India and Island States of the Western Indian Ocean: A Significant Geopolitical Linkage in the Region

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India and island states of thewestern Indian Ocean:

A significant geopolitical linkage in the region

Mohammed Khalid*

AbstractIndia has a long history of relationship with the Islandstates of western Indian Ocean. These islands have anumber of people of Indian origin. Strategicallyimportant, these islands are rich in resources. Historicalrelationship and Indian Diasporas can play a significantrole in building a long lasting partnership with them.This is important to counter the rising Chinese presenceon these islands and in the western Indian Ocean. Over

the years, India has made efforts to develop economic,cultural and security relationship with them. It needs tomake further efforts to consolidate this relationship inthe overall mutual interest of India and the islands ofwestern Indian Ocean.

This paper is an attempt to understand themultifarious linkages India has with the island states ofwestern Indian Ocean viz., Comoros, Madagascar,Mauritius and Seychelles. Paper explores the need tofurther consolidate this relationship for mutual benefitin the 21st century.

Smallest of the three oceans in the world, Indian Ocean is

surrounded by Australia and Southeast Asia to the east, South

Asia and Arabian Peninsula to its north and African continent to

its west. Its south is flanked by the ice-covered Antarctica. The

Ninety East Ridge runs north-south at meridian 90E dissecting

the Indian Ocean into eastern and western halves i.e., the Bay of

Bengal and the Arabian*Associate Professor in Political Science, Dept. of Evening Studies,

Panjab University, Chandigarh

Journar of Indian Ocean Studies, Vol. 19 No. 2 August 2011

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Sea. Indian Ocean has 28 littoral states and its six island states

include Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles and

Sri Lanka. While Maldives and Sri Lanka are part of South Asia the

rest are located off African coast in the western Indian Ocean. This

paper is an attempt to examine the unique and strategic position

of island states in the western Indian Ocean viz., Comoros,

Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles and their multiple

geopolitical linkages with India.

The island states of western Indian Ocean are a varied

collection of small territories like Comoros and large like

Madagascar. While Comoros and Madagascar are close to the

coastline of African continent, Mauritius and Seychelles are

scattered hundreds of kilometers from any other land.

Geostrategically important, these islands have usually been

ignored while analyzing multi-national linkages within the Indian

Ocean region.1The culture in these islands reflects the ethnic

diversity, history, politics, and international influences in the

region. From the seventeenth century until the opening of theSuez Canal in 1869, European and North American shipping relied

on the western Indian Ocean and its islands for the transport of

goods and spices. This had made the islands of Madagascar,

Mauritius, Comoros, and Seychelles, important way-stations for

international shipping and colonial outposts in the western Indian

Ocean. As shorter Suez route supplanted the longer Cape of Good

Hope route and steam gradually replaced sail, the region's

strategic importance diminished. Their importance again increased

when during Suez Crises of 1956-57 and June 1967 Arab-Israeli

War, the Suez Canal was closed and trading ships had to take

route around the Cape.2 Therefore the significance of these island

states lies in their potential to command the Cape route in any

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eventuality. Even now the bigger ships and oil super tankers take

the Cape route to transport oil to North America and Europe.

The islands

In the long maritime history of the Indian Ocean which

approximately dates to 2,500 B.C., traders, adventurers, and

explorers from Egypt, China, India, Indonesia, Persia (Iran), and

Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) had been conducting trade and commerce in

and around the Indian Ocean. These activities facilitated migrations

among the people from different parts of the Ocean. This also

encouraged migrations from the Asians and African continents to

the islands of western Indian Ocean. Emergence of European

maritime empires marked a new era in the seventeenth century

onwards when the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, and the

British vied to gain control over these islands.3 Subsequently, the

islands were colonized by one or the other advancing European

power in the region. Under the colonial rule, these islands

underwent substantial socio-economic, demographic and political

change which had a far reaching impact on their future. The islands

of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, the focus in thisessay, are briefly introduced to understand their present state of

affairs.

