Project Mausam (2014): Reimagining Cultural Diplomacy as Strategic Statecraft

Nayanshi Jain

Introduction

In an increasingly interconnected world, cultural diplomacy has become an important instrument of foreign policy, enabling countries to strengthen international partnerships through shared heritage, values, and people-to-people exchanges. For India, with its rich civilisational legacy and centuries-old maritime connections, culture has emerged as a strategic asset that complements traditional diplomatic and economic engagement.

Reflecting this shift, the Ministry of Culture launched Project Mausam in 2014 to revive the historical maritime networks of the Indian Ocean and promote research, heritage conservation, and regional cooperation based on shared cultural linkages. Coordinated by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) with support from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the initiative seeks to reconnect countries linked by the monsoon trade routes and a common maritime heritage.

The project’s relevance has grown in the context of the evolving Indo-Pacific, where maritime connectivity, the Blue Economy, and regional cooperation have become central to policy discourse. In this changing landscape, Project Mausam offers an opportunity to strengthen India’s soft power while fostering sustainable development and deeper regional engagement.

Background and Policy Context

For over two millennia, the Indian Ocean functioned as one of the world’s most vibrant maritime networks, facilitating the movement of goods, people, ideas, and cultures across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Seasonal monsoon winds enabled predictable navigation, connecting ports from the eastern coast of Africa to Southeast Asia and making the ocean a conduit for sustained commercial and cultural exchange.

India occupied a central position within this maritime network. Ancient ports such as Lothal, Muziris, Tamralipta, Bharuch, Arikamedu, and Kaveripattinam emerged as important centres of trade, linking the Indian subcontinent with the Roman Empire, the Persian Gulf, East Africa, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Beyond commerce, these routes facilitated the spread of Buddhism, Hinduism, languages, art, architecture, and scientific knowledge, laying the foundations of a shared Indian Ocean cultural landscape.

Evolution of Cultural Diplomacy in India

India’s cultural diplomacy has evolved from a primary focus on heritage preservation to a broader strategy of advancing foreign policy through civilisational assets. Rooted in Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power, this approach emphasises attraction and cultural influence as complements to conventional diplomacy.

In recent years, India has institutionalised cultural diplomacy through initiatives such as the International Day of Yoga, Buddhist diplomacy, the revival of Nalanda University, cultural exchanges facilitated by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and engagement with the Indian diaspora. These initiatives project India’s civilisational identity while strengthening international partnerships, enhancing its global image, and fostering people-to-people connections.

Genesis of Project Mausam (2014)

Against this policy backdrop, Project Mausam was conceived as a multidisciplinary initiative to revive the historical maritime linkages of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through research, heritage conservation, and regional cooperation.

The project is coordinated by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) serving as the principal implementing agency for archaeological and heritage-related activities. It also envisages collaboration with universities, research institutions, museums, and partner countries across the Indian Ocean.

Project Mausam aims to strengthen transnational cooperation by identifying and conserving maritime cultural landscapes, promoting archaeological research, facilitating academic exchanges, and pursuing recognition of interconnected heritage under UNESCO’s framework. Unlike conventional heritage conservation programmes confined to national boundaries, the initiative adopts a regional perspective that acknowledges the Indian Ocean as a shared civilisational space.

While the project has not been assigned a separate statutory funding mechanism, its activities have primarily been supported through budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Culture and its implementing institutions, supplemented by collaborative research partnerships. Its governance model is based on inter-institutional coordination, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of maritime heritage conservation and cultural diplomacy.

Institutional Architecture and Functioning

Project Mausam adopts a multi-institutional governance model, bringing together government agencies, academic institutions, and international partners to conserve and promote the shared maritime heritage of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Its implementation relies on interdisciplinary collaboration across archaeology, history, conservation, diplomacy, and maritime studies.

Operational Components

Project Mausam is implemented through a range of complementary activities aimed at documenting and preserving maritime heritage while strengthening regional cooperation. These include:

• Documentation and Inventorying of Maritime Heritage: Systematic identification and documentation of ancient ports, coastal settlements, maritime archaeological sites, and cultural landscapes to create a comprehensive record of the Indian Ocean’s shared heritage.

• Archaeological Surveys, Excavation, and Conservation: Field investigations, archaeological excavations, scientific documentation, and conservation of maritime heritage sites undertaken primarily by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in collaboration with research institutions.

• Mapping of Maritime Cultural Landscapes: Identification and mapping of historical trade routes, navigational networks, and interconnected cultural landscapes to demonstrate the historical movement of people, goods, ideas, and traditions across the Indian Ocean.

