In a tribute to Navy Day on December 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by unveiling a grand statue at Sindhugarh, Maharashtra. PM Modi emphasized Shivaji’s strategic understanding of naval power and announced that naval officers’ epaulettes would soon bear his emblem.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, recognizing the significance of a secure coastline, established the Maratha Navy between 1661 and 1663. The navy, at its zenith, boasted 400 diverse ships. Shivaji strategically constructed naval forts like Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, and Kolaba, remaining unconquered and serving as watchtowers against potential sea threats.
The Indian Navy acknowledges the maritime prowess of the Marathas, naming its training establishment in Lonavla as INS Shivaji and the logistics hub in Mumbai as INS Angre, after the celebrated Maratha naval commander Kanhoji Angre. The octagonal design of Shivaji’s seal on the new Naval Ensign symbolizes this historical connection.
Shivaji’s naval vision was rooted in the belief that ‘He who rules the seas is all powerful.’ Although successful in littoral waters, the Marathas didn’t challenge European naval powers on the high seas. Despite their maritime acumen, the Marathas paid a special tax to Portuguese, indicating strategic limitations.
Shivaji’s legacy endures, with PM Modi commemorating the Maratha Navy’s role in giving “enemies sleepless nights.” As we reflect on Navy Day, Shivaji’s visionary approach to maritime security remains an integral part of India’s naval history.
