Ancient Indian Marine and Naval Activity

[Guest guest]

Dr. Vijay Bedekar

Indian Marine Archaeology and its Historical Context

 

Dr. Vijay Bedekar is a medical doctor by profession and an indologist

by choice. He runs the Institute for Oriental Study, Thane, Mumbai,

India. The Institute organised the Second International Conference on

"Marine Archaeology", on 8th - 10th January 1999. The following is an

extract from Dr. Bedekar's Introductory Speech at this Conference.

The speech effectively demonstrates how Indian Marine and ship-

building technology was systematically destroyed by the colonial

powers and thoroughly misrepresented by missionary scholars, who have

always attempted to destroy our self-confidence and self-respect for

our own Hindu culture. It is time for Hindu society to rise and

realise the truths that are being revealed. Truth cannot be concealed

for all time. We do not live only by our past, but we can and we

should derive inspiration from our past and also avoid mistakes of

the past. Interpretative History is an important subject for survival

and for marching foward.

 

 

 

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India has a coastline of about 6300 kms. Extensive new

archaeological, epigraphical, sculptural and literary material has

been added to our knowledge since the early decades of this century.

Radha Kumud Mookerji's Book Indian Shipping - A History of the Sea-

Borne Trade and Marine Activity of The Indians From The Earliest

Times published in 1912 (Oreint Longmans) is the most comprehensive

study of Indian Navigation up to that period. We now know that many

ports on both Eastern and Western Coast had navigational and trade

links with almost all Continents of the world. There are many natural

and technological reasons for this. Apart from Mathematics and

Astronomy, India had excellent manufacturing skills in textile, metal

works and paints. India had abundant supply of Timber. Indian - built

ships were superior as they were built of Teak which resists the

effect of salt water and weather for a very long time. Lieut. Col. A

Walker's paper "Considerations of the affairs of India" written in

1811 had excellent remarks on Bombay-built ships. He notes, "situated

as she is between the forests of Malabar and Gujarat, she receives

supplies of timber with every wind that blows." Further he says, "it

is calculated that every ship in the Navy of Great Britain is renewed

every twelve years. It is well known that teakwood built ships last

fifty years and upwards. Many ships Bombay-built after running

fourteen or fifteen years have been brought into the Navy and were

considered as stronger as ever. The Sir Edward Hughes performed, I

believe, eight voyages as an Indiaman before she was purchased for

the Navy. No Europe-built Indiaman is capable of going more than six

voyages with safety."

 

He has also further noted that Bombay-built ships are at least one-

fourth cheaper than those built in the docks of England. F.Balazar

Solvyns, a Frenchman, wrote a book titled "Les Hindous" in 1811. His

remarks are, "In ancient times, the Indians excelled in the art of

constructing vessels, and the present Hindus can in this respect

still offer models to Europe-so much so that the English, attentive

to everything which relates to naval architecture, have borrowed from

the Hindus many improvement which they have adopted with success to

their own shipping.... The Indian vessels unite elegance and utility

and are models of patience and fine workmanship."

 

Surprisingly, many earlier western traders and travellers have

expressed the same views. Madapollum was a flourishing shipping

centre. Thomas Bowrey, an English traveller who visited India during

1669-79, observes, " many English merchants and others have their

ships and vessels yearly built (at Madapollum). Here is the best and

well grown timber in sufficient plenty, the best iron upon the coast,

any sort of ironwork is ingeniously performed by the natives, as

spikes, bolts, anchors, and the like. Very expert master-builders

there are several here, they build very well, and launch with as much

discretion as I have seen in any part of the world. They have an

excellent way of making shrouds, stays, or any other rigging for

ships".

 

A Venetian traveller of 16th Century Cesare de Fedrici, while

commenting on the East Coast of India has noted that there is an

abundance of material for ship building in this area and many Sultans

of Constantinople found it cheaper to have their vessels built in

India than at Alexandria. Nicol Conti who visited India in 15th

century was impressed by the quality Indians had achieved in ship

building. He observes, " The nations of India build some ships larger

than ours, capable of containing 2,000 butts, and with five sails and

as many masts. The lower part is constructed with triple planks, in

order to withstand the force of the tempests to which they are much

exposed. But some ships are so built in compartments that should one

part be shattered, the other portion remaining entire may accomplish

the voyage."