• Research, Conferences, and Knowledge Exchange: Organisation of international conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and academic dialogues that facilitate interdisciplinary research, promote scholarly collaboration, and disseminate knowledge on maritime history and heritage.

• Capacity Building and Skill Development: Training programmes, expert consultations, and collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional capacity in maritime archaeology, heritage conservation, documentation techniques, and cultural resource management.

• Collaborative Research and Publications: Promotion of multidisciplinary research projects, edited volumes, policy discussions, and academic publications that enhance understanding of India’s maritime history and strengthen international research partnerships.

Inter-Ministerial and International Coordination

Given its multidisciplinary nature, Project Mausam requires close coordination beyond the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) facilitates diplomatic engagement with partner countries and supports cultural cooperation through India’s overseas missions. The Ministry of Tourism complements the initiative by promoting heritage tourism and cultural circuits, while the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways contributes to maritime heritage awareness and broader ocean governance initiatives.

Internationally, the project encourages collaboration with governments, cultural institutions, and research organisations across the Indian Ocean Region through joint research, heritage documentation, and academic partnerships. This cooperative framework reflects the understanding that maritime heritage is a shared regional legacy requiring collective stewardship rather than isolated national action.

Performance Assessment

More than a decade after its launch, Project Mausam has contributed to advancing India’s maritime heritage agenda and cultural diplomacy. However, its implementation has been characterised by gradual progress, institutional fragmentation, and limited policy integration.

Key Achievements

• Documentation of Maritime Heritage: Project Mausam has established a systematic framework for documenting maritime cultural landscapes, ancient ports, trade routes, and coastal heritage across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The initiative has identified 39 Indian Ocean countries as potential partners for developing a transnational maritime heritage network and future UNESCO nominations.

• UNESCO Engagement: The project has aligned India’s maritime heritage agenda with UNESCO’s transnational cultural landscape framework by initiating preparatory work for a serial transnational World Heritage nomination, shifting the focus from individual monuments to interconnected maritime heritage.

• Research and Academic Collaborations: Through IGNCA and ASI, Project Mausam has encouraged multidisciplinary research on maritime history and archaeology. The initiative has resulted in the publication of the edited volume Mausam: Maritime Cultural Landscapes Across the Indian Ocean, while also promoting collaborative research among historians, archaeologists, museums, and universities.

• International Conferences and Knowledge Exchange: Since its inception, Project Mausam has organised national and international conferences, symposiums, exhibitions, lecture series, and workshops to promote interdisciplinary research and international academic collaboration. Notable events include the National Conference on Cultural Landscapes and Maritime Trade Routes held in Kochi (2014) and the Conference on Maritime Traditions of Indian and Pacific Oceans held in Kochi (2018). The initiative has also conducted a continuing lecture series on diverse themes related to maritime heritage, maritime trade, and cultural landscapes, facilitating knowledge exchange among scholars, archaeologists, and policymakers.

• Promotion of Maritime Archaeology: Project Mausam has strengthened research and documentation of India’s maritime heritage by supporting archaeological studies of historic port sites such as Lothal, Muziris, Arikamedu, Kaveripattinam (Poompuhar), Bharuch, and Tamralipta. These efforts have enhanced understanding of ancient maritime trade networks and the cultural exchanges that connected India with the wider Indian Ocean world through interdisciplinary research and heritage conservation.

• Institutional Capacity Building: Project Mausam has facilitated expert consultations, academic exchanges, and collaborative programmes involving ASI, IGNCA, the National Museum, universities, and heritage professionals, contributing to institutional capacity in maritime heritage research and conservation.

• Diplomatic Outreach: Indian diplomatic missions have engaged with the 39 identified partner countries to identify relevant institutions and experts for future collaboration. While participation has remained uneven, these efforts have laid the foundation for expanding regional cultural cooperation through shared maritime heritage.

Performance Gaps

• Slow Implementation: Progress has remained gradual, with several proposed activities advancing at a slower pace than initially envisaged.

• Institutional Fragmentation: The absence of a dedicated inter-ministerial coordination mechanism has limited convergence between cultural diplomacy, tourism, maritime affairs, and foreign policy.

• Budgetary Constraints: Project Mausam operates without a separate financial allocation, relying primarily on institutional budgets of implementing agencies, which constrains large-scale implementation.

• Limited International Participation: Although conceived as a transnational initiative, sustained engagement from partner countries has remained uneven, affecting regional ownership.