Comoros

Comoros is an archipelago situated northeast of Madagascar

and consists of four main islands of volcanic origin, surrounded by

coral reefs. The archipelago lies in the Mozambique Channel,

important to the maritime trade for the east African countries in the

Indian Ocean as well as for the Indian-Atlantic Ocean. These islands

cover an area of 1,862 sq km and the population of 794,683

according to 2011 estimates. Of almost entirely Comorian speaking

Muslims, the country has about 1,3000 Christians and about 100

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Indians. After a long spell of European dominance and French

protection, the country became independent in July 1975 and was

renamed as Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros. One of the least

developed

countries; Comoros has a subsistent agricultural economy and is

heavily dependent on imports to meet its requirements. The

country had just 1 percent economic growth during 2006-09

supplemented by the remittances from 150,000 Comorian abroad.

Its gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $789.4 million

in 2010 and per capita income at about US$1,000.4

Madagascar

Fourth largest island in the world, Republic of Madagascar

lies about 400 km off the southeastern coast of Africa across the

Mozambique Channel. Having a total area of 587,041 sq km, it is

over 1580 km long and 570 km wide. The country has a population

of 21,926,221 according to 2011 estimates. Malayo-Indonesian,

Cotiers (of mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry),

French, Indian, Creole, Comorian are the main ethnic groups inMadagascar. About 52 percent of the population adheres to

indigenous beliefs while about 41 percent are Christian and 7

percent Muslim.5

Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of

Madagascars economy employing 80 percent of the population,

accounting for about 34 percent of GDP and contributing more

than 70 percent of export earnings. Some of the major export

crops are coffee, sugar and vanilla. Apart from agricultural

products, Madagascar exports petroleum products and chromites

ore. Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of

agricultural products. The country had a GDP of $20.73 billion and

a per capita income of $1,000 in 2010. Madagascar took to

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liberalization of its economy at the behest of World Bank-IMF in

the mid-1990s. The country has faced political crises for a long

time and the current crisis which began in early 2009 between

President Marc Ravalomanana and the opposition have dealt

additional blow to the economy causing drop in tourism by more

than 50 percent. As per

the 2009 estimates, Madagascars total exports were worth $US1.04

billion. France is the largest export partner of Madagascar sharing

approximately 39 percent of the total export volume. Other major

export partners are the US and Germany, sharing 20.3 percent and

5 percent of exports respectively. Madagascars imports stood at

$US1.836 billion in 2009 which included consumer goods, heavy

machinery, capital goods and food. China is the main import partner

of Madagascar with a share of about 20 percent.6

Mauritius

Island Republic of Mauritius comprises Mauritius and

Rodrigues islands and two small groups of islands located about 800

km east of Madagascar. Of volcanic origin and mostly surroundedby coral reefs, it covers a total area of about 2,040 sq km. Densely

populated, Mauritius has a highly diverse population. Indians make

up about 70 percent of the population; rest is shared by the Malays,

Africans, French, British, and the Chinese. Half of the population is

Hindu by religion and Roman Catholics and Muslims form other

large groups. Known to Arab navigators since the 10th century, the

Portuguese occupied Mauritius in about 1505 and later it was

successively ruled by the Dutch, and the French. The British

captured the island in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars. It remained

a strategically important British naval base, and later an air station,

playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine

and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals

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intelligence. On March 12, 1968, it became an independent state

and then a republic within the British Commonwealth in 1992.

For most of the period since independence, economy of the

Mauritius has grown by of 5 to 6 percent annually and it had a GDP

of $17.49 billion in 2010 with a per capita income of $13,500.

Services sector shares 70.5 percent of GDP followed by 24.6

percent from

industry and 4.8 percent from agriculture. About 60 percent of its land

area is under farming of which 90 percent is sugarcane plantations.

Other crops grown include tea, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas,

cabbages, and onions. Major industries are sugar refining, tea

processing, soft-drink and fertilizer manufacturing. Other economic

activities include tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial services.

Due to its remarkable record of economic growth, Mauritius has

attracted investments from South Africa, and China, especially in the

banking sector to the tune of over $1 billion.7

Mauritius imports petroleum products, machinery, and food

items mainly from European Union, followed by India --who shares

about 19 percent of imports. It exports clothing and textiles, sugar,molasses, and tea, mainly to United States, Madagascar, South Africa,

and Seychelles. Over all India is second largest trade partner of

Mauritius.

