Indian Ocean & Rajendra I 20.3.2015

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world’s oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20 per cent of the water on the Earth’s surface. It has Asia in the North, Africa on the West, Australia in the East and Antarctica inthe South.

The rise of Chola Dynasty in the Peninsular India unfolded a new chapter in the annals of the country when for the first time any ruling dynasty endeavoured to conquer high seas and to expand its hegemony and dominance across the seas through development of a strong naval force. The Coronation of Rajendra Chola l in 1014 C.E. was an epoch making event in the history of the Indian subcontinent, and an important and bright chapter in the glorious history of Indian Ocean. Son of the great Rajaraja Chola 1, King Rajendra is credited with expanding the Chola Empire across the seas to South–East Asia and to the North up to the Ganges, with his navy, earning him the sobriquet ‘Gangai Kondan’.

Narottam Morarjee - Birth Anniversary 2.4.1977

Narottam Morarjee (1877-1929) was an eminent Indian businessperson with major interests in shipping and textiles.

Narottam Morarjee was born on April 2, 1877 at Porbandar. His father Seth Morarjee Goculdas was a pioneering textile magnate. He studied at Elphinstone College. He started managing two mills- Morarjee Goculdas Mill of Bombay and Sholapur Mill of Sholapur while studying.

Narottam Morarjee later came into close contact with Mahatma Gandhi, Dr, Annie Besant, Dadabhai Naoroji, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu and Motilal Nehru.

Narottam Morarjee joined hands with Walchand Hirachand, to finance and establish The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd. along with another Gujarati businessman Kilachand Devchand, which was founded on March 27, 1919. On April 5, 1919, Scindia's first ship SS  LOYALTY sailed from Bombay to the United Kingdom and unfurled the flag of Indian shipping in international waters.

Narottam Morarjee died on November 5, 1929. Walchand Hirachand, ran some of his ventures till a year before, he died in 1953. Narottam Morarjee's son Shantikumar filled in posts of his father. But the group was indebted with liabilities and ultimately, Morarjee Goculdas Mill was taken over by Seth Piramal Chaturbhuj, patriarch of the Piramal family. While, after death of Walchand in 1953, the Scindia Shipping was completely taken over by Narottam Morajee group but shipping business, could not survive the changes and stopped doing business. Scindia Shipyard, a subsidiary of Scindia Steamship, in which Narottam Morajee, Walchand & Kilachands had stakes was nationalized by government in 1961.

Further, Government of India, established under the joint auspices of the Government of India and Indian Shipping Industry at Mumbai for Diploma courses in Shipping Management, which has been named Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping, after him.

Valliappan Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai - Birth Centenary 1972

Valliappan Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai (1872–1936), popularly known by his initials, V.O.C. (spelt Vaa. Oo.Ce in Tamil), also known as Kappalottiya Tamilan "The Tamil Helmsman", was a Tamil political leader. He was a disciple of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
He launched the first indigenous Indian shipping service between Tuticorin and Colombo with the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, competing against British ships. At one time a member of the Indian National Congress, he was later charged with sedition by the British government and sentenced to life imprisonment; his barrister license was stripped.
Upon Chidambaram's release he was not permitted to return to his Tirunelveli district. With his law license stripped from him he moved to Chennai with his wife and two young sons. There he ran a provisions store and a kerosene store.
In 1920, Chidambaram withdrew from the Indian National Congress, citing ideological differences with Mahatma Gandhi. He focused his efforts on establishing Labor Unions in Madras and writing.
After moving to Coimbatore Chidambaram worked as a bank manager. Dissatisfied with the income, he petitioned the court seeking permission to practise law again. Judge E.H. Wallace gave permission to restore Chidambaram's pleadership license; to show his gratitude Chidambaram named his last son Valasewaran.
Chidambaram moved to Kovilpatti and practised as a lawyer. He rejoined the Congress party in 1927 and presided over the third political conference held at Salem. He said that he wanted to join Congress again because he noticed a remarkable change in the policies of Congress and he was happy to note that the policies which he did not approve of were withdrawn one by one. However, after the Salem conference Chidambaram again severed his contact with Congress.
In 1932 he moved to Thoothukudi, where he spent his time writing and publishing Tamil books.