• Lack of Monitoring and Evaluation: The initiative lacks clearly defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or a structured monitoring framework to measure its cultural, diplomatic, and developmental outcomes.

• Digital Infrastructure Gaps: Limited adoption of digital technologies such as GIS mapping, 3D documentation, digital archives, and virtual heritage platforms has restricted accessibility and long-term preservation efforts.

• Limited Public Visibility: Despite its strategic significance, Project Mausam has received relatively low public and international visibility compared to India’s other cultural diplomacy initiatives, limiting its broader diplomatic and societal impact.

Strategic and Developmental Impact

Foreign Policy Impact

• Strengthening India’s Soft Power: Since its launch, Project Mausam has reinforced India’s cultural diplomacy by reviving the narrative of the Indian Ocean as a shared civilisational space. Through heritage-based engagement, it has complemented India’s broader soft power initiatives and projected India as a custodian of a shared maritime legacy.

• Regional Diplomacy: The initiative has facilitated academic exchanges, international conferences, and collaborative heritage dialogues involving institutions and experts from Indian Ocean countries, creating platforms for non-political regional engagement and people-to-people cooperation.

• Supporting India’s Indo-Pacific Vision: Although not formally integrated into India’s maritime security architecture, Project Mausam complements policy initiatives such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) by strengthening the cultural dimension of maritime cooperation and regional connectivity.

• Reviving Maritime Consciousness: The renewed policy emphasis on maritime heritage, reflected in initiatives such as the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, has enhanced the strategic relevance of Project Mausam within India’s evolving Indo-Pacific discourse.

Heritage Conservation

• Scientific Documentation and Preservation: Project Mausam has contributed to documenting ancient ports, maritime trade routes, coastal settlements, and cultural landscapes through archaeological research and interdisciplinary documentation coordinated by IGNCA and ASI.

• Revival of Maritime Heritage Studies: The initiative has renewed scholarly and policy interest in India’s maritime past, encouraging research on underwater archaeology, historical trade networks, and interconnected cultural landscapes.

• Strengthening UNESCO-Oriented Heritage Conservation: By promoting a transnational approach to heritage conservation, Project Mausam has aligned India’s maritime heritage agenda with UNESCO’s cultural landscape framework and strengthened the foundation for future collaborative heritage nominations.

Economic Impact

• Strengthening Heritage Tourism Policy: Project Mausam has expanded policy discussions on integrating maritime heritage into India’s tourism strategy by highlighting the cultural significance of historic port cities and coastal heritage sites.

• Promoting Local Cultural Economies: The initiative has created opportunities for museums, exhibitions, heritage festivals, and cultural enterprises that contribute to local economic activity while promoting traditional knowledge and crafts.

• Supporting Maritime Heritage Infrastructure: Recent government investments in maritime heritage initiatives, particularly the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, reflect growing recognition of the economic potential of heritage-based tourism and cultural infrastructure.

• Catalysing the Creative Economy: Increased documentation and dissemination of maritime heritage have created opportunities for publishing, digital heritage platforms, exhibitions, and educational outreach, contributing to India’s expanding creative economy.

Academic and Knowledge Diplomacy

• Strengthening Research Networks: Project Mausam has promoted interdisciplinary collaboration among historians, archaeologists, conservation professionals, museums, and research institutions working on the Indian Ocean Region.

• Knowledge Generation: The initiative has supported research publications, conferences, exhibitions, and workshops that have expanded scholarly understanding of India’s maritime history and its regional linkages.

• Capacity Building: Training programmes, academic exchanges, and collaborative research have contributed to developing expertise in maritime archaeology, heritage conservation, and Indian Ocean studies.

• International Knowledge Exchange: Through partnerships with international institutions and heritage professionals, Project Mausam has strengthened knowledge-sharing on maritime cultural landscapes and conservation practices.

Contribution to Sustainable Development

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): By promoting heritage tourism, museums, and cultural industries, Project Mausam supports sustainable livelihood opportunities and local economic development in coastal regions.

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The initiative contributes to safeguarding maritime heritage, strengthening cultural resilience, and promoting sustainable management of historic coastal settlements.

• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Through collaboration among governments, academic institutions, cultural organisations, and international agencies, Project Mausam supports multi-stakeholder partnerships for heritage conservation and regional cooperation.

