Songs Shaped by the River: Bhatiyali & Sari Gan, Folk Songs of Bengal                                                                                     […]

 Agalega Island Mystery Source – Jacob Evans,“Is this tiny Mauritian island a confidential spy station?”, BBC, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg47274y4no Accessed on June 7, 2026. Agalega, a tiny, peaceful pair of islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean, home to around 300 – 350 people, where the local economy revolves entirely around coconut, sounds like the perfect place […]

The Lord of All Waters: Understanding the Ancient Deity Behind the Indian Navy’s Motto Every time an Indian warship sets sail into the open ocean, it carries a thousands-year-old prayer on its hull. The official motto of the Indian Navy is “Sam No Varunah”, a Sanskrit phrase meaning “May the Lord of Water be auspicious […]

The expansion of Buddhism along Asia resulted in the introduction of Indic elements in several East Asian and Southeast Asian countries. Worship of Indian deities spread, and many of them took on different shades to meld with the different cultures of which they became a part. Tara is one of the primary deities of Buddhism, […]

Excavation at Pattanam, Source: Muziris Heritage project India has been gifted with a rich maritime heritage, which is evident through the bustling ports and cities that adorn the coastline of India. These ports were active trading areas, giving rise to new settlements and groups of indigenous and foreign traders engaged in the spice trade. Today, […]

Ms Amruta Talawadekar Senior Research Associate, MHS Bombay (now Mumbai) is known for its uniqueness, whether in terms of its cosmopolitan culture, diversity in architecture, or varying dialects. An interestingly peculiar thing that Bombay was known for was the fact that it had its own standard time. Prior to India’s independence in 1947, Bombay had […]

“We do this job because every once in a while, someone is out there without hope, desperately praying for their life, and we get to be the answer.” ― Coast Guard (U.S.) Uma Kabe, (Project Research Associate, Maritime History Society) The Indian Coast Guard is recognised as the maritime law enforcement and search and rescue […]

International Customs Day is celebrated on 26 January every year. In order to look at the stellar role of the Customs Department in India, the blog titled ‘International Customs Day- A Historical Perspective on the Indian Customs’ is dedicated as a two-part series. The following is the first in the series to trace the historical […]

The birth of Jesus is widely known as Christmas in India, owing to the predominance of the English language in the South Asian Subcontinent. It is also interesting to note that Christmas in many pockets of  western India has a different nomenclature. In Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat it is referred to as Natal, a word […]

Figure 1 Jahanara Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahanara_Begum#/media/File:Princess_Jahanara_aged_18,_British_Library,_Add_Or_3129,_f.13v.jpg In the previous two segments, we have read about Mariam-uz-Zamani and Nur Jahan’s maritime pursuits. While Mariam-uz-Zamani had to struggle to navigate her path in maritime ventures, Nur Jahan, on the other hand, played her cards well. With a political acumen and a vision for economic success, she managed to pull […]

Figure 1 Nur Jahan  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur_Jahan#/media/File:Nurjahan.jpg In the last segment we read about Mariam-uz-Zamani’s maritime pursuits, she builds up a trading empire and is actively involved in the proceeds and functioning of her maritime venture. Despite being the Queen Mother, she had to deal with the perils of the maritime trade imposed by the Portuguese, which she […]

Figure 1 Mariam-uz-zamani  Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mariam_uz-Zamani The grandeur of the Mughal court narrated in the chronicles of foreign travellers are well documented pieces of history. These stories were carried to places far across the world. The Mughals today are well known for their palaces, artworks, marble works, stone intarsia, painted stuccos and tile works. They are also […]

Image 1 Potrait of Captain Mahendranath Mulla. Source – Maritime History Society Archives 09 December 1971, was a fateful day. In the midst of the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the Pakistani Naval Ship (PNS) Hangor torpedoed and sank the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Khukri (F149). 09 December 2022 marks 51 years since the Type 14 blackwood class anti-submarine frigate INS Khukri […]

