In News: Prime Minister of India unveiled the new Naval Ensign (flag) at Kochi, which bears the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who laid the foundations of a modern navy.
How does the Indian Navy identify with Shivaji (reign 1674-80) and the great Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre (1669-1729), and how did they ensure Maratha supremacy of the seas?
Shivaji and the seas
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj put great emphasis on sea-faring prowess, and laid the foundations of a modern naval force in the 17th century.
The Indian Navy has named a training establishment in Lonavla as INS Shivaji and a shore based logistics and administrative hub of Western Naval Command as INS Angre after Kanhoji Angre, the acclaimed Maratha naval commander.
The use of the octagonal design of the seal of Shivaji on the new Naval Ensign is a formal stamp on the umbilical ties of the Indian Navy with the navy of the Maratha empire.
Extent of naval prowess
Shivaji’s strategic thought ensured that a strong naval presence was established along the Konkan coast to protect the sea trade of the Maratha empire.
The navy under Shivaji was so strong that the Marathas could hold their against the British, Portuguese and Dutch.
Shivaji built ships in towns such as Kalyan, Bhivandi, and Goa, both for trade and to establish a fighting navy.
He also built a number of sea forts and bases for repair, storage and shelter. Shivaji fought many lengthy battles with Siddis of Janjira on coastline.
He started trading with foreigners on his own after possession of eight or nine ports in the Deccan.
Kanhoji Angre
Kanohji Angre was the commander of Maratha navy, and is credited with laying a strong naval foundation which ensured that the Marathas were a sea-faring power to reckon with.
Kanhoji is credited with holding his own against the English, Portuguese and Dutch naval forces.
He ensured that the merchants plying their trade for the Maratha empire were protected on the seas.
He set up a base in Colaba with more bases at Suvarndurg and Vijaydurg near Ratnagiri.
Siddis of Janjira
Janjira State was a princely state in India during the British Raj.
Its rulers were a Siddi dynasty of Habesha descent and the state was under the suzerainty of the Bombay Presidency.
Janjira State was located on the Konkan coast in the present-day Raigad district of Maharashtra.
