“India Maritime Heritage Conclave organised by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW)”
In today’s era, foreign trade constitutes an important attibute that paves the way for the progress of any nation. The basis of India’s growing economy is also foreign trade. It is also noteworthy that 95% of India’s foreign trade is conducted through sea route. Although the practice of conducting business across the sea is very ancient, but Indians were the first to introduce to the world successful businesses through sea route around 4500 years ago.
The reason for the rise of India’s ancient Saraswati-Indus civilization was also international trade which was mostly done via sea route. Although the script of that civilization has not been deciphered yet, but archaeological evidence provides evidence of trade through sea route in the ancient civilization of India.
The archaeological site of Lothal, located in Ahmedabad district of present-day Gujarat, was the main centre of international trade through sea. This archaeological site was discovered and excavated by S. R. Rao of the Archaeological Survey of India. From Lothal we have recovered the remains of a huge dockyard which was built using baked bricks. Its size is 216×36 meters. It was connected to the sea through a canal. This dock, built 4500 years ago, is an example of the advanced engineering of our ancestors. From the excavations conducted inside this dock, we have found five anchor stones. This evidence proves that ships were anchored inside this dock. A 41 feet wide inlet was made in this dock for the ships to enter. From its width, it can be estimated that huge ships were built in the Saraswati-Indus civilization. S.R. Rao is of the opinion that about 60 tons of goods were loaded on a ship and sent to Mesopotamia via the Persian Gulf. Apart from Lothal, maritime trade was also carried out via Kuntasi, Padri, Nageshwar, Bagsara, Nagwara, Desalpur etc.
There is also clear evidence of what type of ships were built by the people living on the banks of Saraswati and Indus rivers around 4500 years ago and what was their shape. A seal has been recovered from the excavation of Mohenjodaro on which we can observe an engraving of a ship. An interesting feature can be observed in this ship which is a provision of a cabin for the sailors to stay on it. Along with this, we can also observe engraving of two birds on it. Scholars are of the opinion that the birds were probably used to work out the directions in the middle of the ocean.
Seal depicting a ship with cabins and birds of Saraswati-Indus Civilization (courtesy – harrapa.com)
