India’s stitched ship sets sail: Reviving a 5th-century maritime legacy

India Today

In a powerful tribute to India's ancient seafaring tradition, the Indian Navy unveiled the 'Ancient Stitched Ship' on May 21, 2025, at Karwar Naval Base.

Transcript

00:00India's ancient maritime legacy is set to sail again, quite literally.

00:04In a historic moment under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,

00:07the Indian Navy inducted and unveiled the name of the Ancient Stitch Ship

00:11during a ceremonial event held at the naval base in Karwar, Karnataka on May 21, 2025.

00:17But what exactly is the Ancient Stitch Ship and what makes it very unique?

00:21A meticulously recreated 5th century sea vessel inspired by a painting from the iconic Ajantha Caves,

00:27the project was signed in July 2023 through a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Culture,

00:33the Indian Navy and the Hodi Innovations, with the Culture of Ministry providing full funding.

00:38Its keel was laid on September 12, 2023.

00:41And what made this ship truly exceptional?

00:43It was built not with steel or machines, but with history, tradition and craftsmanship.

00:48Constructed entirely using traditional techniques and raw materials,

00:52the ship featured thousands of hand-stead joints created by skilled artisans from Kerala.

00:57Equipped with square sails, wooden spars and traditional steering ores,

01:01the ship was unlikely any modern naval vessel.

01:04With no blueprints or physical remains to rely on,

01:07every element was developed from first principles based on two-dimensional painting,

01:12archaeological interpretation and traditional boat-building methods.

01:15To ensure the ship's seaworthiness,

01:16the Indian Navy collaborated with IIT Madras for hydrodynamic testing and conducted in-house

01:23structural analysis of the wooden mast system without using any modern materials.

01:28With the successful construction of the ancient stitch ship,

01:30the first and most formidable phase of the project was completed.

01:34The next phase, a trans-oceanic voyage along the ancient maritime trade routes.

01:39Preparations had already begun for the vessel's maiden journey from Gujarat to Oman,

01:43reviving not just a route, but an entire chapter of India's maritime past.

01:48The ship was not just built, it was revived.

01:50A living vessel of India's heritage, stitched by hand,

01:54powered by legacy and ready to rewrite history at the sea.

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