Kajal Gautam Research Intern Maritime History Society   The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa#/media/File%3ATsunami_by_hokusai_1 9th_century.jpg   The term ‘Tsunami’ is derived from the Japanese word “tsu” meaning harbor and “nami” meaning waves and is used in reference to a phenomenon that is related to tidal waves that are characterized by a long wavelength and period.[i] Created by heavy […]

INS Kiltan Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Kiltan_(P30)#/media/File:INS_Kiltan_departs_Sihanoukville_Autonomous_Port_port.jpg Indigenously built, INS Kiltan is one of the four Kamorta class Corvettes designed by Indian Navy’s in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design under Project 28. As a part of Project 28, INS Kiltan was built as an anti-submarine warfare corvette by Garden Reach Shipbuilders in Kolkata. The ship is named after […]

Image 1 Symbolising Indian Navy and its collaboration with United Nations. Source – Author Introduction The World War II resulted in a devastating economic and human loss. Effects of the World War II led the global leaders to rethink the governance strategies for world policies and the United Nations was formed. India has been associated […]

“A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guarantee of peace”. –  Theodore Roosevelt. Promoting the ‘Make in India’ initiative, INS Kavaratti (P31), the last of the four Kamorta Class Corvettes under Project 28 (P28), was commissioned into the Indian Navy (IN) by the then Indian Army Chief General Manoj […]

Crest of INS Dega (L), INS Dega, Visakhapatnam (R) INS Dega is a Naval Air Station of the Indian Navy in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Naval Aviation is one of the crucial elements which makes the use of manned air power in armed conflicts by a sea-based military force. The Naval Aviation wing of the Indian […]

The oldest Command Hospital of the Indian Navy, Indian Naval Hospital Ship  (INHS) Asvini derives its name from the Vedic deities Asvins or Asvin Kumaras, also known as the horse twins who were proficient in the knowledge of health, medicine, and science. In the Rig Veda, the Asvins are depicted as guardian deities who tend to the ailments of […]

According to the Cambridge dictionary, the term ‘iconography’ refers to the use of images and symbols to represent ideas or the particular images and symbols used by a religious or political group. In simple words, iconography is concerned with the visual aspect of the study in regard to ideas, cultures, and the study of these. […]

The requirement to create an indigenous marine gas turbine overhaul facility was realised in the Indian Navy during the early eighties. An idea was laid out to create a composite and self-contained gas turbine overhauling facility. This independent facility was to be operated by service personnel which would cater to contemporary Gas Turbines and the […]

By Ms Uma Kabe, Project Research Associate, Maritime History Society “Of all the branches of the men in the forces, there is no one which shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submariners” -Winston Churchill. India’s first indigenously constructed Strategic Strike Sub Surface Ballistic Nuclear Submarine (SSBN), Indian Naval Ship (INS) Arihant (S2), […]

Introduction In the Indo-Pak War of 1971, at the naval frontiers many warships played important roles, INS Khukri (F149) being one of them. INS Khukri was attacked and sunk during the war. To commemorate its valour, a Khukri class corvette was commissioned in the same name. 23 August 2022 marks the 33rd commissioning anniversary of the Indian Naval Ship INS Khukri (P49). On […]

We have often heard stories of the jovial, dhansak eating and the overtly philanthropic Parsis. We have sometimes even swayed our heads to the medley “my name is Jeejeebhoy Jamshedjee” and never realised the person was an actual Parsi gentleman who made it big during the Raj. Parsis are everywhere from enterprise to entertainment. Though […]

The Sundarbans are a land mass formed by the large deposits of silt carried by Ganga and Brahmaputra from the hinterland and the relentless sculpting of silt mounds by the tides of the Bay of Bengal. This geological phenomenon gives birth to large clusters of Islands which are tightly bound and separated by narrow channels […]

Leading Fighter Air Squadron of the Indian Navy, the White Tigers was commissioned on 07 July 1960 by Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, the then High Commissioner of India in Brawdy, Whales UK. During the commissioning ceremony Mrs. Pandit gave the Squadron its Crest- ‘White Tiger of Rewa’. With nine gallantry awards and unaccountable achievements in many […]

