Indian Navy is known to be ranked as one of the ten best naval forces in the world. The Naval branch of the Indian Armed Force holds immense prestige.
The president of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Naval Force. The Indian Naval branch of the Indian Armed Force was founded on 5th September 1612.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, popularly known as Shivaji was a very courageous ruler of India. He was a great ruler and an efficient warrior. Shivaji’s strategies rested upon three pillars. The three pillars are grasp over ground forces, naval forces, and a series of forts across its territory to have a good defense system.
Shivaji understood the importance of maintaining a naval force. His urge for a navy began in order to safeguard Konkan Coast.
Why Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj became the Father of the Indian Navy?
Shivaji Maharaj excelled at making military strategies and organizations. To safeguard his territory he laid the best possible ways. Made a strong standing army, and emphasized the naval force.
Shivaji held the navy so strong that, Marathas held themselves against Portuguese, Dutch, and Britishers. His efficiency and dictation informing and formulating the naval force bolstered his kingdom and paved the path of the Indian Navy.
He made ships in several towns for using them not only in defense purposes but also in trade-fare.
He made several sea bases, forts, a shelter for the soldiers, and storage of trading materials.
Shivaji fought numerous battles and went on broadening his Navy. He began trading with foreign lands after he was able to possess eight to nine ports in the Deccan.
His progress could be marked evidently. He started with the voyage of creating a naval force with 160 merchants and got it to around 700 merchants.
With the bravery, strategy,y and well formation of the Naval force along with other prospects of territory extension, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj became the Father of the Indian Navy.
How Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj became the Father Of the Indian Navy?
For his excellent organizations of naval force and the right way of managing it, he is honored with the title of ‘Father of Indian Navy’. Shivaji started building his navy in and around 1657-1659.
He began arranging his navy by buying twenty galivants from the shipyard of Portuguese. Marathi record books and journals depict, Shivaji’s fleet counted around 400 warships. ( Though it is necessary to mention here, there might be some inaccuracy in the data provided, as the contemporary English chronicles state that the count remained within 10).
As most of the rest of the rulers emphasized more on protecting and safeguarding land territory and focussed more on the military. Shivaji stressed the naval force. He extended his search for qualifies and worth crew for his ships.
He involved lower caste Hindus, who stayed and worked by the sea and was quite familiar with naval operations. Shivaji also included the Muslim mercenaries in it. This showed Shivaji a liberal outlook and a more strategic ruler.
He admired the Portuguese navy and for the very reason hired Portuguese sailors and Goan Christian converts to be a part of his Naval force.
Shivaji Maharaj provided defensive work as a protection against the coastline attack. He strength the forts reconditioned them.
On this notion, he built his first marine fort at Sindhudurg. The Fort at Sindhudurg was to become the headquarter of Maratha Naval Force.
This is how he grew the seedling of the Navy to a strong stand. Shivaji was the one to bring up the Naval strengthening scheme in order to safeguard territory. For he laid the base of the branch of the Armed Force with strategies and proceeding, he became the father of the Indian Navy.
Some of the famous naval forts built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are Vijaydurg Fort, Jaigarh fort, Sindhudurg fort, and so on.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had also greatly developed over warships. He had four main types of warships. The known three of which are Gurabs, Gallibats, and Manjuhasm.
Also, read, How can I join the Indian Navy after 12th?
Different types of Indian Navy Uniforms