Why Choosing Lothal for India’s First Maritime Museum sends out a strong message?

The government of India is planning to establish a National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal in Gujarat. It will act as an independent research centre for the archaeology of boat building, reconstruction of maritime history, etc.

Why Lothal?

A visit to Lothal, though a dream come true for ancient Indian history enthusiasts, is a walk-through ruin engulfed in an eerie silence. So, many have questioned the decision to set up India’s Maritime Museum at Lothal?

In order to understand this, one has to study history which is almost 4,400 years old. The archaeological evidence from South East Asia and the Persian Gulf presents us with evidence of the prominence of Indian maritime voyages even before 4,000 years ago. Amidst all such important ancient cities, Lothal of the Indus Valley Civilization stands out as the prime industrial centre, which had a dockyard as well.

Discovered by Indian archaeologist S R Rao, this small Harappan city in Saurashtra region was not just a residential town but it also housed a warehouse. According to evidence, Lothal was a vital and thriving trade centre in ancient times, with its trade of beads, gems reaching the far corners of West Asia and Africa.

“Isn’t it an amazing fact? It’s only logical to build our country’s first Maritime Museum in Lothal. Since it was a part of the major river system, chances are that we would get a chance to study about sunken ships, which can help us trade links with other countries, says Sanjay Dalmia, who is a renowned nationalist.

Dr Rajiv Nigam, head of the geological division of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) published a study of microbial organisms collected from the sediments of the structure. He says that the presence of planktonic foraminifera in material from the present study site indicates the existence of high tidal range during Harappan times.

Why today it is in a nondescript place?

It’s not just Lothal, there are many more ancient heritage sites like Thotlakonda in Visakhapatnam, Kesariya Stupa in Bihar, which is currently in a sorry state. Most of these sites have no parking space, cafeteria and lack of access to public transportation given their proximity to the ocean or remote locations.

Lothal is no exception. At present, there is a museum, where different objects obtained are categorized into groups based on the possibility of their use in the Harappan culture. Furthermore, there is a multimedia room, which shows Harappan culture in both English and Hindi.

Despite this, the significance of Lothal is paramount in Indian culture. Sensitizing local youth with a history of 4000-year-old civilization would have a really dramatic effect, making it both profitable and enriching for the visitors. So, choosing Lothal for India’s First Maritime Museum is not only a wise decision but also a dream come true for every history enthusiast, who associates well with the cultural values that come along with the world’s earliest known dock.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar: A man who fought to abolish untouchability and promote equality

Babasaheb Ambedkar, also known as the father of Indian constitution, was the spokesperson of the backward classes and castes in India.

On 14th April 1891, in the town and military cantonment of Mhow, Ramji Maloji Sakpal's wife gave birth to her 14th and last child. Born into a poor Mahar (Dalit) family, Bhimrao Ambedkar was often subjected to socio-economic discrimination, both by British men and fellow Indians. Children from his caste were segregated and given little attention or help by teachers. They were not allowed to sit inside the class. It was perhaps this initial experience that propelled him to become an advocator of Human rights in India. Ambedkar’s efforts led to the abolition of untouchability in 1950. Who could have a thought a child born to a Subedar, belonging to the backward community would turn out to be one of the most prolific lawyers and force behind the abolition of untouchability?

This year, 14th April marks the 129th birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, a key figure in the global story of human rights but one whose contributions are not duly acknowledged and recognised. Ambedkar Jayanti is widely celebrated across India, where he is best known for drafting the Indian Constitution, in which he embedded several provisions for the protection of rights of the most marginalised.

It would not be wrong to say that while Mahatma Gandhi was uniting India to rise against the oppressive British government, Babasaheb Ambedkar was guiding the Indians towards spiritual development. "Britishers gained an advantage by pitting brother against brother. The current adulteration of the Hindu varashram is a direct result of generations of their bureaucracy," says Sanjay Dalmia, a renowned Indian nationalist. Babasaheb successfully led the fight for human rights, he added.

He was the first one to be a lawyer from a backward caste. In 1990, Ambedkar was posthumously conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.  With the nation strictly observing the lockdown following the COVID-19 outbreak; businesses have  come to halt, private companies are opting to work from home, aviation & railway sector have suspended their services, yet the central government has decided to declare April 14, the birthday of B R Ambedkar, as closed holiday for all its offices— noting his significant contribution in protecting the human rights with the conceptual framework of 'liberty, equality and fraternity'.