical, historical, and cultural factors on the contemporary status and evolution of the relationship between India and Sri Lanka.

Author
Dr. Abhishek Srivastsva
is Assistant Professor Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament School of International Studies Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi.
 

DOI : https://doi.org/10.32381/JIOS.2025.33.03.5

Price: 101

Migratory and Cultural Traits in Coastal East Africa: Historical and Archaeological Standpoints

By: Makarius Peter Itambu

Page No : 355-363

Abstract
The East African coast has long served as a dynamic crossroads of transoceanic exchange, connecting Africa with the wider Indian Ocean world. From the first millennium BCE onward, maritime trade networks linked coastal settlements such as Rhapta, Kilwa, Mombasa, Lamu, Sofala and Zanzibar with merchants from Arabia, India, and later China. These maritime trade interactions facilitated the movement of goods such as including ivory, gold, iron, and enslaved persons from Africa, and textiles, ceramics, beads, and spices from Asia; shaping both regional economies and cultural landscapes. Archaeological and historical evidence, such as imported pottery, glassware, and architectural influences, evinces complex patterns of cultural assimilation and hybridisation along the Swahili coast. These findings underscore the role of East African port cities as active participants, not passive recipients, in the Indian Ocean trade network. By integrating historical records, linguistic data, and archaeological materials, this paper reexamines the scale and impact of these ancient transoceanic connections, highlighting how trade fostered early globalisation, technological exchange, and the emergence of cosmopolitan urbanism along the East African coast and her littoral.

Author
Dr. Makarius Peter Itambu
is Senior Lecturer, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar es salaam-Tanzania.
 

DOI : https://doi.org/10.32381/JIOS.2025.33.03.6

Price: 101

A Study of Indian Ocean Region as Escape Route of Refugees and Emerging Diasporic Identities

By: Priyanka Jain

Page No : 365-382

Abstract
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is a strategic trade route starting from eastern Africa to western Australia covering in between Arabian sea to the west of Indian sub-continent and Bay of Bengal in the East. It also surrounds Saudi Arabia covering borders of Egypt and Iran. An escape route for Rohingya migrants with overturned boat in the region has sparked off controversy of illegal migration in the IOR. The rescuing nation was Indonesia demonstrating complete humanitarian face for the migrants found dwindling in the ocean, lost with all hopes of getting back to their native homes. Indonesia, though not a signatory to UN Convention of Refugees has adopted a humanitarian approach, despite being not an obligation.This paper is based on the premise that IOR acts as a migrating route for refugees to escape to more secured places against the atrocities inflicted by their countries of origin. Further, the paper explores how nations falling within the region act as footholds of new diasporic identities for these migrants. Hailing, originally from Western Myanmar, Rohingyas face hostility in their country of origin and this becomes the reason of their illegal migration. A total of approximately 7,00,000 is the figure quoted of migrants who fled Myanmar for safety and raised a humanitarian call.The countries which are expected to give refugee in the IOR are themselves struggling for economic resources as they are lower-income nations and middle-income group nations. In such a situation, debates are raised on how far the expectation of asylum or refuge is justified from these nations, when their own native country has marginalised them. Based on secondary resources on the subject in form of books, online articles and media sources, the paper attempts to bring forth the strategies required to put in place a mechanism forjustified protection to the refugees escaping through IOR. In the process, the paper comes up with a revelation that Rohingyas are not the only refugees predominating on the scene of IOR as there are others also in the league. The paper concludes by contrasting and comparing the narratives and experiences  of Sri Lankan Tamils and Rohingyas who used IOR as an escape ground and source of their newly emerging diasporic identities.

Author
Dr. Priyanka Jain,
Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Education, Galgotias University.
 

DOI : https://doi.org/10.32381/JIOS.2025.33.03.7

Price: 101

From Historical Linkages to Strategic Influence: India’s Diaspora as Soft Power in the Eastern African Littoral

By: Mainak Putatunda

Page No : 383-396

Author
Dr. Mainak Putatunda,
is Assistant Professor in the Post-Graduate Department of Political Science, Hooghly Mohsin College under the University of Burdwan, West Bengal.
 

DOI : https://doi.org/10.32381/JIOS.2025.33.03.8

Price: 101

Regional News and Views

By: ..

Page No : 397-404

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Is BRICS Becoming A Plural Alliance

By: Jasdev Singh Rai

Page No : 405-409

Author
Dr. Jasdev Singh
is an independent researcher based in U.K.

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Instruction to the Author

Readers are encouraged to contribute articles for the Journal of Indian Ocean Studies. A theme for each issue is decided three to four months in advance. Articles are expected to be aligned within the boundaries or generally connected to the theme. However, papers/articles related to aspects of maritime economy, maritime security, and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific are always welcome. The following template/style is preferred.

Word Length: 3500-4000

Introduction to an Article: The preamble in an article could take the form of an ‘Introduction’ or ‘Background’. The author is free to divide the text either under Group Headings and Para Headings, or only Para Headings, or text without headings.

Citations. Authors are requested to follow the APC style guide, which is critical for maintaining the journal’s standards. Since JIOS is indexed in the UGC CARE list, adherence to these guidelines is essential in order to comply with UGC norms.

For details, visit the following website:-

https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-examples.pdf

For amplification notes, search ‘Journal Article (Section 10.1)’ in the above site.

In simple terms, a citation within the body of the Article should have the surname, followed by their initials with the year of publication of the source in parenthesis. Citations are thereafter to be appended in the form of Footnotes.

Copyright/Plagiarism

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted figures and tables before submission. Appropriate permissions must be included in the article, and the source must be clearly cited for each Table and Figure.

To enquire about the next Issue’s theme and for articles, the Managing Editor may be contacted at: managingeditor.jios@gmail.com

 

Every precaution is taken by the editors of the Journal of Indian Ocean Studies to guard against any violation of publication ethics by the contributors. To this end, the journal follows the following norms:

  1. Manuscript submitted by the contributor must be an original contribution not published earlier anywhere or in any form, 
  2. Any material or quotation from another author/source cited in the manuscript must be duly acknowledged. 
  3. No offensive language should be used by the contributors. In case, the manuscript or any part of it is found containing an offensive language or a phrase against diplomatic protocol towards any person, organisation or country, it will be outright rejected by the editors. 
  4. The authors will be solely responsible for the facts and figures mentioned in their articles.

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