At the very end of the Navy Nagar in Colaba, Mumbai is a naval establishment that overlooks the southern tip of Mumbai called INS Kunjali. INS Kunjali is the naval base set up to administer the Regulating School of the Navy, the School of Music, the Provost Headquarters of the Navy at Mumbai, the IN-Detention […]

Figure 1 A Harappan seal depicting a reed boat coupled with oars. The presence of avian figures alludes to the historic disa-kaka used by seafarers in long distance travel. Source: Harappa.com India has a long tradition of indigenous seafaring which is well attested from the late chalcolithic period to the late medieval period. Seafaring in […]

Shipbuilding in India gained momentum in the nineteenth century when the East Indian Company built the Bombay Dockyard and started the construction of ships. The British initially used the Indian shipbuilding ports for repairs to deal with the increasing piracy threats from Indians and Europeans and other foreign powers. The constant sea battles and the […]

Nautical Fiction is a genre that has intrigued the masses with its larger-than-life representation of sea voyages, the life of the seamen and bringing forth various aspects of nautical culture. This is a genre that is filled with the finest details of the voyages and expeditions, elucidation of the roaring deep blue sea, narratives of […]

It has been a little over 500 years completion of the first-ever circumnavigation under sail undertaken by Magellan. While he succumbed to death before the completion of his historic voyage, it was eventually concluded by Juan Sebastian Elcano. While this pioneering attempt is hailed for the sheer enormity of the vision, the changes in Indian […]

Stories act as a conduit through which the complexity of human expression can be transmitted through simple narratives. They are also used as a medium to project broad contours of metanarratives that can be barely reproduced through other modes of communication. India has a large repository of stories that fall in this genre of literature. […]

Many islands in the Indian Ocean and Pacific were the appendages of the imperialist metropolises in the days of colonial expansion. And Lakshadweep, located on a centuries-old trade route that connected South India to West Asia and Europe, had to curl up with the vestiges of the ‘global dynamics’ of the European colonial powers. The […]

The ‘Killer’ Squadron of the Indian Navy is a proud inheritor of a rich legacy, laced with exploits of valour, grit and ingenuity of the highest order. The exploits of the squadron on the fateful nights of 04 and 08 December 1971, not only created the legend of the Killers but also a distinct Killer ethos and identity, which […]

Our Indian historical narratives have references of heroes and legends of the maritime domain. The names of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, Rajendra Chola of the Chola dynasty, Rani Abbakka, Marthanda Verma etc. are fairly prominent. But, in our academic narratives and curriculum, the history of North-East India remains under-explored in terms of its […]

Indian piracy- a chapter of the Indian Maritime History that is often disregarded due to various misunderstandings and lack of information. The taboo and stigma associated with the term “piracy” negate the possibility of actual reasoning behind the activities carried out and create misconceptions swindled by sources. History has its varied versions; spread across the […]

Introduction Oceans account for 70% of the earth’s surface, which plays a pivotal role in the health of our planet and those who inhabit it. The well-being of the ocean and mankind are inseparably connected but unfortunately, over  time, human activities have severely polluted the marine environment. Marine pollution has become a global issue impending […]

Mumbai, (erstwhile Bombay) has been a treasure trove for several rulers whose influence has led to political changes in the region. In 1661, the then seven islands of Bombay were given as a gift to King Charles II of England on his marriage to the Portuguese Princess Infanta Catherine of Braganza. The British Crown then […]

Introduction The term Malabar denotes the Indian Subcontinent’s southwestern region, which comprises Malayalam-speaking areas. Geographically, it extended from the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea. Following the intrusion of the Europeans, the process of state creation and the idea of the power structure in various areas of Kerala underwent a massive change.   The Europeans […]