Overall, Project Mausam’s most significant contribution has been its success in repositioning maritime heritage within India’s public policy and cultural diplomacy discourse. While its direct economic and diplomatic outcomes remain limited, the initiative has established an institutional and intellectual foundation for heritage-led regional cooperation, strengthened scholarly engagement with the Indian Ocean, and enhanced the visibility of maritime heritage in India’s foreign policy and development agenda. Realising its full strategic potential, however, will depend on stronger institutional coordination, sustained financing, and measurable implementation outcomes.

Emerging Issues

1. Climate Change and Coastal Heritage at Risk

• Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, cyclones, and extreme weather events increasingly threaten ancient ports, coastal settlements, and underwater archaeological sites.

• Climate resilience has become a critical dimension of maritime heritage conservation, yet Project Mausam has limited integration with climate adaptation policies.

2. Digital Preservation Deficit

• While countries are adopting AI, GIS, LiDAR, 3D laser scanning, and digital twins for heritage documentation, Project Mausam continues to rely largely on conventional documentation methods.

• The absence of an integrated digital maritime heritage repository limits accessibility, research collaboration, and long-term preservation.

3. Changing Geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific

• The Indian Ocean has emerged as the centre of geopolitical competition involving India, China, the United States, Japan, Australia, and ASEAN.

• Cultural diplomacy is increasingly expected to complement strategic partnerships, requiring Project Mausam to align more closely with India’s Indo-Pacific vision without compromising its heritage-centric character.

4. Limited Community Participation

• Heritage conservation remains largely institution-driven, with limited involvement of coastal communities, traditional fishing societies, local historians, and indigenous knowledge holders.

• Greater community ownership is essential for sustainable conservation and inclusive development.

5. Weak Integration with the Blue Economy

• Although maritime heritage can contribute to coastal tourism, skill development, and sustainable livelihoods, Project Mausam has yet to be systematically linked with India’s Blue Economy initiatives.

• Better integration could enhance both conservation and economic outcomes.

6. Need for Stronger Regional Ownership

• Despite being conceived as a transnational initiative, participation from Indian Ocean partner countries has remained uneven.

• Sustained institutional partnerships, joint research, and collaborative heritage nominations are necessary to transform Project Mausam into a truly regional platform.

7. Measuring Policy Outcomes

• Project Mausam currently lacks a robust framework to evaluate its diplomatic, cultural, and socio-economic impact.

• Developing measurable indicators for heritage conservation, regional cooperation, tourism, and research outputs is essential for evidence-based policymaking.

8. Balancing Conservation with Commercialisation

• Growing interest in heritage tourism creates opportunities for economic development but also raises concerns regarding over-tourism, commercial exploitation, and the authenticity of cultural sites.

• Future interventions must strike a balance between economic utilisation and conservation ethics.

Comparative Perspective: Positioning Project Mausam in the Global Context

A comparative assessment highlights that while several countries employ culture and heritage as instruments of diplomacy, their approaches differ in terms of objectives, institutional design, and strategic priorities. Benchmarking Project Mausam against similar international initiatives offers valuable lessons for strengthening its implementation.

Way Forward

For Project Mausam to emerge as a credible instrument of cultural diplomacy and regional cooperation, its transition from a heritage-centric initiative to an integrated public policy framework is imperative. This requires institutional reforms, technological modernisation, stronger regional partnerships, and a results-oriented implementation strategy.

Institutional Reforms and Governance

• Establish a dedicated Project Mausam Secretariat to ensure continuity, inter-agency coordination, and long-term implementation.

• Institutionalise an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism involving the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and ASI to align heritage conservation with foreign policy, tourism, and maritime governance.

• Introduce a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework with clearly defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure progress in heritage conservation, regional collaboration, tourism, research output, and diplomatic engagement.

Digital Transformation of Maritime Heritage

• Develop a National Digital Maritime Heritage Repository integrating archival records, archaeological findings, historical maps, and cultural resources into a unified digital platform.

• Adopt emerging technologies such as GIS, AI, LiDAR, remote sensing, 3D documentation, and digital twins for heritage mapping, conservation planning, and risk assessment.

• Promote virtual museums, interactive exhibitions, and multilingual digital platforms to improve accessibility and expand international outreach, particularly among younger audiences.

Strengthening Regional Cooperation

• Position Project Mausam as a cultural pillar within regional platforms such as BIMSTEC, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

• Facilitate joint archaeological expeditions, collaborative conservation projects, and transnational research programmes with Indian Ocean partner countries.

• Pursue serial and transboundary UNESCO World Heritage nominations for interconnected maritime cultural landscapes to strengthen international recognition and shared stewardship.

