Stitched by Hand, Powered by Wind: India’s Historic Ship INSV Kaundinya Sets Sail
When INSV Kaundinya set sail from Porbandar in Gujarat towards Muscat in Oman, it was not just a naval voyage across the Arabian Sea. It was a journey through time. Built entirely using ancient Indian shipbuilding techniques, the vessel symbolically retraces the historic maritime routes that once connected India to West Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In doing so, the Indian Navy has transformed the ocean into a living archive, where history is not merely remembered but experienced. Unlike modern naval ships of steel and engines, INSV Kaundinya moves purely with the power of wind and sail. Every wave she cuts through carries echoes of Indian mariners who navigated these same waters centuries ago, guided by stars, experience, and courage.Reviving an Ancient Shipbuilding TraditionINSV Kaundinya is a stitched sailing ship, a technology believed to have been widely used along India’s coastline during the 5th century CE. Instead of iron nails, her wooden planks are stitched together using coir ropes made from coconut fiber. Natural resin, cotton, and oils seal the hull, making it seaworthy while allowing flexibility. This traditional technique enabled ancient ships to bend with strong waves rather than break under pressure, making long-distance ocean voyages possible even without modern metallurgy. The Defence Ministry described this method as a reflection of India’s once-flourishing maritime knowledge system. Long before GPS or engines, Indian sailors reached distant shores using ships built with organic materials and indigenous wisdom. INSV Kaundinya stands as a floating reminder of that forgotten technological confidence.From Ajanta Paintings to Open SeasWhat makes INSV Kaundinya remarkable is that no physical remains or blueprints of such ships survive today. The design was reconstructed primarily from two-dimensional depictions found in the Ajanta Cave paintings, supported by descriptions from ancient texts and foreign travellers’ accounts. Translating artistic imagery into a functional, seaworthy vessel demanded an extraordinary interdisciplinary effort. The Indian Navy played a central role in this process, combining archaeological interpretation with modern naval architecture and scientific validation. Hydrodynamic testing was conducted at IIT Madras to ensure stability and safety. The keel was laid in September 2023, and after months of careful craftsmanship, the ship was launched in Goa in February 2025. The ship was formally inducted into the Indian Navy on May 21 at the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka.The Hands That Stitched a ShipAt the heart of INSV Kaundinya’s story are the artisans who brought her to life. A team of traditional craftsmen from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran, stitched the ship entirely by hand. For months, they worked patiently, knot by knot, plank by plank, reviving a skill passed down through generations but rarely practiced at this scale today. Their work is a powerful human connection within this grand naval project. In an age dominated by automation and machines, these artisans relied on memory, intuition, and inherited knowledge. The ship is not just engineered; it is handmade, carrying the fingerprints of those who stitched her hull and the cultural memory they represent.A Ship Rich in Cultural SymbolsINSV Kaundinya is as much a cultural artifact as it is a sailing vessel. Her sails display motifs of the Gandabherunda, the mythical two-headed eagle associated with the Kadamba dynasty, and the Sun, symbolizing energy and continuity. The bow bears a sculpted Simha Yali, a mythical lion figure found in ancient Indian art, while a Harappan-style stone anchor adorns her deck. Each element reflects India’s layered maritime heritage, blending influences from different eras and regions. These symbols transform the ship into a moving narrative of India’s civilizational journey across the seas.Who Was Kaundinya?The ship is named after Kaundinya, a legendary Indian mariner believed to have lived in the 1st century CE. According to Southeast Asian and Chinese records, Kaundinya sailed across the Indian Ocean to the Mekong Delta, where he married Queen Soma and helped establish the Kingdom of Funan in present-day Cambodia. Funan became one of the earliest Indian-influenced states in Southeast Asia, shaping regional culture, governance, and trade. Although Indian historical records do not mention Kaundinya, he is regarded as the earliest named Indian sailor with global historical impact. Naming the vessel after him connects the ship not to human ambition, migration, and cultural exchange.Retracing Ancient Maritime HighwaysThe voyage from Gujarat to Oman is deeply symbolic. These waters were once bustling trade corridors where Indian merchants exchanged spices, textiles, and ideas with West Asia and beyond. From these routes emerged centuries of cultural interaction, economic prosperity, and shared knowledge across the Indian Ocean world. By sailing this route again, INSV Kaundinya is not asserting naval power but reclaiming historical memory. Though she belongs to the Indian Navy, she is not a combat vessel. Her mission is educational, cultural, and civilizational, reminding Indians that the sea has long been a bridge rather than a boundary.A Living Link Between Past and PresentINSV Kaundinya represents more than a ship. She is a living classroom, a tribute to forgotten artisans, ancient sailors, and India’s maritime confidence. At a time when nations look forward through technology, this vessel urges us to also look back with pride and understanding. As she sails across the Indian Ocean, driven only by wind and tradition, INSV Kaundinya carries with her a powerful message: that India’s future strength is deeply rooted in its past, and that some of the greatest journeys are those that help us rediscover who we have always been.
