Karwar: In the sun-dappled waters off Karwar, a vessel from a bygone era is preparing to make history again. On May 21, 2025, the Indian Navy will induct a meticulously crafted replica of a 5th-century CE stitched ship, inspired by a vivid painting in the Ajanta Caves, during a ceremonial event at the Naval Base in Karwar. The Minister of Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, will preside as Chief Guest, unveiling the ship’s name and marking its official entry into the Navy’s fleet. This isn’t just a ship—it’s a time machine, stitched together by artisans, engineers, and dreamers, ready to sail the seas as India’s ancient mariners once did.
The journey began in July 2023 with a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, funded by the Ministry of Culture. The project aimed to resurrect a vessel from a mere two-dimensional mural in the Ajanta Caves, with no surviving blueprints or physical remnants to guide the way. The keel was laid on September 12, 2023, at Hodi Shipyard in Goa, where master shipwright Shri Babu Sankaran and a team of Kerala artisans brought ancient techniques to life. Using only traditional methods and raw materials, they executed thousands of hand-stitched joints, threading coconut coir through wooden planks. “Each stitch felt like a heartbeat from the past,” one artisan reflected, his hands bearing the marks of this labour of love.
The technical challenges were daunting. The ship’s design—featuring a stitched hull, square sails, wooden spars, and steering oars—was alien to modern naval architecture. With no historical records to rely on, the Indian Navy collaborated with the Department of Ocean Engineering at IIT Madras to conduct hydrodynamic model testing, ensuring the vessel could navigate modern seas. In-house structural analysis validated the wooden mast system, crafted without contemporary materials. “We were designing from a painting, building a ship that had to be both a museum piece and a seaworthy vessel,” said a naval architect involved. Every choice balanced historical authenticity with functionality, from the hull’s geometry to the rigging of square sails, reimagined from first principles.
Launched in February 2025, the ship emerged as a wooden marvel, its hull a patchwork of tradition painted in the colours of India’s flag. The Indian Navy oversaw every phase—concept, design, technical validation, and construction—working hand-in-hand with Hodi Innovations and traditional artisans. The result is a vessel unlike any in naval service worldwide, a testament to India’s ancient shipbuilding prowess brought to life after centuries of obscurity.
The induction marks the completion of the project’s first phase, but the adventure is far from over. The Navy is now preparing for the second phase: a transoceanic voyage from Gujarat to Oman, retracing ancient maritime trade routes. This ambitious journey will revive the spirit of India’s seafaring ancestors, who once plied these waters with skill and daring. For the team behind the project, from the artisans sewing planks to the officers plotting the course, this ship is more than a vessel—it’s a bridge to India’s maritime soul, a chance to sail history into the future.
– global bihari bureau
