Research Projects

“MAPPING THE ANCIENT MARITIME FOREIGN RELATION OF GUJARAT: A LEGAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SURAT”

Objectives:

To document and analyze the legal arrangements/contract/ provision under the which the states traded;
To analyze and document the policies envisaged by the state in term of its relations to foreign nations;
To analyze and document the economic policies and the progress of the state in the light of the maritime trade;
To deduce and analyze the strategic importance of all elements and their inter-relations in the maritime and international trade environment. Also to identify the aspects driving change and factors that led to effective decision making and policy.

Task Initiators:

Principal Investigator: Dr William Nunes, Associate Professor of Political Science, Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar.

Details of the Activity:

The present study has mapped the maritime trade of India in general and Gujarat in particular. It further tries to see the importance of Gujarat Maritime activities especially trade during the various period. The third chapter provides a brief history of Surat and its maritime activites. It then attempts to study and analyzed the social, economic and political context of the importance of Surat as a port from the time period of its operation, viz., Mughals, Peshwas, European Companies. The researcher find that the development of ports in Gujarat could steer alternative route as well as economic growth. It also suggest that given the rich heritage that it possess development of tourist trails would boost tourism industry.

Outcome:

Help us understand the nature of foreign relation of India. Further given the importance of the maritime, the state, by understanding from the past, could take development policies that boost tourism industry and the economy.

Status: completed for Surat

End Recipients:

State Government, Tourism Department, Gujarat Maritime Board, Academicians.