Ancient wisdom, modern waters: Reimagining India's maritime strategy for the Indo-pacific

India's maritime strategy plays a pivotal role in securing its interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), especially amid increasing geopolitical rivalries. This paper examines India's current maritime policies, the challenges posed by great power competition, and proposes a unique, ancient wisdom-based approach through the Chakravyuha Naval Strategy. Inspired by the layered war formation from the Mahabharata, this strategy blends traditional Indian strategic thinking with modern tools like maritime diplomacy, surveillance, and defense technologies. Just like the original Chakravyuha had multiple levels of defense, this plan includes satellite and drone tracking, cyber protection, fast-response teams, and AI-powered systems. It promotes self-reliance, builds strong regional partnerships like QUAD+ and IONS, and focuses on smarter, team-based security instead of dominance. Rooted in India’s civilizational ethos, it emphasizes transparency, power, strategy, and ethics, offering a dynamic alternative to China’s String of Pearls. The paper also gives clear policy suggestions to help India lead in maritime safety while supporting the security of its neighbors.