Government to launch 'Project Mausam' to revive links among Indian Ocean countries

NEW DELHI: The central government has decided to launch 'Project Mausam' to revive the ancient links among the countries of the Indian Ocean to gain a more holistic understanding of the subcontinent's maritime history, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Replying to a question, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said the project authority will reach out to various coastal states and union territories, advocating for coastal sites and cultural landscapes that have the potential to be part of various events and activities under 'Project Mausam' including active participation in transnational nominations as identified under the project.

"It will enable collaboration between regional researchers, improve accessibility and dissemination of knowledge across India as well as other countries in the Indian Ocean region in future," he said.

The Project will review the existing material and database on 'Monsoon', 'Indian Ocean Region' and 'Coastal Cultural landscapes and coastal heritage sites across India' and 'Coastal cultural landscapes and coastal heritage sites across India' with various organisations and institutions.

The aim is to identify future possibilities of data collection and collaboration for the project, review archaeological sites, architectural and industrial heritage, cultural landscapes along the Indian Ocean Coast in India for making them as potential sites for transnational nominations, the minister added.