The efficacy of submarines as a potent military machine was established during the Second World War. Since then, the advancement of these submersible combat vessels have earned them the sobriquet of ‘silent killers of the deep’. They are valued for their relative undetectability underwater and capability to sneak up and destroy a much stronger warships […]

This day, in the year 2017, i.e., 06 March, was when India’s second aircraft carrier, the mighty INS Viraat was decommissioned after 30 years of glorious service to the nation. This article is written as a tribute to this unique warship, which kept India’s shores safe and citizens protected during one of the most challenging […]

Introduction International women’s day is an event to commemorate the progress made towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, it is imperative to acknowledge and appreciate the prodigious contribution of women to Indian Maritime History. Women’s occupancy in the Indian Armed Forces initially came to fruition in the year 1888 with […]

The Indian subcontinent has a vast history of flourishing maritime associations that predominantly involved commerce, culture and religion. However, the legacy of the erstwhile Indian mariners and seafarers who plied the oceans afar was gradually eclipsed by the lure of terrestrial possession until the last century. The liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation reforms in India in […]

India has a vast coastline, geographically gifted harbours and strategically located islands. Its prime position within the Indian Ocean Region made the subcontinent a crucial link between the east and west trade routes. As a result, it often invited intruders whose intentions changed from explorations to annexations leading to several battles. These battles lie in […]

INTRODUCTION Piracy has been widely romanticized by writers and filmmakers, and many people often harbor visions of bearded rebels sailing seas of endless blue, something close to a maritime “Robin Hood’ of sorts. In truth, modern-day piracy (in whatever form) is a violent, bloody, and ruthless practice.[1] Pirates steal, mangle and even kill. In addition, the […]

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution on 03 Dec 18 that proclaimed January 24 as International Day of Education in recognition and celebration of the role of education that is instrumental in bringing global peace and sustainable development. This being the fourth year of the celebration, the theme of discussions at this […]

At the heart of the bustling city of Mumbai against its towering skyline is the narrow yet lively lanes of the Worli Koliwada, it is one of the many Koliwadas or fishermen hamlets within the city. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the Worli Koliwada stands out for its picturesque view of the Bandra-Worli […]

India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier began its sea trials off the coast of Kochi in August, 2021. The launch of the new Vikrant, was a seminal event in India’s maritime journey and one that brought a palpable sense of maritime pride. The landmark achievement put India in an exclusive list of nations that […]

In 1992, The Indian Navy with the Odisha State Government planned a Bali voyage known as “Kaling Bali Yatra” to celebrate Boita Bandana and retrace the ancient sea trade route between Odisha and Indonesia. This activity was a grand gesture aimed at rediscovering the socio-economic and socio-cultural ties between the two nations. Situated on the […]

When on 26 December 2004, Tsunami struck due to an undersea earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra, within 12 hours the first Indian naval helicopters were in Sri Lanka with relief material. In the next 24 hours, two Indian naval ships were already in Galle and Trincomalee and three others had been dispatched to […]

An initiative that was given a “princely” sum of INR 1000/- by the then Commander-in-Chief of Western Naval Command, the amazing Vice Admiral RK Gandhi, with no hope of surviving a year, has crossed 43 years of relentless drive to showcase Indian Maritime Heritage. The Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar Winner and a Great Maritime Icon, Late […]

The average lifespan of a ship at sea is considered as 25-30 years. After that, the maintenance of the ship becomes too expensive and dangerous to voyage in. However, today i.e 12 October marks the launch date of the Royal Navy’s Leda class frigate HMS Trincomalee who carries in her bones over two centuries worth […]

“India will always be a voice of moderation, an advocate of dialogue and a proponent of international law” Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, UNSC Presidency, 2021   Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on August 09, 2021, via video conferencing at United Nations Security Council chaired the High-level Open Debate on ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case […]

On 24 June 2021, Shri Rajnath Singh visited the Karwar Naval Base to review the progress of Project Seabird where he expressed his hopes for it to culminate into “Asia’s largest Naval base.” Karwar is known for scenic beaches surrounded by the lush Western Ghats, islands, and monuments. The beauty and serenity of this very […]