Seychelles

Comprising a scattered archipelago of about 110 islands, The

Republic of Seychelles is situated 925 km northeast of Madagascar in

the western Indian Ocean. These islands cover an area of 453 sq km.

Located just south of the equator; Seychelles is composed of two main

island groups: the Mah group --some 40 mountainous, forested,

granite islands-- and a group of some 70 outer, flat, waterless, coralline

islets which are virtually uninhabited. Seychelles is strategically

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located in the Indian Ocean on the sea route from South Africa to the

Indian subcontinent. The British reached this archipelago in 1609. The

French explored them in 1742 and the islands were formally annexed

to France in 1756. France surrendered them to the British in 1810 and

in 1903 Seychelles became a crown colony. In 1975 it became a self-

governing country within the British Commonwealth. Population on the

island is composed of

descendents of people who immigrated from African continent, France,

India, and China. French and English are official languages along with

Seychellois Creole, which is primarily based upon French. About 96

percent of the population is Christian, about 2.1 percent practices

Hinduism and 1.1 percent Muslim.8

Near-subsistent agriculture at the time of independence in 1976,

Seychelless economy is now in the upper-middle income group of

countries. The main growth engine, tourist sector, employs about 30%

of the labour force and provides more than 70% of hard currency

earnings. Farming, tuna fishing, and small-scale manufacturing are

other important sectors of its economy. Despite healthy GDP growththe country has faced food and oil price shocks, foreign exchange

shortage, and high inflation etc. Seychelles exported canned tuna,

frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products of about $391.7

million in 2007. About 21.1 percent of its exports went to UK 19.1

percent to France in 2008. Its exports also went to Mauritius, Japan,

Italy, and Netherlands. Mauritius imports were estimated at US$804

million in 2007 which comprised of machinery and equipment,

foodstuffs, petroleum products and chemicals. In 2008 Saudi Arabia

shared 17.5 percent of its imports followed by Singapore 12.4 percent,

France 10.3, Spain 8.1, Germany 7, India 5.4, and South Africa 4.7

percent. Manufacturing is limited to food processing, cigarette making,

and brewing etc.9

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India and the island republics of western Indian Ocean

Being oldest civilization on its littoral, Indians have been

traveling to far off places riding the waves of the Indian Ocean. The

island republics of western Indian Ocean historically had a close

relationship with India due to the presence of Indian Diaspora. Indians

were first brought in these islands as indentured labourers or coolie

especially after the slave trade was abolished and Europeans needed

new work

force in these islands. For example, Indians began to be brought to

Mauritius in 1834 as indentured labourers to work in sugarcane fields

and by the time the indentured labourer system was abandoned,

Indian immigrants formed majority of islands population which now

constitutes two-thirds of it. Initially, Bhojpuri people were brought from

India but later Tamils, Telgu and Gujaratis also came to settle in

Mauritius. In fact, in the entire Chagos Archipelago, people of Indian

origin form majority of the population, influencing the sociological,

cultural political and economic landscapes of these islands. Similarly,

people from India were brought to Reunion, Seychelles and RodriguesIslands by the colonial masters. Indians brought their religions,

languages and culture with them. According to the 2001 census there

were 1,600 Indians mostly Hindus and ethnic east Indians in

Seychelles. They have kept their native culture alive through various

organisations and religio-cultural activities. These organisations

include: Indo-Seychelles Friendship Association; the Seychelles Tamil

Cultural Development Centre; Seychelles Tamil Mandlam; Seychelles

Hindu Kovil Sangan; Sanskrithi and the Hindu Council of Seychelles.

Majority of Indian immigrants in Madagascar are Gujaratis and

Shia Muslims. They began to migrate there in 1880s as traders. There

were 4,480 Indians making 21 percent of the total foreign population

(second to the French) according to 1911 census. At present Indians in

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Madagascar are estimated to be about 25,000. They are believed to

control 50-60 percent of the country's economy, especially the retail

trade, often making them target of locals jealousies. Indians practice

their religions, languages and culture and have formed associations

such as Association of Khoja Shia, Antananarivo; Faiz-E-Mohammedi

Madagascar; Hindou Samaj D'antananarivo, Diego Suarez; and

I'association Hindou Society. 10 Historical relations with them and

presence of impressive Indian Diasporas have facilitated India to

consolidate mutual relationship with these states in different fields.

