Why in News ?
- INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy’s indigenously built traditional stitched sailing vessel, has embarked on its maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar (Gujarat) to Muscat (Oman).
- The expedition aims to revive and celebrate India’s ancient maritime heritage, retracing historic sea routes that fostered trade, cultural exchange, and civilisational linkages between India and Oman across the Indian Ocean.
Relevance
GS-I | Culture & Heritage
- Maritime heritage, indigenous shipbuilding traditions, historical trade routes.
GS-II | International Relations
- Maritime diplomacy, India–Oman ties, IOR cultural linkages, SAGAR vision.
What is a Stitched Sailing Vessel?
- Construction technique
- Hull planks are stitched together using natural fibre cords, instead of metal nails or rivets.
- Historical use
- Practised for centuries along India’s western coast — Gujarat, Konkan, Kerala.
- Enabled long-distance Indian Ocean navigation, monsoon sailing, and coastal trade.
- Civilisational significance
- Symbol of indigenous shipbuilding, seamanship, and navigation traditions rooted in maritime archaeology and textual references.
Voyage & Mission Highlights
- Route: Porbandar → Muscat (retracing ancient trade corridors).
- Crew: 4 officers + 13 sailors;
- Symbolism: Re-affirmation of Gujarat-Oman historical maritime ties and people-to-people connect.
Overview
1) Heritage Revival (Cultural & Historical Lens)
- Recreates living maritime traditions rather than museum-based remembrance.
- Strengthens awareness of India’s pre-modern oceanic trade networks and cultural interchanges in the Arabian Sea littoral.
2) Maritime Diplomacy (Strategic & Soft-Power Lens)
- Functions as heritage-led diplomacy, deepening relations with Oman and the wider Gulf & Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Supports India’s SAGAR vision (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
3) Naval Identity & Institutional Learning
- Reinforces the Navy’s evolution from colonial maritime narratives to indigenous seafaring identity.
- Provides a practical learning platform for seamanship, traditional navigation, and endurance sailing.
4) Cultural Economy & Tourism Linkages
- Potential to develop maritime heritage tourism, coastal craft revival, skill preservation, and community livelihoods along the western seaboard.
5) Geopolitical & Civilisational Signalling (Advanced Context)
- Positions India as a civilisational maritime power with deep historical roots in the IOR.
- Complements contemporary naval engagements with symbolic soft-power projection and people-centric diplomacy.
Strategic Significance for India–Oman Relations
- Reinforces trust, friendship, and historic connectivity between the two nations.
- Adds cultural depth to an already strong partnership in defence, energy, diaspora ties, and logistics cooperation.