“Nature has ensured that India’s geographic configuration makes her as reliant on the seas as any island nation. Geopolitical imperatives have in the recent past served to confirm the importance of the maritime domain in our national security matrix.”\ – Adm Arun Prakash (Retd) [Indian Naval Despatch, Winter 2020] Throughout history, the maritime domain has […]

An understated facet of colonial history of the Indian Sub-continent is the role played by food in inviting the Europeans to this huge landmass. If one is to study the voyage of Vasco da Gama and his passion for discovering the sea route to India, it all comes down to his one ambition – “For […]

Every year, on April 5, India celebrates National Maritime Day to commemorate modern Indian shipping embarked on its maiden voyage this day in 1919. The SS Loyalty, owned by the Scindia Steam Navigation Company, made an audacious venture, sailing from India to England. This piece cherishes the day by taking us through the historical recall of […]

Ports were where maritime trade blossomed, people from far and wide brought their ware to an assigned place which would often be near a port and would exchange it for other commodities. This was pretty much the role of all ancient port towns like Alexandria and Rhodes. Today however I shall introduce one such port town […]

Roadways are often blocked because of broken cars or irresponsible drivers who travel recklessly on the streets. While you are mentally prepared for such circumstances on the roadway, have you ever considered what would happen if such an incident happened on an ocean route? Before you think about it, it’s already in the papers. The […]

Imagine a plate of delectable food in front of you that turns out to be an unpleasant experience on your palate due to inappropriate use or rather absence of salt! Even in our imagination, food without salt paints such a bland picture. That’s the power of salt. In the Indian independence struggle, salt had a […]

“Geography provides strategy with underlying continuity, a point that is generally true, but is especially important for the sea.” – British Military Historian Hew Strachan   Oceans have been the canvas of connectivity across time. The evolving nature of human movement across the two ocean regions of Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean have witnessed transfusion […]

As we study the history of Bombay, we realise how important it is to have an interdisciplinary approach. There are many reasons that have shaped the city that we see today. It is important to assess the importance of the role of maritime trade and economy in addition to the Indian and International political affairs […]

With each passing day, tensions are rife along the Indian borders and we have all our Armed Forces combat ready. Many soldiers have lost lives in battlegrounds and some have met their fate due to unfortunate mishaps. On a personal note, my association with MHS has not only brought me closer to the maritime domain […]

The 1971 Indo Pak war was a defining battle fought by the tri forces of the Indian state. The battle resulted into a twofold achievement for India. Firstly, it paved the foundations of a new country which until 1971 was a de facto colony of West Pakistan thus, unshackling its people from political servitude and […]

While the city of Mumbai woke up to experience slight drops of rain on a Friday morning, this December, the occurrence of rainfall in this odd season is not new to the city. Is this something the city should now be acquainted to? Let’s find out what caused these showers to occur at this oddly […]

Most of us have ferried across water in boats to a touristy destination. Most of these boats that we use are made out of wood or steel. Have you ever wondered what form of boats the habitants during the Indus Valley Civilisation used, almost 5000 years ago? The answer is a Reed Boat. Today if […]

India, being a maritime country with water along its three sides, has always been associated with ships. Evidence of log made boats, dug outs, wooden massive vessels and advanced modern ships have been the glory of our history from the times of the Indus Valley Civilisation to the contemporary times. These vessels did play a […]

Mumbai, the city fascinates many people and is rightly touted as the ‘City of Dreams’ or the ‘City that never Sleeps.’ As fascinating as the city is, equally interesting is its history. Formerly called Bombay, this city has been responsible for myriad changes in the society as it itself underwent a lot of transitions through […]

The Mughal rule in India witnessed tremendous power politics throughout their reign in the Indian subcontinent. The dynamism of the Mughal armies and their glories in war, statesmanship of various Emperors are very well documented. Their control over the mainland was possible due to their well-augmented militia. A lot is also written about it. What […]

