Shivaji to feature on naval uniforms: Why Maratha king is important to Indian Navy

The Indian Navy is set for a sea change. On the occasion of Navy Day (4 December), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the epaulettes worn by naval officers will now bear the imprint of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “Inspired by the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, today’s India is moving forward abandoning the mentality of slavery. I am happy to announce that the epaulettes donned by the naval officers will now highlight the heritage and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and they will be similar to the naval ensign,” PM Modi said. For the unaware, epaulettes are worn either on the shoulder or cuffs of the sleeve of some uniforms to denote the rank of the personnel. Until now, Indian Navy officials wore epaulettes, featuring the Nelson’s Ring, a colonial legacy. And this is not the only transformation that the Navy will undergo. The PM also announced naval ranks will be Indianised. For instance, ranks such as seaman2, seaman1 and petty officer will be changed. The new epaulettes and Indianised ranks are a series of changes introduced by the Indian Navy to shed its colonial past, which saw the maritime force adopting a new ensign – inspired once again by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. But why is it that Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler, is considered important to the Navy? What is his significance to the maritime agency? Shivaji, the ‘father of Indian Navy’ Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great Maratha ruler, is considered by many as the ‘Father of the Indian Navy’. It is him who laid the foundation of a modern navy in India. Historians point out that while Shivaji could be considered the man behind the revival of the maritime force, it was the Cholas who first displayed their prowess in the water. When Shivaji was enthroned in the mid-1600s, he realised the importance of the seas. He decided to establish a navy in order to protect his dominion from the Siddis. He also wanted to secure ports and merchant ships in order to ensure smooth maritime trading that brought in revenue and customs duty. Historians note that his vision for the navy was based in his belief – “Jalameva yasya, balameva tasya”, which translates to “He who rules over the seas is all powerful”. Many historians note that his love for the navy and his desire for a naval fleet also came from his love for the water that emerged as he spent time as a youth in Mahad, near Bombay. Historians note that in February 1655, he decided to test the preparedness of his navy. With 85 ships, he attacked Basuru near Kundapura in today’s Karnataka and returned with a huge booty. [caption id=“attachment_13467602” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is credited with laying the foundation of a modern navy in India. At the peak of his power, his naval fleet was made up of 400 ships of different sizes and kinds. File image/PTI[/caption] Shivaji built a formidable naval force during his reign. Some military experts note that at its peak, his fleet was made up of 400 ships of different sizes and kinds, including battleships as well as others vessels such as gurab, tarande, galbat, shibad, and pal. **Also read: How Maharaj founded a reign of cultural resurgence and good governance** Besides building a formidable naval fleet, Shivaji also understood the importance of forts in securing territory. Between 1653 and 1680, Shivaji built more naval forts such as Sindhudurg and Kolaba. They were used by the Marathas for strategic purposes, to keep a watch on enemies approaching via the seas. It is reported that in total, Shivaji built 13 new sea-side forts along the Konkan coast, and fortified and improved many others. Many still stand tall, with Sindhudurg, built on an island off Malwan, being perhaps the best preserved. According to Indian Navy documents, the Maratha navy held both the Portuguese and the British at bay. It was under Shivaji, the Maratha navy developed into a ferocious force with more than 500 ships. And even after Shivaji’s death in 1680, his legacy was taken forward by his sons. They appointed Kanhoji Angre as their naval chief in 1693 and he controlled the Konkan territory from 1693 to 1730. He fought several wars with the Dutch and the English, defeating them every time. [caption id=“attachment_13467582” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] PM Narendra Modi with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar during the ‘Navy Day 2023’ celebrations, in Sindhudurg district. PTI[/caption] Indian Navy’s inspiration from Shivaji The Indian Navy acknowledges Shivaji’s contributions to making it the force it is today. In fact, its training establishment in Lonavala, near Mumbai, is called INS Shivaji. Additionally, the administrative hub of the Western Naval Command, INS Angre, is named after Kanhoji Angre, the well-known and brave Maratha naval commander. Additionally, last year in August, the Indian Navy announced a new naval ensign (Nishaan), which according to PM Modi “did away with the colonial past”. The previous ensign of the Navy was a white flag with horizontal and vertical red stripes, symbolising the Cross of Saint George, with the emblem of India superimposed on the intersection. The tricolour is placed in the upper canton next to the staff. However, a new ensign was unveiled in September 2022, which bears the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The white background of the new ensign has the national flag on the top inner quarter, while the outer half features a blue octagon, in which the national emblem is placed atop an anchor, which is superimposed on a shield with the Navy’s motto ‘Sam no Varunah,’ in Devnagari script. The Navy later said that the octagonal shape with twin golden borders drew inspiration from the seal Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose visionary maritime outlook established a credible naval fleet. As one military historian wrote, “We owe it to Shivaji who revived the navy on the western coast.” With inputs from agencies