The first-ever India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024 was concluded between December 11-12, 2024, at Yasho bhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi. An initiative of Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, this historic event witnessed eminent personalities from maritime domain, government representatives, and international delegates on board to give a toast to India’s maritime legacy and chart the course for the future.
Key Highlights and Objectives
The conclave was to focus on promoting the historical marine tradition of India along with India’s contribution in trade, culture and skills all across the globe. The event featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and exhibitions showcasing India's maritime achievements and future aspirations. The theme based on Understanding of India’s Place in Global Maritime History enshrined the objective of the conference to establish and restore India’s maritime past.
Modern Maritime Achievements
The modern ship architecture of India can be evidenced by the fact that it has a large 7,500kms of coastlines and has thirteen major ports, and two hundred non-major ports. Maritime transport handles 95% of India’s volume and 70% of its value of trade while leveraging its strategic geopolitical advantage of the Indian Ocean. The conclave was to present to the world how India has evolved in shipbuilding, navigation and even trade with other regions of the world.
Vision for the Future
The conclave also laid its emphasis on India’s future plan by highlighting sustainable maritime practice and ideas. The National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal and the India Middle East Europe economic corridor were showcased as essential part of India’s evolving stake in global maritime process. It identified the need for a future Maritime strategy for the vision of Viksit Bharat (developed India) by 2047.
Collaboration efforts and Global Partnerships
The event provided an opportunity for international scholars, researchers, and practitioners of maritime analytical and preservation studies to engage in partnerships. Talking about ocean issues, marine life, and proper utilization of resources brought attention to the fact that global cooperation that must be achieved in the context of naval challenges and crisis.
National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal
The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat is one of those grand projects of the Government of India to exhibit India’s maritime past. Located in the ancient port city of Lothal, which dates back to the Harappan civilization, the NMHC is set to be a world-class museum and cultural complex that celebrates India's seafaring history and contributions to global maritime trade.
Historical Significance
Lothal, One of the largest urban centres of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization was a bustling port of some 4,500 years ago. It was commercial hub of the civilization provided linkages with other regions up to Mesopotamia and Egypt. The presence of dockyard, warehouse, beads making factory indicate the engineering and commercial development of the site. Hoping to achieve these goals, the NMHC plans to give the visitors an idea of maritime activities that were central to the development of the early societies.
Features of NMHC
Objects of the NMHC will include modern marine infrastructure of the island, such as a maritime museum, an interpretation center, and a research institute of maritime archaeology. The museum will house a vast collection of artifacts, ship models, and exhibits that narrate the story of India's maritime history from the ancient to the modern era. Interactive displays and immersive experiences, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, will enhance visitor engagement and education.
Lothal – dockyard will also be reconstructed which will help the visitors to understand what engineering challenges were facing at that time. Furthermore, to spread awareness on NMHC the centre will arrange cultural programs, workshops and seminars related to Maritime studies and conservation of Heritage.
Vision for the Future
The NMHC has plans to assist and support the vision of transforming the Lothal into a global centre for maritime heritage tourism, education, and recreation, and to attract tourists, scholars, students, and maritime enthusiasts from across the globe. The NMHC will assist in developing awareness about India’s maritime history and its role in global maritime business. It will also encourage generations yet unborn to embrace the naval history and future of India.
National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal is a classic example that speaks volumes about the Indian government’s effort to promote and preserve its maritime history and achievements of Indian maritime community. Whether as a museum or through the NMHC supported community programs, scholarships, and training, the NMHC plans to rise to the challenge of creating an exciting and engaging landmark for people to visit and learn about the deep sea history of India.
Roadmap for the Future
The concept of NMHC at Lothal serves as symbol of India’s ancient maritime history and its gaining vision of the future. As this grand project moves forward, its roadmap is anchored in three key pillars: conservation, education and outreach to help place NMHC at the forefront of global maritime history and culture scholarship.
Preservation of Maritime Heritage
NMHC working on the development of its collection of historic items that reflect the ship models, the navigation devices from prehistoric times to the present, and artifacts recovered from archaeological expeditions. “Of these artifacts, advanced conservation techniques will have to be used to preserve them while making them available for the future generations. The NMHC needs to set up a research division focused on engaging affiliated international institutions for the identification and documentation of aspects of maritime history, thereby adding to the existing historical knowledge on Indian maritime history.