Since MHS through its constant endeavours attempts to dig deeper in ocean heritage and bring something new for the enthusiasts with a view either to join the dots of the rich maritime history or celebrate and promote it in all its glory, this time it is on a voyage to take a glimpse with help […]

While flipping through the pages of history, we hear the stories of great maritime voyages undertaken by brave Indian Sailors. Be it the stories of the Kalingan Sandabha who sailed from the coast of Odisha to the far-flung Bali some two thousand years ago, or be it the great Chola fleet that ploughed through the […]

Being a maritime country with a vast coastline spread across its three sides, India has had a diverse history of thriving ports. From the ancient port town of Lothal during the Indus Valley Civilisation to the modern and recently approved Vadhavan port along the Konkan Coast of India, the ports of the Indian subcontinent have […]

The Ocean realm covers 71% of the Earth’s surface, and it holds 97% of our planet’s water. The oceans play a role in everything from the air we breathe to the daily weather and climate patterns. Yet, we know very little about our oceans. Most of our knowledge about the ocean lies in shallower waters. […]

Maritime history is a broad, interdisciplinary theme while studying global history encompassing the multidimensional study of human interactions.  Arthur C. Clarke has captured the enormity of the maritime expanse as he has rightly put “How inappropriate to call this planet ‘Earth’, when it is clearly Ocean.” Indians have been seafarers with a history of their maritime […]

The tiny Union territory is making big news! Lakshadweep is the only territory under the Indian jurisdiction to be completely Covid-free even after five months since the first case was reported1 in India, in Kerala. But the news should not come as surprise either because the islands stand out as unique entities. They have an inimitable […]

By Aishwarya Devasthali, Project Research Associate, Maritime History Society  Maritime History Society takes dives deep into the ocean of knowledge to know more about India’s rich maritime past and to awaken heritage consciousness amongst Indians. Today, when the whole world is relentlessly fighting the pandemic, there are some islands isolated from the mainstream societies, yet deeply […]

My first encounter with the Makara was on a gateway of the Sanchi stupa. It featured a man wrestling with a serpentine monster geared with tusks of an elephant. Little was I aware of the creature and its significance in the Indian scheme of tradition. All of a sudden, it appeared in bas-reliefs and sculpture […]

By Aishwarya Vivek Devasthali, Research Associate,Maritime History Society “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” ― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet This is a very well-known quote by Shakespeare, and is much talked about. Can anyone imagine what a mess it would be in a world […]

By Amruta Talawadekar, Research Associate,Maritime History Society ‘Names of places form an important part of our history. They stand as memorials of men and events in the past. They throw light on the scenes and movements of former ages, and therefore cannot be neglected in our study of the development of our country.’ As rightly […]

The Vande Bharat is one mammoth mission to evacuate the diaspora Indians stranded all throughout the globe. It has been touted as one of the biggest achievements of the Modi government in almost warlike peace times. But in all this conversation we should not lose sight of the contribution of the Indian navy. The operation […]

Heritage is what has been passed on from one generation to another. It includes buildings, tradition, culture, practices etc. which possess values and are a treasure to us. India has had a rich maritime history since the prehistoric times. Although very little has been recorded during prehistoric times, the historic era gives an insight on […]

It happens quite often that when an aerated drink is poured, we do not consume it all at once. Sip by sip as we devour on a drink and reach half the glass, one finds that the fizz is all gone leaving just sweetened, flavoured water. Don’t we all hate such flat soda? This is […]

Submariners have been prepping for decades for ‘Extreme Isolation’. The above tweet was the prompt for this article. Whilst, there appears to be a subtle similarity between life on board a submarine and the current way of life under a lock down, it needs to be viewed from the perspective of absorbing certain survival skills […]

Our personal journeys are dotted with questions. We want answers to so many questions about our personal life, our professional side, self-actualization, family, friendship, love and so on. Each of us anchors ways of anchoring those questions in a sense of personal capabilities, and resources and support that we are blessed with. When the pursuit […]