Currently, Indian Navy is being counted among best top 10 navies in the world. But a few know that, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is regarded as the ‘Father of Indian Navy’ for laying the foundation stone for naval forces in the country.
Most of us are familiar about this 17th century king and many of his stories that reflect great valor and heroism. However, there is one of the stories in his life that demonstrates the reason being him credited for his valuable contributions towards Indian Navy.
Portuguese had already entered into Indian waters with Vasco da Gama reaching Calicut in 1498. This also resulted into the hysteria of activities the UK, France, Netherlands as well as Denmark to march their vessels to India in order to be a part of this lucrative trade. Britishers entered India more than a century after the arrival of Portuguese. Initially starting as traders they turned out to be successful empire builders, as they began to take keen interest in the political affairs of India.
Portuguese as well as British particularly dominated the sea trade by sheer use of superior naval force. They sought permissions from local rulers and began to dominate the Indian trade with force whenever necessary.
Due to better trade prospects Britishers got settled in Surat, Gujarat. Undertaking Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1665, they were now bound to come in conflict with the rising Maratha power under the leadership of Shivaji Maharaj. The year 1657 C.E. marked the seizing of North Konkan regions like Kalyan, Bhiwandi (then Bijapur territory) and Cherul (ancient port near Kolaba, Alibaug) by Maharaj. Additionally, he also started the construction of naval fort of Vijaydurg in South Konkan region in 1653 C.E.
Maharaj also started to establish Navy force in 1674 C.E. in order to protect the sea bordering Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa (former part of Maharashtra). He realized the importance of protecting the Konkan coastline from British, Portuguese, and Dutch invasion and sea trade. He started building the Indian navy by acquiring twenty galivants from the Portuguese.
To counter British and Siddi friendship, Shivaji Maharaj started to build a naval fort on Khanderi island (Alibaug) in 1679 C.E. to keep a check on the Siddis at Murud-Janjira fort and on the British trade route to Mumbai. Khanderi and other naval forts like Vijaydurg, Suvarnadurg, Sindhudurg and Kolaba were completed between 1653 C.E. to 1680 C.E. However, Britishers sent a letter in order to stop the construction to which Maharaj didn't pay any heed. This enraged Britishers and they deputed their best and big warship called “Revenge” to cause hindrance in the construction of the fort.
Using small ships but a lot of improvised naval strategies, they deployed shallow vessels that could travel in low tide. Thus, Maharaj’s naval forces thwarted this attack and sunk the “Revenge”. Finally, the British forces handed over the Khanderi fort to them, thus marking big victory to Shivaji Maharaj on sea.
It is said that around 3 to 4m walls spread across 0.5 km, were built undersea that blocked huge vessels of Britishers who tried to seize Suvarnadurg. The techniques of this wall construction is still unknown. The walls are still intact to this day and doesn't allow huge ships or cruises to enter the premises of the fortress.
All these naval forts forts still stand proudly in the Arabian Sea as they stood against the British and Siddi in 17th century, and their walls are still intact.
Khanderi fort, Alibaug; Credits: Ian Pereira
Vijaydurg, Devgad; Credits: Marathi Unlimited
Suvarnadurg, Dapoli ; Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Sindhudurg, Malvan ; Credits: Maharashtra Bhraman
Kolaba Fort, Alibaug ; Credits: Wikimedia Commons
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