Did Vasco da Gama discovered sea route to India? 😛😜😝

Vasco da Gama had recorded in his diary that upon his arrival at Zanzibar in Africa he saw a docked ship three times bigger than his own. He took an African interpreter to meet the owner of that ship *#Chandan*, a Gujarati trader who used to bring pine wood and teak from India along with spices and take back diamonds to Cochin. Vasco da Gama followed Chandan to reach the shores of India, a fact very few in independent India know about.

Venetian trader and explorer #Marco #Polo, as early as 13th century, had recounted that ships in India had double boards which were joined together with strong nail and crevices, filled with special kind of gum and were so huge that 300 boatmen were needed to row them. These vessels could take a load of 3000 to 4000 gunny bags having small rooms and arrangements for comfort. Additional layers were added to the bottom, when it gets damaged. Some ships had as many as six layers, the book says. In the 15th century another traveller #Nicolo #Conti found Indian ships were much bigger than their own ships and their bases were made of three boards to weather formidable storms. Some ships were built in a such a manner that if one part was damaged, the rest could substitute for it. Another traveller #Berthma had written how wooden boards were joined to prevent even a drop of water seeping into the ship and that it would take eight days to come to Iran from Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari), the book records.

Until the 17th century, European ships were a maximum of 600 tonnes. But in India, they saw such big ships as the Gogha which were more than 1500 tonnes.The European companies started using these ships and opened many new factories to make Indian artisans manufacture ships.

In 1811, Lt. Walker writes, The ships in the British fleet had to be repaired every 12th year. But the Indian ships made of teak would function for more than 50 years, without any repair.

The #East #India #Company had a ship called Dariya Daulat which worked for 87 years without any repairs. Durable woods, like rosewood, sal and teak were used for this purpose.

French traveller #Waltzer #Salvins writes, in his book Le Hindu in 1811 AD, Indians were in the forefront in the art of ship-building and even today, they can teach a lesson or two to the Europeans. The British, who were very apt at learning the arts, learnt a lot of things about ship building from the Indians. There is a very good blend of beauty and utility in Indian ships and they are examples of Indian handicrafts and their patience.

Between 1786 and 1863, 300 ships were built at factories in Mumbai. Many of them were included in the Royal fleet. Of these, the ship called Asia was 2289 tonnes and had 84 cannons.
Ship building factories were set up in Hoogly, Silhat, Chittagong, Dacca, etc.

In the period between 1781 to 1821, in Hoogly alone 272 ships were manufactured which together weighed 122,693 tonnes.

Ancient Romans and Greeks had trade contacts with India through sea. #Thamizhs were the best sea-fairers in the world. In fact, that race's name suggests that "they returned from sea"!! Once upon a time, this skill was looked upon with awe. Then how apt is to credit #Vasco #da #gama as founder of sea route to India? 😉

(Source: Hinduism Today)