Conscious of the strategic importance of the island states in the

western Indian Ocean, India began to develop diplomatic relations with

them immediately after their gaining independence. Diplomatic

relations were established with Comoros in June 1976 two years after

its independence. India set up its Consulate in Madagascar in 1954,

which was upgraded to an Embassy in 1960 as Madagascar gained

independence. With Mauritius, diplomatic relations were established in

1948 even before its independence from the British in 1968.

Diplomatic ties with Seychelles exist since the very first day of its

independence in June 1976. However the first resident HighCommissioner to Seychelles was appointed in 1987.

Trade and investment

India has active trade relations with Comoros, Madagascar,

Mauritius and Seychelles. India imports coffee, tea, spices, and boats

from Comoros and exports meat, edibles, cotton, plastic articles and

medicines to that country. Exports to Comoros have jumped from

US$1.15 million in 2000-01 to 9.29 million in 2009-10 and imports from

almost nil to US$0.68 million during the same period. From

Madagascar, India imports spices, pearls and precious stones, cashew

nuts and organic chemicals and exports semi-finished iron and steel,

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drugs and pharmaceuticals, machinery and instruments, transport

equipments, cotton yarn, fabrics, manufactures of metals, rice, plastic

and linoleum products. During the last decade, Indias exports to

Madagascar have increased from US$10.79 million in 2000-01 to 85.71

million in 2009-10, and imports from 0.38 to US$19.03 million during

the same period.11To promote direct trade between the two countries,

Madagascar has set up The House ofMadagascar at Coimbatore in India.

Apart from trade, Indian investment is also finding way to Madagascar. Varun

Mines & Minerals, a Mauritius-based subsidiary of Indias Varun Industries,

has entered into a joint venture agreement with Cluff Resources Pacific NL of

Australia to develop

precious mines in Madagascar. Varun group has also acquired majority

stake in Madagascar Energy Corporation, and now owns licenses and

lease rights for mining gold, platinum and other precious stones at

Ranapiso (Fort Dauphin), Ankaramena and Ihosy in Madagascar. Varun

Energy Corporation of the same group has acquired 1,111 blocks

covering 6,900 sq km area with estimated reserves of 1,700,000 tonne

of uranium, 4,350,000 tonne of thorium in Madagascar. Government of

India through its Export-Import (Exim) Bank of India has extended a

line of credit of $ 25 million for buying goods and services from India

for its projects on rice productivity and fertilizer production.12

One of the biggest trading partners of Mauritius, India imports

iron and steel, boilers, machinery; medicines, etc. and exports mineral

fuels, oils, distillation products, boilers, vehicles, tramway, cotton,

dairy products, eggs, honey, edible animal product; animal and

vegetable fats and oils. Indian exports to Mauritius valued at

US$453.43 million and imports 10.89 million in 2009-10. To identify the

areas of investment both the countries discussed the Comprehensive

Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) in 2005

and India has Preferential Trade Area Agreement (PTA) with Mauritius.

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Under the terms of PTA duty free access is granted on about 30

Mauritian products. India is planning its own Economic Zone in

Mauritius, at a cost of $1 billion. Indian public sector entrepreneurs in

Mauritius include, Bank of Baroda; Indian Oil Corporation; India

Handloom House; Life Insurance of Corporation of India; Mahanagar

Telephone (Mauritius) Ltd.; New India Assurance Co. Ltd.; State Bank of

India (Mauritius); and Telecommunication Consultant India Ltd. (TCIL).