Education, Community Organizing & Outreach
Education and Public Engagement are very important to NMHC in its future strategies. They are planned to be designed as a multifunctional complex of interrelated educational exhibits, workshops, and programs for people of different ages. Such measures will be in the form of school activities, maritime history education and activities with historians and archaeologists, among others. It is aimed at developing pride and interest in the younger generation to follow, understand and preserve Maritime history of India.
Also, NMHC will create online and virtual tours, through which the public will be able to learn about maritime history from the comfort of their homes. These digital initiatives would go long way in making the wealth of finding asset base available for global population’s scrutiny and enhance the understanding about India’s maritime history.
Innovation and Sustainable Development
As a key component of NMHC’s strategic plan, there are specific directions to incorporate advanced technology into the organization and its exhibitions. The application of the ideas of artificial intelligence and augmented reality in exhibitions and shooting of fascinating videos about the history of maritime activities are also included. It also plans that the NMHC will act as a center for maritime innovations, developing new facilities for ship manufacturing, navigating, and protection of ocean wildlife.
Another value at the complex is sustainability with the complex being dedicated to practicing green and efficient use of energy and resources. Future development plans include the installation of solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and waste management facilities to minimize the complex's environmental footprint. In doing so, NMHC aspires to serve an example for other cultural institutions as well as support environmental conservation causes in general.
India's Maritime History
Maritime history of India is equal to a chronicle of adventure, trade, cultural interchanges and technological progress, which has lasted from the ancient times. Historically right from the very early civilization of the Indus valley to present day India the sea has played a critical role in influencing the economic, cultural and political development of the country.
Ancient Maritime Traditions
The history of Indian maritime date back to Indus Valley Civilization approximately 3300- 1300 BC where the city of Lothal was famous for its port. Archaeological findings evidenced from the recent excavation at Lothal include dockyard, ware houses and bead factory which suggest a well-developed marine trade channel. Some of the Harappan members had trades relations with Mesopotamia Egyptians and the Persian Gulf specifically dealing in textile beads and pottery.
Hypotheses based on archaeological evidence also credited the Vedic period (1600–500 BCE) with having naval activities for sea voyages and navigation that have been described in the Rigveda. The ability to sail in monsoon and the advent of navigation show potential of India in carrying out marine commerce.
The Age of Exploration
Golden age, in reference to India’s maritime history can be dated between the 3rd century BCE and the 13th century CE. This was also the period when its coastal areas, or its western coast especially, had transformed as important trade centres of the whole world. The Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE) and the subsequent Gupta Empire (circa 320-550 CE) established strong maritime connections with Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, and the Roman Empire.
A number of ancient Indian merchants and sailors known as ‘Yavanas’ performed a major responsibility for the Indian Ocean trade. Some of the important trading ports of India during that time include Muziris, Sopara, and Bharuch, where business in spices, textiles, gems, and other luxury items were done. The extent of spread of Indian culture, religion or arts to South-East Asian countries and beyond by these sea routes explains its wake in maritime power.
Medieval Maritime Endeavours
During the middle ages, that is between the 8th and 18th centuries, powerful seaborne empires emerged in India. The Chola dynasty, in existence from mid-9th to the 13th century with one of the most formidable naval forces, used this fleet for marine activity in the Southeast Asian region. Dynasties such as the Chola dynasty with rulers like Rajaraja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I expanded their territories on areas such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and some part of Malay Peninsula thus propagated their culture and trade links.
It also depicted that during this period Arab and Persian merchants were involved in Indian maritime trade. Other coastal facilities that emerged include Calicut, cochin and Surat and merchants started flocking the region from Arabia, Persia, and Africa. The spice trade was at its height during Medieval Ages where India provided specially produced black pepper, cardamom and cinnamon to other parts of the world.
The Colonial Era
India's maritime history entered a new era with the entry of European powers in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. The Portuguese, Dutch, French and the British set up trading ports and went on to colonize the coastal areas of India which brought about a social and economic transformation. The British East India Company, in particular, played a dominant role in shaping India's maritime trade during the colonial period.
India has been developing its naval power even in the contemporary period. The general ports of India have developed immensely; these include Mumbai and Chennai as well as Kolkata for trade. In the field of marine facilities there developed different aspects of ship building technology of naval and other modern requirements and navigation systems in India.
The Indian Navy, with its strong fleet and strategic capabilities, plays a crucial role in safeguarding India's maritime interests. Initiatives like the Sagarmala Project aim to enhance port connectivity, promote coastal development, and boost maritime trade.