Page 55 - K M PANNIKAR and The Growth of a Maritime Consciousness in India

BRITISH IMPERIAL VISION OF
THE INDIAN OCEAN WITH REFERENCE TO
THE WORKS OF SIR HALFORD J. MACKINDER

India, from an economic perspective was the most important colony for
British Empire. Geopolitically, on the other hand, the imperial vision, accorded
immense significance to the Indian Ocean. Sir Halford J. Mackinder considered
to be a land power theorist advocated and highlighted the significance of
the Indian Ocean repeatedly in his prolific career. The paper will highlight
that his work intended to preserve British Sea power by focusing upon the
‘Geographical Pivot of History’, the impregnable landmass later termed as
the ‘Heartland’.

Mackinder’s works Britain and British Seas (1902)and Eight Lectures on India
(1910)reveal his understanding of the Indian Ocean space as strategic linkage
with both the Mediterranean and East Asia. He argues that the defence of
Mediterranean is vital for its access to the Indian Ocean and similarly the
connectivity offered by the ports in the Indian Oceanic space, to the east is
economically vital. The Bombay and Colombo ports were coveted locations on
the high street which begins at London and emphasized that “Colombo is one
of the chief centres of communication in the world” (Mackinder 1910).
The aim of the paper therefore is to clarify that Mackinder valued British
Sea Power and it was to create a defensive framework for the same that he
highlighted threats emanating from the ‘Heartland’. In this schema, the heavy
British presence in the Indian Oceanic space served two purposes, the defence
towards the east from other European powers and the economic function of
exploitation of the Indian riches.

23-24 March 2021 | Sapru House, New Delhi 55