Indian Companies or Joint Ventures registered in Mauritius include,

AAPCA (Mauritius) Ltd.; Afcon Infrastructure Limited; Ajanta Pharma

(Mtius) Ltd.; Alpha PCI Pest Management; Apollo Bramwell Hospital

Moka; Apollo Tubes Ltd.; Avant

(Mauritius) Ltd.; Chandni Oil Company (Mtius) Ltd.; Crain

Technologies Ltd.; Connoiseur (Mau) Ltd.; Elab Co. Ltd.; Essar Global

Services Limited; ESSEL Group of Industries; Fortis Clinique Darn;

ICICI International; Infosys Technologies Limited; Kamdhenu

Enterprises Ltd; Maash Adv. Ltd.; Mark Infra - Trade (Mauritius) Ltd.;

Opinion Express Newspaper; Relish Marketing Limited (Haldiram);

SAS Net Savy Solutions Ltd.; SEPL International Ltd.; Shapoorji

Pallonji and Co. Ltd.; Software Labs Ltd.; Srei (Mauritius)

Infrastructure Development Company Limited, and The Oberoi

Hotel.13

India encourages deep economic engagement between the

entrepreneurs of the two countries. Mauritius ranks first in respect

of FDI inflows to India amongst all the countries with cumulative

inflows amounting to US $ 10.98 billion. Top sectors attracting FDI

inflows from Mauritius included electrical equipment,

telecommunications, fuels, cement & gypsum products and services

sector (financial & non-financial). Mauritius has been granted 39

Technical Collaborations since 1991. The top five sectors attracting

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technology from Mauritius are fuels, chemicals, hotel & tourism,

telecommunications and industrial machinery, in that order. During

the last 10 years, approved Indian direct investment in joint

ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries in Mauritius has been to the

tune of US $ 1141.42 million.14These maneuvers show deep Indian

involvement in Mauritius. It also speak of the thickness of technical

and economic cooperation between the two countries

Co-operation in various fields between India and Seychelles is

governed by the Joint Commission on Economic and Technical co-

operation. The Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Federation of

Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries have signed a tradeagreement under which a Joint Business Council has been set up.

Trade between India and Seychelles has increased manifold during the

last decade. Indian exports have increased from US$7.85 million in

2000-01 to 20.9 million in 2009-10 and imports from Mauritius have

increased from mere 0.03 million to US$1.64 million during the same

period. India exports transport equipment, rice and cereals, cement

etc. to Seychelles and imports printing material, paper board wood and

wood products. Both the countries signed a Preferential Trade

Agreement (PTA) which is operational since 2007. In June 2010 India

and Seychelles signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection

Agreement (BIPA) and for direct air link with India for the improvement

of economic ties.15 Indian companies have been invited to invest in the

sectors such as industry, fishing, oil exploration, hospitality, retailing

and IT etc. Tata Motors had helped to set up the Seychelles Public

Transport Corporation (SPTC) by providing 80 buses on commercial

terms in 1978. Tata has also helped Seychelles to set up and run a

maintenance workshop for SPTC.

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Security scenario and need for cooperative measures

Due to rising terrorism and Somalia based sea piracy, the

strategic environment in the western Indian Ocean has become quite

volatile. All the island states in the region have faced piracy problem

which has adversely affected their tourism industry and has targeted

their fishing vessels bringing decline in these sectors of their economy.

For instance, Somali pirates seized the Comorian-flagged ship Aly

Zoulfecar, on its way to Tanzania from the Comoros, with nine crew

members and 20 passengers on board in November 2010. In March

2010 these pirates seized a tanker off Madagascar in the Indian Ocean

while carrying oil from the United Arab Emirates to Tanzania. Pirate

sightings or attacks were reported almost daily near the islands in late

2010. In March 2010, Seychelles coastguard vessel rescued six

fishermen from the islands and 21 Iranian seamen being held by

Somali pirates. Pirates hijacked a Seychelles fishing vessel with its

seven crew members and were taken to Somali coast. Rachel

Chandler and her husband Paul were kidnapped near the Seychelles

by Somali pirates as they sailed from Seychelles. Pirates attacked a

private yacht Serenity sailing for Madagascar, in which Gilbert Victorand Andre Conrad were on board. They also attacked a number of

small ships carrying livestock to Kenya or to South Africa.16

India is well aware of maritime security concerns of the

region. To protect Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCS), to check

