Not many remember today, but India was once a major naval power. It’s time to bring back those days of glory
To understand the evolution of India post-1947, it is important to grasp the significance of certain symbols. The national emblem came from the Ashokan Pillar at Sarnath. The national flag, reportedly, focused on the religious composition of the Indian polity in its selection of colours. The official calendar of the Government of India was the Saka calendar, going back to Kanishka, the Kushan king. He never had sway over any significant part of either the Indo-Gangetic plains or peninsular India (never mind that nobody used this calendar).
Ashoka was glorified by naming the first luxury Government hotel in Delhi, after him. The epithet of ‘The Great’ was bestowed on Akbar who is credited with having founded the cult of Deen-e-ilahi.
Meanwhile, the Cholas, the Chalukyas, the Pallavas, the Cheras and the Palas were not seen as worthy of being etched in the psyche of the newborn independent state. Even the Guptas of Pataliputra were eclipsed from honourable mention. Those who have read Discovery of India will find it easy to trace the seed bed of these ideas. So be it.
The consequences of such an approach have been large and in many ways unrecognised. Few countries in the world have defined or practiced their identity in the way India did soon after its tryst with destiny at mid-night of August 15, 1947.
A significant fallout of this approach was the almost complete eclipse of sea power in the making of a post-independent India. Chittagong in the east and Karachi in the west, which were significant ports for Indian commerce, were lost to foreign sovereignty. Years later, Kandla was conceived to offset Karachi but it is a still limping project.
In the east, the silting of Howrah in Kolkata made the entrance of ships an even bigger challenge. The battle of the delta and its access has not been won by the dredgers. If Akbar could be the epitome of Indian grandeur, surely India could be great without sea power. This seemed to be the implied thinking of many individuals governing India including its coastal States.
Meanwhile, the world changed. Singapore, formerly a fishing village, became one of the biggest ports not only of South East Asia but the world. Dubai came into its own, and Colombo became the link between Singapore and Dubai. It reached a point where there was a grudging recognition of the fact that the 65 per cent of India’s export-import containers are trans-shipped through neighbouring country ports.
Some statistics would show how Kochi should have responded as a possible Indian port to this challenge. It is 11 nautical miles from the Gulf-Singapore channel and 76 nautical miles from the nine degree channel from Europe to the Far East. All other Indian ports are much more removed from the trunk route. This multiplies the maritime routes. It was eminently suitable as a trans-shipment hub.The commercial significance of maritime opportunities was large. The plan needed policy support
What has happened on the ground, however, is another story. The lNG terminal that has been constructed in Kochi works at two per cent of of capacity. The pipeline-laying project, between Bangalore and Mangalore, by the Gas Authority of India limited is incomplete. Only 40 of the 900 kilometers has been completed.
During a recent visit to Kochi, the writer was informed that GAIl has to appoint a new contractor. The International Container Transhipment Terminal remains the regional terminal to serve as the gateway of shipment traffic. Only 30 per cent of the capacity is, currently, utilised. It may useful to remind ourselves that ICTT is a special economic zone port. Some tweaking of the policy could change the scene. Illustratively bunkers could be given duty-free to coastal ship touching ICTT. Income tax exemption could be extended to the shipping crews touching ICTT. The examples can be multiplied.
The shape of things could be changed if only we could collectively rise to seize the opportunity which history has bestowed on us today. This would include the Union Government, the State Government, the corporates, the consulting firms and the Indian citizens. Some positive indications are there. One only hopes the trend gathers strength.