Page 41 - K M PANNIKAR and The Growth of a Maritime Consciousness in India

STRATEGIC AND SECURITY IMPORTANCE OF KERALA
COAST IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND PANIKKAR’S INSIGHTS

Kerala’s coastline occupies an important position in India’s strategic and
security sphere today, though its share of national coastal area is less as
compared to other coastal states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
and Gujarat. There are several reasons for this disadvantageous vis-à-vis critical
position to this southern state on India’s security concern. A major reason
for such a view is the long historical exposure to other regions of the world,
and Kerala was the entry point of the European colonial invasion to Indian
subcontinent. This shows a fact that effective command and visible dominance
over nearby sea is very important factor to ensure political, economic, and
cultural independency and any move to dilute its preeminent position of
effective guard on country’s coastline will be detrimental to national unity,
integrity, and freedom .The Mumbai terror attack of 26 November 2008 was
unforgettable incident in this context and that incident gave new dimension to
rethink and reorient the need for a comprehensive coastal security policy with
special focus on regional vulnerability. Kerala coast has many vital installations
and strategic assets to be protected like Naval Academy, Commands of Navy
and Air Force, ISRO stations, Coast Guard Stations, Kochin Port, Kochin LNG
and Refinery etc. are some of them. The improved monitoring and coastal vigil
across Gujarat and Maharashtra coastal regions is forcing terrorists and other
anti-India forces to shift their focus to Kerala also .The recent incidents of more
people joining to Islamic State from Kerala is really a national threat and these
incidents show the need to reinvigorate coastal security of the state. Sardar K.M.
Panikkar has aptly pointed out in a prophetic manner about the importance of
this factor and this paper is an attempt to analyze his thoughts in the present
context and relevance to coastal security of India.

23-24 March 2021 | Sapru House, New Delhi 41