IMF’s First Maritime Research Scholar

With the opening of IMF’s maritime museum and library at the Deccan College last December, and as intended by us for some time, we have designated the premises, in addition, as the Maritime Research Centre (MRC). We have established a fellowship for Indian nationals, from any walk of life, to come forward and carry out research and writing on any maritime subject, leading to the publication of books, encompassing both non – fiction as well as fiction. This is in consonance with IMF’s fundamental aim of endeavouring to make our people in India sea-minded.

A committee has been formed comprising council members of the IMF to select suitable scholars and to conduct the affairs of the MRC. The selected candidates will be expected to generate well-researched thesis in the form of a publishable book within a period of one year. The total fellowship grant will be Rs one lakh. It will be disbursed to the scholar in six stages in the year, as stipulated in the agreement.

The MRC Committee has selected its first scholar, Cdr (Dr) Arnab Das, a senior member of the faculty at the Military Institute of Technology (MILIT) at Pune. Cdr Das‘s subject of research will be Marine eco-concern and the Indian maritime strategy. His thesis will relate to the multiple aspects of the marine eco-concern due to anthropogenic noise in the ocean as a result of hectic maritime activities. The marine species are known to perceive the environment around them through sound. Thus increasing noise levels in the ocean are impacting the habitat of these species and significant degradation has been reported in scientific literature.

An agreement between Cdr Das and the MRC Committee (MRCC) was signed in January and it signalled the commencement of the scholar’s fellowship. MRCC members present were Cmde R Vir, Cmde PK Malhotra and Cdr S Taneja.

IMF’s offer of granting a fellowship is presently available for another potential author who is interested in writing a book on a maritime subject. Please contact the MRCC by email on: <[email protected]> or the President of IMF on Mob 098236 55 692.