and stamp out sea-piracy, to fight against maritime terrorism, and

to break the emerging narco-terrorism-crime nexus, India has

developed a blue-water navy and has become the largest maritime

force in the region. India has initiated the Indian Ocean Naval

Symposium (IONS) which also include Comoros, Madagascar,

Mauritius and Seychelles as its members to enhance maritime

cooperation among the navies of littoral states of the Indian Ocean

region and to discuss regionally relevant maritime issues. Apart

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from the security concerns posed by sea piracy and maritime

terrorism, China, an expanding outside power, is increasingly

showing its presence in these island states. China has also sent its

naval ships on anti-piracy patrols into the Indian Ocean region and

the Gulf of Aden to ensure the security of its trading ships and oil

tankers in the wake of its burgeoning trade with Gulf countries,

Africa, and the island states of western Indian Ocean. Chinese

expansion through trade, aid and investments can muscle India

aside in its traditional backyard. Increase in the Chinese presence

in the area can gradually erode the Indian political influence there.

Since 1970s China has been spreading its wings in these

islands. This is a major concern for India as this relationship can be

used as important strategic space in Chinas string of pearls policy

in any eventuality. With Comoros China established diplomatic

relations in

November 1975. Since then it has steadily increased economic

exchanges, and expanded trade and technological cooperation withComoros. China has provided aid for water-supply project, has built

people's palace, government office building, presidential mansions

and a TV and broadcasting building in Comoros. In 2002, the Sino-

Comoros trade valued at US$ 760,000, all being exports from China.

China has expanded cooperation with Madagascar after the two

countries established diplomatic relations in 1970. There is

considerable cooperation in the fields of education, culture, public

health and human resources development between the two

countries. China established diplomatic relations with Mauritius in

1972. Since then it is nurturing relations with this strategically

located island. India has reasons to be concerned over recent

developments in Mauritius since the visit of President Hu Jintao of

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China to Port Louis in February, 2009. China announced a credit at

low interest of US $ 260 million to Mauritius to modernize and expand

its airport and has indicated in enhancement of trade between the

two countries. China also announced an interest-free loan of US $ 5.9

million and a grant of 30 million Yuan (about US $ 5 million) to

Mauritius. China has also speeded up the construction of the China-

funded $730 million Economic and Trade Zone (The Tianli project),

north of Port Louis. In 2009, thirteen Chinese companies operate in

Mauritius in the textiles, construction and IT sectors. In 2006, the

Chinese company Huawei moved its African headquarters including

its Africa research center to Mauritius as part of the islands "cyber

island" policy. Chinas trade with Mauritius was worth US$323 million,

in 2007. Growing economic influence of China has the potential to

increase its political influence which can neutralize the cultural

influence India enjoys in Mauritius today.

With Seychelles China established diplomatic relations in June

1976 and has since constructed a poly-technical school, Mont Fleuri

Middle School, the national swimming pool, developed housing

project in Les Mamelles, and the Seychelles Bureau of Standard. Itstrade with Seychelles has also expanded. China exported US$1.48

million while imported goods worth $100,000 from Seychelles in

2002.

Chinese leaders are making their forays in the island states

aware of their strategic significance vis--vis India --and the United

States, who is keeping its military stronghold in Diego Garcia.

Chinese offering of financial assistance in infrastructure

development is a challenge for India. By such efforts, China is

pursuing its objectives in Africa with a wave of strategic

investments on these islands. The China-Pakistan tangle also

explains the Arabian Sea's decisive geostrategic setting. For the

Chinese, this relationship is crucial from the point of view of energy

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security. Pakistan can provide Beijing access point --through its

Gwadar naval base-- to the oil-rich Middle East and an effective

counter-balance to India's naval ambitions. It can also be used as a

military base to counter US influence in Arabian Sea. In any case

such an alliance is detrimental to Indias naval interests. Sino-

Pakistani cooperation and Chinas deepening relations with the

island states of Indian Ocean call for an effective Indian plan to gain

an upper hand in the western Indian Ocean.

In working out an Indian strategy for the island states under

focus, India has to give equal attention to political, economic and

naval aspects. India must engage them militarily also. As of today,

Comoros defence largely depends on France who provides naval

resources for protection of its territorial waters, provide training to

Comorian military personnel, and provide air surveillance. France

also maintains few senior officers presence in Comoros at

government request. India does not have any strategic partnership

with Comoros.

