New Delhi (Agency):Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi stated on Tuesday that the Indian government should obtain a facsimile (copy) of Vasco da Gama’s diary, which is currently located in a foreign museum. She believes this move will help trace India’s rich maritime past. The Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs made this suggestion after laying the foundation for a traditional “stitched ship” in Goa.
Lekhi emphasized that although India can’t reclaim the original diary due to citizenship issues, a copy can be acquired for historical analysis. “India cannot get the original diary back because Vasco da Gama was not our citizen. But we can get a facsimile of the diary so that we can trace the country’s rich maritime history,” she said. Her remarks were based on findings by the late Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar, a renowned archaeologist and Padma Shri recipient.
According to Lekhi, the diary offers insights into how advanced India’s shipbuilding industry was during Vasco da Gama’s time. She recounted an incident where Vasco da Gama, on his way to Africa, encountered a merchant from Gujarat named Chandan. “That merchant used to go to Africa with pinewood and teak (for trading) and return with diamonds. His name was Chandan. He (merchant) said that he is returning tomorrow and he asked Vasco da Gama to follow him,” Lekhi added.
The initiative to construct the ancient stitched ship is led by Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, who is also a noted historian and economist. He spoke about the ancient maritime activities of Indian traders and South Indian kings. “Indian traders are known to have sailed as far away as China and Korea in the 4th and 5th century BC. Even the Pandyan and Chola kings of South India sailed extensively 1,000 years ago. We are trying to recreate this history by building an ancient ship,” said Sanyal.
Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, expressed that the Indian Navy is also working to reclaim its naval history. They plan to add 17th-century Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s royal seal to its official insignia.
This project aims to revive India’s maritime history by constructing a ship using ancient techniques, such as stitching planks with coconut fibers and using natural resins and oils. The “stitched ship” is part of a project approved last year, and once completed, will embark on a unique voyage along traditional maritime trade routes using ancient navigation methods.