 

Friar Odoric, an Italian Monk who visited India in 14th Century, in

his account of his voyage across the Indian Ocean, a mention is made

of ships which can carry 700 people. Marco Polo, a famous Venetian

traveller who visited India in 13th Century also visited Thane Port.

The first chapter of his book which deals with India is almost

devoted to shipbuilding industry in India. The story of Indian Teak

goes back to at least 3000 years BC A piece of Indian teak is found

in the ruins of Mugheir, and we know that ancient Ur of the Chaldeas

ruled not less than 3000 years BC. We have hard evidence now that

India had satisfactory shipbuilding and sea trade activity in inland

waters and with the outer world. This was possible because of her

natural resources and technological skills. Indians travelled in

large numbers to different continents for trade and commerce and many

settled there. There is no evidence of any kind to suggest that their

religious beliefs came in the way of their shipbuilding or travelling

and settling to distant lands or trade with other civilisations.

 

The story of Manu prohibiting sea travel is obviously falsified and

exaggerated. If Manu has verses related to this prohibiting sea

travel, he also has verses commenting on navigational activities. And

one must remember that these stories are told again and again by

Indologist and Sanskritists having a missionary background. If Indian

ship industry is destroyed it is not by Manu but by our colonial

masters, the Britishers. Upto 17th Century India practically had more

exports to Europe than what she was receiving from Europe. Indian

goods were more competitive and good in quality. In the late 18th

Century there was a strong demand in England to put restrictions on

Indian goods and especially goods which were carried by Indian ships.

The famous Act of navigation of 1651, speaks volumes in this regards.

It says, " no goods whatever of the growth, produce or manufacture of

Asia, Africaor America should be imported into England or Ireland or

any of the plantations, except directly in ships belonging to English

subjects, of which the Master and the greater number of the crew were

Englishmen."

 

As if these earlier measures were not enough more drastic measures to

discourage shipbuilding in India were undertaken. Calcutta Gazette

(Supplementary) of 29th January 1789 carried the following

notification :

 

Fort William, Revenue Department, January 14, 1789.

 

Notice is hereby given that all persons whosoever (the Magistrates of

the Districts excepted) are prohibited from making use of , or

constructing boats of following denominations and dimensions after

1st March next :

 

Luekhas 40 to 90 covids length 2 to 4 covids breadth

 

Jelkias 30 to 70 covids length 3 to 5 covids breadth.

 

Paunchways of Chandpore carrying more than 10 oars.

 

That the Magistrates of Jessore, Dacca, Jahalpore, Mymensingh,

Chittagong, the 24 parganas, Higelee, Tumlook, Burdwan and Nuddea

have been directed to seize and confiscate all boats of the above

descriptions which may be found within the limits of their respective

jurisdiction after the period above mentioned.

That any Zamindar allowing any boats of the foregoing descriptions to

be built or repaired within the limits of his Zamindary (unless by a

written order of the Magistrate of the District) shall forfeit to

Government the village in which such boats shall be proved to have

been so built or repaired.

That any carpenter, blacksmith or other artificer engaging for or

employed in the building or repairing of boats of the descriptions

above specified (unless by the express permission of the Magistrate

of the District) shall be committed to close imprisonment in the

'foujdari' jail for any period not above one month, or suffer

corporal punishment not exceeding 20 strokes with a rattan.

 

" Published by Order of the Governor-General in Council."

 

Last but not the least, the American National Anthem was composed on

the decks of the ship MINDEN. This ship was built in Bombay.

 

We have scholars today here who are exclusively working on this

branch of history. I am sure the deliberations of this conference

would throw light on many dark corners of Indian History and we will

be richer in our knowledge by the end of the day.

 

A special thanks to Mr. G.C. Asnani for forwarding this article to

Sword Of Truth Organization