In Madagascar, India had constructed and activated a

monitoring station in 2007, complete with radars and surveillance gear

to

intercept maritime communications and to keep a watch on ship

movements in the western Indian Ocean. It is part of Indian Navys

strategy to protect the SLOCS and gather intelligence on foreign

navies operating in the region. The station also monitors piracy and

terrorist activities. The station is important as it can keep watch on oil

traffic across the Cape of Good Hope and the Mozambique Channel

route preferred by super tankers.

India has created strong defence ties with Mauritius. Under its

Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC) programme, India trains

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about 30-45 personnel from the Mauritian Police Force annually in

Indian defence training establishments. Under an Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2005 India has undertaken

Hydrography survey in the waters around Port Louis Harbour, and

other places in Mauritius waters. In 2008, India signed an MOU for

the supply of Dhruv Advance Light Helicopter to the Mauritius Police

Force. Indian Naval Ships visit Mauritius for regular interaction with

the defence forces of Mauritius and to protect the waters around

Mauritius. On a goodwill mission, Indian Navy ships INS Talwar and

INS Godavari, INS 'Mumbai' and INS 'Karmuk' visited Mauritius in April

2008. Navy ship INS 'Tir', INS 'Krishna' and Indian Coast Guard Ship

'Vivek' visited Mauritius in September 2008. Similarly, INS Trishul,

visited Mauritius for three weeks from May 23 to June 12, 2010 to

conduct joint patrolling and surveillance operations with the National

Coast Guard of Mauritius to prevent piracy and illegal fishing

activities and help reinforce maritime security in the Exclusive

Economic Zone (EEZ) of Mauritius.

India and Seychelles have excellent defense ties and India has

helped Seychelles in many defence related programmes. Under theITEC programme a number of Seychellois have benefited from

training courses conducted in Indian defense establishments. India

has also

been deputing experts in defense sectors to assist Seychelles. In

the past several years, India has sent military and naval advisers to

Seychelles People's Defense Force (SPDF). Indian Naval Ships make

regular goodwill visits to Port Victoria. India helped to build the

Seychelles Defence Academy in 1989. Since then, Indian

government has regularly helped to upgrade and restructure the

SPDF. Indian government has gifted to Seychelles a Dornier aircraft

to conduct maritime surveillance within its Exclusive Economic

Zone. 17

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Seychelles has regularly faced pirate attacks on its

commercial ships, cruise liners and private boats causing decline in

Tuna fishing by 30 percent and restricting the visits by cruise liners

and yachts adversely affecting its tourism industry. On Seychelles

request India has regularly sent warships to Seychelles for

surveillance, the last being INS Savitri which called at Seychelles

ports in January 2010. India has also provided military training to its

forces in counter-terrorism operations and VVIP security.18 After the

end of Cold War, security in the Indian Ocean has become a crucial

issue. Massive military build-ups, and piling up of nuclear weapons

by the countries on Indian Ocean littoral has increased risks of

devastating conflicts and it has increased Indias security

responsibilities in the region. India can not remain a mute witness to

growing Chinese and other outside influences in the Ocean

especially to the strategically located island states of the western

Indian Ocean.

Cultural relations

Long history of cultural relations and presence of sizableIndian Diaspora play a springboard for cultural cooperation between

India and the island states of western Indian Ocean. Indian

communities in these countries expect from India to create

bondages through spiritual as well as cultural linkages. To promote

this cooperation Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) has

extended 30

scholarships under Mauritius Scholarship Scheme. It also provides 3

scholarships to Mauritius under Special Scholarship Scheme. India has

created a Chair in Sanskrit & Indian Philosophy in Mauritius. Indira

Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC) was created in 1987 in

Mauritius to promote Indian art and culture through artistes and to

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teach various dances, vocal and instrumental music, and yoga to

Mauritian nationals. Library at IGCIC stocks a collection of over 10,000

books on various aspects of Indian history, art & culture and

languages. Cultural troupes are regularly sent by Indian Council of

Cultural Relations. In 1997 an Odyssey dance troupe was sent to

Seychelles. This was followed by a Bihu and Rajasthani folk dance and

music troupe in 1998. A photo exhibition depicting various aspects of

Indian culture was held in 1999 and an exhibition of Madhubani

paintings was organised in 2000.19 India gives 2 scholarships to

Comoros, 1 each to Madagascar and Seychelles under the Africa

Scholarship Scheme. Many Indian origin nationals from Mauritius and

even Madagascar and Seychelles visit India on religious pilgrimage

which strengthens their cultural ties with the country of their origin.

