Pratik Bijlani –
On 10 February, the Chairman of The Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI) felicitated Capt Gajanan Karanjikar, Fellow CMMI, at the CMMI Office in Marol, Mumbai, marking the launch of his new book, Blue Bharat: India’s Voyage to a Resilient Ocean Economy. The event brought together distinguished members of the maritime fraternity, reflecting the industry’s collective recognition of a work that seeks to redefine India’s ocean narrative.
Among those present were Capt MP Bhasin, Master Chairman of CMMI; Capt Mohan Naik, Deputy Chairman of CMMI; Capt VR Krishnan, CEO of CMMI; Mr Kaushik Seal, President of IMEI; Capt SM Halbe, CEO of MASSA; Capt Amresh Jha, Vice President of Kanoo Shipping India; Capt Girish Phadnis, COO of MASSA; Capt. Nazir Upadhye, Managing Director of Sibamar Marine Logistics; Capt Pramod Kumar, Director of Eminence Marine; and Capt Amandeep Bhalla, Marine Head at D’Amico Shipping, along with other notable personalities.
Capt Karanjikar, a seasoned Master Mariner with over 35 years of experience, currently serves as President of the All-India Maritime Pilots’ Association (AIMPA), Senior Consultant at FMC International LLC (USA), and Managing Director of Cordelia Marine Services. Known for his advocacy in maritime safety, coastal shipping, logistics and Blue Economy initiatives, he has consistently championed stronger maritime governance and strategic ocean development.
Blue Bharat reflects nearly a decade of research and over a hundred essays examining India’s maritime opportunities, ocean governance and sustainable development pathways. The book articulates a comprehensive framework for India’s Blue Economy, encompassing sustainable ocean trade, coastal resilience, marine resource management and alignment with national initiatives such as Sagar Se Samruddhi and global Sustainable Development Goals. It connects India’s maritime heritage with contemporary policy imperatives, advocating integrated planning, innovation and multi-stakeholder collaboration to achieve a self-reliant and sustainable maritime future.
During the felicitation, Capt Bhasin lauded the book as a landmark contribution to India’s maritime discourse. He stated, “Blue Bharat is not just a book; it is a vision for India’s resilient ocean future. While Capt Karanjikar has masterfully penned it, the wisdom within reflects the collective strength of our maritime fraternity. His work transforms the idea of the Blue Economy into a national mission for sustainable growth and maritime leadership.”
In his address, Capt Karanjikar shared that the book was inspired in 2015 after hearing the Prime Minister speak about the Blue Economy in Singapore. He described years of research, policy engagement and academic pursuit, including doctoral studies in Ocean Governance with a focus on Marine Spatial Planning. Despite bureaucratic and institutional challenges, he persisted in consolidating fragmented ideas into a structured, actionable vision for India’s maritime future. He remarked, “I did not write Blue Bharat merely to publish a book—I wrote it after ten years of thinking, dreaming, and living the idea of the Blue Economy. From hearing the Prime Minister speak about it in 2015 to contributing to policy discussions, my journey has been about turning maritime passion into a national developmental vision for India.”
The discussion that followed emphasized the need for coordinated governance, authentic data systems, grassroots entrepreneurship and active involvement of mariners in policy and port leadership. The session concluded with a shared commitment to translate the book’s vision into meaningful action, reinforcing CMMI’s role in advancing India’s resilient and sustainable Blue Economy.
Marex Media