The Commissioners for the Port of Calcutta

The origin and growth of Calcutta, the first city in the country, is intimately connected with the development of Calcutta Port. It would be true to say that the city grew out of the port. It had its begining in the 17th Century when the rich and profitable trade with Bengal attracted foreign advertures. It was Job Charnock, the English Agent of the East India Company who chose the present site of Calcutta, 125 miles from the sea, and built the English Settlement here around 1690 with the permission of the then Moghul Emperor, Aurangzeb. The port and the city of Calcutta grew out of these settlements along the left bank of the River Hoogly.

 

However, the transition of Calcutta into a modern port really began in the second half of the last century. It is now the premier port on the Eastern Coast of the country handling the largest volume of dry cargo. The port commands a vast hinterland of about half a millon square miles, comprising the States of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Orissa, almost the whole of Uttar Pradesh, a part of Madhya Pradesh and also the neighbouring countries of Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. The port of Calcutta which is situated 126 nautical miles away from the sea, presents difficult navigational problems. There are several sand bars and sharp bends in the river which ships have to negotiate. The channel is dredged constantly and is well marked with numerous navigational aids to facilitate navigation-both by day and night. Pilotage of ships on this river is compulsory. The affairs of the port are managed by a statutory body constituted under the terms of Act V of 1870, later consolidated under the Calcutta Port Act, 1890, and known as "The Commissioners for the Port of Calcutta".    

The stamp is horizontal and depicts a picture of a Dredger' pilot Vessel and at Calcutta Port with the crest of the Port Commissioners Calcutta. Howrah Bridge over the River Hooghly is shown in the background.

Ardaseer Cursetjee Wadia 1969

Ardaseer Cursetjee Wadia had the unique honour of being the first in many fields during the Victorian era. He was the first Indian who had the honour to be elected a fellow of the Royal Society; he was the first to introduce lighting by gas in Bombay.

The picture of the First day Cover issued by the Post and telegraphs department depicts the gas lamps installed by him in one of the streets in Bombay.

He was the first to build an ocean going steam vessel in India. Ardaseer Corsetjee Wadia belongs to the well-known family of Lowjee Wadia who had distinguished themselves as the noted ship-builders of Bombay.

He was born on the 6th October, 1808. His father Cursetjee Rustomjee was a master builder in the Dockyard at Bombay. After receiving his early education, he joined the dockyard in 1822 at the very young age of 14. He was very much interested in marine engineering and especially in the working of steam engine. While in England, he constructed a steam engine, which he sent to India for being fitted in a boat of his own building. This was the 'INDUs' launched in 1833. His flair for the steam engine and mechanical gadgets was such that he was the first to install steam pumps on the island of Bombay which provided sufficient water to a small fountain thereby demonstrating to his countrymen the great advantages which may be derived from introduction of steam as a means of power which could be used successfully for irrigation.   employees at the docks. He occupied this post with great dignity till 1st August, 1857 when he retired from the service. In 1837, he was elected a non-resident member of the Royal Asiatic Society of England. In 1855 he was elected a justice of the peace. His hobby was to introduce novelties in the city of his birth and thus he was the first to introduce the sewing Machine, photography and electro-plating in Bombay. after a distinguished career and a useful life, Ardaseer settled down at Richmond, England and passed the remaining years of his life there. He died on the 16th November, 1877.

The P. & T. Department   brought out a commemorative stamp in memory of this great son of India, pioneer and innovator, Ardaseer Cursetjee Wadia. The design of the stamp is horizontal and depicts a portrait of Ardaseer Cursetjee Wadia along with sailing ships with which late Cursetjee Wadia was associated.

Maritime Day - 5th April 1965

5th April also happens to be My Birthdate :-))