India can use this unparalleled cultural linkage to strengthen its

presence in these islands.

Conclusion

As India's influence grows in global affairs, its security

responsibility has also increased in the region. The island statesscattered in the western Indian Ocean may be at a far off distance

from India, but the distance has not come in the way of Indias

relations with them throughout history.20 They are important to

India as strategic outposts in the Ocean. Trade relations with them

are growing and Indias corporate sector is investing there.

Strengthening relations with them has great potential as it can potentially open

a window to enhance trade ties with 15 countries of Southern African

Development Community (SADC). With its tremendousnaval potential Indiacan

help them in counter piracy measures, collaborate to conduct

surveillance missions, provide humanitarian assistance, and send

disaster relief when required. India has already reached out to

these island states on climate change and set up "pan-African e-

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network project" to provide e-services on tele-education and tele-

medicine and VVIP connectivity by satellite and fiber optic network

among heads of these states. With its state of art technologies,

India can help Madagascar to develop its natural resources for

mutual benefit. Indian education sector can outsource its services

to train nationals from these islands and set up franchises to offer

different courses in these states. Being plural societies, India can

help them in strengthening democracy and conflict management.

India has to keep and update its presence in these islands

to counter growing Chinese influence there. Presence of China and

other outside powers on these islands as strategic partners is

detrimental to Indias Ocean policy. If India has to increase its

influence in the Indian Ocean region, cordial relations with these

island states is a pre-condition. It can help to get their support for

Indias case to be a permanent member of UN Security Council.

There is also need to further reinvigorate bilateral and multilateral

economic and commercial cooperation with them. Indian corporate

sector can set up its operations in hitherto untapped areas to

further our economic cooperation with these states.Measures to consolidate and develop Indias historical

friendship and cooperation with the island states of western Indian

Ocean can help India to build a strategic partnership in the 21st

Century. It can also help check contemporary threats rising in the

Ocean realm. Above all such a partnership will help India to have a

secure Indian Ocean, which it direly needs for its growing

economy.

End Notes

1. Malyn Newitt: The Comoros Islands: Struggle Against Dependency in the Indian Ocean, Westview

Press, Aldershot, 1985; Ottenheimer, Martin and Harriet: Historical Dictionary of the Comoro Islands,

Scarecrow Press, Lanham, 1994; Bradt, Hillary: Madagascar, (The Bradt Travel Guide) 10th Ed, London,

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Focus: Africa, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of

India, New Delhi, at, http://commerce.nic.in/trade/international_tpp_africa_13_seychelles.asp;

also see website of Indian High Commission in Seychelles, at,

http://www.seychelles.net/hicomind/indo_sey.htm

16. Pirates Attack Yachts near the Seychelles, Boating and Sailing News 26 Mar 2009, at,

http://yachtpals.com/piracy-seychelles-4120

17. Indian Maritime Surveillance Aircraft Lent to Seychelles to Combat Piracy, Pakistan

Defence, at, http://www.defence.pk/forums/india-defence/94659-indian-maritime-surveillance-

aircraft-lent-seychelles-combat-piracy.html

18. Seychelles to get Indian aircraft for anti-piracy patrols, The Times of India, February 16,

2011.

19. For the activities of The Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture, see, High Commission of

India Mauritius, at, http://indiahighcom-mauritius.com/igcic.php

20. Distance from Mumbai to Moroni (Comoros) is 4630 Km., to Antananarivo (Madagascar)

about 5021.69 Km, to Victoria (Seychelles) 3175 km, and to Mauritius 4651 km.

India and Island States of the Western Indian Ocean: A Significant Geopolitical Linkage in the Region

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