Was Shivaji The ‘First Indian Ruler’ to Build the Navy?

India’s prowess in naval wars can be traced back to the Cholas, centuries before Shivaji finds any mention.

The Maratha ruler Chhattrapati Shivaji is commonly credited for laying the foundations of the Indian navy. His naval bases around the coastal areas of modern day Maharashtra commanded by both Hindu and Muslim admirals are known to have defeated the Portuguese and the English invaders on several occasions.

Maratha Warrior Admiral Kanhoji Angre’s exploits between the 17 and 18th century find a special mention in history, with even an Indian Naval Ship being named after him.

On the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti, organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Shivarajyabhishek Mahotsav Samiti, on Monday, 19 February, President Kovind accredited Shivaji for having built a modern day navy:

Shivaji was the first Indian ruler to build the Navy in the modern era. The Hindu and Muslim soldiers in their army used to battle under the same flag. They were unique warriors. Full discipline, vigilante detectives and loyalty in cops were the features of the military system.

शिवाजी आधुनिक काल में नौसेना का निर्माण करने वाले पहले भारतीय शासक थे। उनकी सेना में हिन्दू और मुस्लिम सिपाही एक ही झंडे के नीचे युद्ध करते थे। वे अद्वितीय योद्धा थे। पूर्ण अनुशासन, सतर्क गुप्तचर और सिपाहियों में वफादारी उनकी सैनिक व्यवस्था की विशेषताएं थीं — राष्ट्रपति कोविन्द

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 19, 2018

Cholas – The First Kingdom to Wage Naval Wars

Historically speaking, the Marathas may have had a formidable modern naval power in the “modern era” as President Kovind mentions, but India’s prowess in naval wars can be traced way back to the pre-modern era Cholas empire that ruled the southern part of ancient India (984-1042 CE).

The earliest records of India’s maritime history are found in the Vedic literature, but the first instances of naval wars are only found during the Cholas reign over southern India.

When the two other Tamil dynasty — the Pandyas and Cheras allied with the Sri Lankan kingdom of Sinhalas against the Cholas, Rajaraja I defeated the Chera navy at Kandalur, perhaps to break the their monopoly in trade. Tamil inscriptions from his rule draw a record of his victory.

Certain details of the raid are available in the Tanjore inscription of his son Rajendra Chola.

While Raja Raja Chola was the first king with a naval fleet, his successor Rajendra continued the expansion of the empire in the far East.

After his father Rajaraja conquered Southern India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, his successor Rajendra extended a naval expedition to Southeast Asia in 1025 conquering the maritime power Srivijaya (present-day Palembang) and its harbour cities on Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.

Boastful inscriptions mainly in Thiruvalangadu plates from Rajendra’s reign claim his grand armada captured lands in the far east (Srivijaya).

“Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa: Reflections on the Chola Naval Expeditions to Southeast Asia” quotes a Tamil prasati to describe Rajendra’s glorious naval army:

Shivaji Rebuilds India’s Dominance in the Seas

India’s maritime dominance sank around the 13th century with the Portuguese invasion, only to set sail again during Shivaji’s rule in the late 17th century.

The Maratha Navy consisted of the native Konkani sailors, some Siddis (who are the descendants of the Bantu tribe of Africa) and Portuguese mercenaries. By the middle of the 17th century, the Maratha naval fleet had around 20 warships. Shivaji even employed a number of Portuguese naval officers to command their own fleet.

The death of Admiral Angre in 1729 left a vacuum and resulted in the decline of Maratha sea power.

So, how did the Marathas bypass the Cholas in earning recognition for naval power in modern India? Although the Cholas maritime strength is outstanding in medieval India, Shivaji’s relatively modern fleet finds scope of better documentation in early modern history, making him the Father of Indian navy.

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