Integrating Heritage with Sustainable Development

• Develop maritime heritage tourism circuits linking ancient ports, coastal heritage sites, museums, and cultural festivals to promote balanced regional tourism.

• Encourage community-led conservation by involving local governments, coastal communities, traditional artisans, and civil society organisations in heritage management.

• Align Project Mausam with India’s Blue Economy strategy by integrating heritage conservation with sustainable coastal development, livelihood generation, and responsible tourism.

Building a Knowledge Ecosystem

• Establish Centres of Excellence in Maritime Heritage Studies through collaborations between universities, museums, and research institutions.

• Introduce research fellowships, doctoral grants, youth exchange programmes, and capacity-building initiatives to cultivate expertise in maritime archaeology, heritage management, and cultural diplomacy.

• Strengthen international academic networks to facilitate knowledge sharing, joint publications, and collaborative research on the Indian Ocean’s shared civilisational heritage.

Diversifying Financing Mechanisms

• Reduce dependence on conventional budgetary allocations by leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for conservation, tourism infrastructure, and digital heritage projects.

• Encourage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investments in maritime heritage documentation, museum development, and community-based conservation.

• Expand access to UNESCO funds, international cultural grants, and multilateral financing mechanisms to support transnational conservation and research initiatives.

Project Mausam represents an important attempt to reposition India’s shared maritime heritage within contemporary foreign policy and regional cooperation. While the initiative has made notable contributions to heritage documentation, research, and cultural engagement, its potential has been constrained by fragmented governance, limited institutional coordination, inadequate monitoring mechanisms, and insufficient international visibility.

Reimagining Project Mausam 2.0 requires moving beyond a conservation-oriented approach towards a comprehensive public policy framework that integrates cultural diplomacy, heritage governance, sustainable development, and maritime cooperation. Institutional reforms, digital innovation, stronger regional partnerships, diversified financing, and robust performance evaluation must form the cornerstone of this transition.

As the Indo-Pacific assumes increasing geopolitical and economic significance, India’s maritime heritage offers a unique strategic advantage rooted in centuries of shared history rather than contemporary power competition. By embedding Project Mausam within broader development and foreign policy priorities, India can transform its civilisational legacy into a platform for sustainable growth, regional trust-building, and enduring international cooperation.

References

1. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. (2014). Project Mausam National Conference in Kochi, Kerala. https://ignca.gov.in/events/project-mausam-national-conference-in-kochi-kerala/

2. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. (2017). Annual Report 2016–17. https://ignca.gov.in/annual_reports/IGNCA_Report_English_2016_2017.pdf

3. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. (n.d.). Events (Project Mausam). Project Mausam. https://ignca.gov.in/project-mausam/eventsproject-mausam/

4. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. (n.d.). Historical background: Project Mausam. https://ignca.gov.in/project-mausam/historical-background

5. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. (n.d.). Objectives and goals: Project Mausam. https://ignca.gov.in/project-mausam/objectives-and-goals

6. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. (n.d.). Project Mausam. https://ignca.gov.in/project-mausam

7. Ministry of Culture, Government of India. (2014, June 21). Project ‘Mausam’ launched by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture. Press Information Bureau. https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?lang=2&reg=48&relid=105777

8. Ministry of Culture, Government of India. (2016, March 9). Project ‘Mausam’ of the Ministry of Culture aims to explore the multi-faceted Indian Ocean ‘World’. Press Information Bureau. https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?lang=2&reg=48&relid=137516

9. Ministry of Culture, Government of India. (2018, December 17). Project ‘Mausam’ extended up to 2020 with the pre-approved fund of Rs. 60,039,297. Press Information Bureau. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1556234&reg=48&lang=2

10. United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

About the Contributor:

Nayanshi is a Research and Editorial Intern at IMPRI and a student of Economics and Political Science at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. Her research interests lie in international political economy, monetary and financial systems, public policy, developmental economics, welfare economics, behavioural economics and sustainable development.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

Read More at IMPRI:

PALNA SCHEME: CHILDCARE FOR WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (2022)

SNA-SPARSH: Reforming India’s Fund Flow for Centrally Sponsored Schemes

Acknowledgement:

The author extends her sincerest gratitude to the IMPRI team for their expert guidance and constructive feedback throughout the process. The author would like to thank Harshini S. and Mehul Rastogi for their valuable feedback.

This article was posted by Yashkirt Pal, a Research and Editorial Intern at IMPRI.