Indian Navy is set to induct and unveil the name of the ‘Ancient Stitched Ship’ during a ceremonial event as part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The ceremony will take place at the Naval Base, Karwar. Aiming to recreate the country’s rich naval heritage, the Indian Navy is set to induct a “stitched ship” handcrafted by traditional boat makers with support from the navy and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, bringing back a 2000 year old technology in life.
Indian Navy Unveils World’s Only ‘Stitched Ship’ Inspired by Ajanta Art
Why In News
- Indian Navy is set to induct and unveil the name of the ‘Ancient Stitched Ship’ during a ceremonial event as part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The ceremony will take place at the Naval Base, Karwar. Aiming to recreate the country’s rich naval heritage, the Indian Navy is set to induct a “stitched ship” handcrafted by traditional boat makers with support from the navy and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, bringing back a 2000 year old technology in life.
- Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will preside over the ceremony as the Chief Guest, formally marking the ship’s induction into the Indian Navy.
All You Need To Know
- In a momentous initiative by the Centre, the Indian Navy, Ministry of Culture, and Hodi Innovations, Goa, collaborated to reconstruct an ancient stitched ship, reminiscent of the ships that once sailed the oceans on India’s ancient maritime trade routes, the ministry had said in September 2023.
- The project was formally initiated through a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between them, with funding from the Ministry of Culture.
- The keel laying of the ship took place in September 2023.
- “The stitched ship is a recreation of a 5th century CE ship, inspired by a painting from the Ajanta Caves,”
- Its construction was carried out entirely using traditional methods and with raw materials by artisans from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran, who exec who executed thousands of hand-stitched joints, he said.
stitched ship is a recreation of a 5th century CE vessel, inspired by a painting from the Ajanta Caves. This project was initiated through a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations. The Ministry of Culture funded the project.
- The Indian Navy oversaw the complete implementation of the project, covering concept development, design, technical validation, and construction, in collaboration with Hodi Innovations and traditional artisans. A glimpse of the ship was shared by the navy on X.
Why Is Ancient Stitched Ship Unique?
- The ship is unique as its construction was executed entirely using traditional methods and raw materials by artisans from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran.
- Thousands of hand-stitched joints were used in the process. The ship was launched in February 2025 at Hodi Shipyard, Goa.
- Equipped with square sails and steering oars, the ship differs entirely from modern vessels. Hull geometry, rigging, and sails were developed from first principles. The Indian Navy collaborated with the Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, for model testing to validate the vessel’s hydrodynamic performance. An in-house structural analysis was conducted to assess the wooden mast system, which was designed and built without the use of modern materials.
- The project posed several unique technical challenges, as no blueprints or physical remnants of such ships exist. The design was extrapolated from a two-dimensional artistic depiction and required a multidisciplinary approach, including archaeological interpretation, naval architecture, hydrodynamic testing, and traditional craftsmanship.
- Every element of the vessel was carefully crafted to strike a balance between historical authenticity and seaworthiness, resulting in a ship that features a stitched hull, square sails, wooden spars, and traditional steering mechanisms—unlike any currently in naval service worldwide. With the successful construction of the Ancient Stitched Ship, the first and most formidable phase of the project is now complete. The next phase will involve the Indian Navy undertaking a transoceanic voyage along ancient maritime trade routes.
- Ajanta Caves
- Location: Ajanta is a series of rock-cut caves in the Sahyadri ranges (Western Ghats) on Waghora river near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
- Number of Caves: There are a total of 29 caves (all buddhist) of which 25 were used as Viharas or residential caves while 4 were used as Chaitya or prayer halls.
- Time of Development
- The caves were developed in the period between 200 B.C. to 650 A.D.
- The Ajanta caves were inscribed by the Buddhist monks, under the patronage of the Vakataka kings – Harishena being a prominent one.
- Reference of the Ajanta caves can be found in the travel accounts of Chinese Buddhist travellers Fa Hien (during the reign of Chandragupta II; 380- 415 CE) and Hieun Tsang (during the reign of emperor Harshavardhana; 606 – 647 CE).
- Painting
- The figures in these caves were done using fresco painting.
- The outlines of the paintings were done in red colour. One of the striking features is the absence of blue colour in the paintings. Some paintings, such as Simhala Avadana, Mahajanaka Jataka and Vidhurpundita Jataka, cover the entire wall of the cave.
- The paintings are generally themed around Buddhism – the life of Buddha and Jataka stories.
- UNESCO Site: The caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
