The conclave was themed as "Towards Understanding India's Position in Global Maritime History".
- The conclave showcased India’s maritime achievements and its aspirations as an emerging global maritime powerhouse
- The Ministry is also developing the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, under the Sagarmala Programme to highlight India’s maritime heritage and create the world’s largest maritime heritage complex.
India’s Maritime Heritage
- Early Days (3000 – 2000 BC): IVC had maritime trade link with Mesopotamia.
- Vedic Age (2000 – 500 BC): Earliest reference to maritime activities is contained in the Rig Veda.
- Age of the Nandas and Mauryas (500 – 200 BC): Navy of Magadh kingdom is considered to be world’s first ever recorded instance of a navy.
- Chanakya’s Arthashastra mentions ‘Department of Waterways’.
- Satavahana Dynasty (200 BC-220 AD): First native Indian rulers to issue their coins with inscriptions of ships.
- Gupta Dynasty (320-500 AD): Development of ocean navigation and maritime trade mentioned in writings of travellers Fa-Hein and Huein Tsang.
- Marathas: Under Shivaji Maratha navy developed into a ferocious force with more than 500 ships.
- Southern Dynasties: E.g. Chera’s famous ports are Tyndis (present day Periyapattanum, near Kochi) and Muziris (present day Pattanam, also near Kochi).
