Rich maritime history of ancient Odisha

Ancient Odisha was well-known for it’s rich maritime trade. The marine traders of ancient Odisha known as ‘Sadhavas’ used to reach far stretched lands for trade like Java, Sumatra, Bali etc. and return with valuables.

The first image (given above) is an artifact in display at the Odisha State Museum, Bhubaneswar. It is from the 11th century A.D. and was found at Bhubaneswar. It shows a boat carrying a baby elephant. At the extreme right of this artifact, a part of another big elephant can be seen suggestive of being carried in another boat accompanying the previous boat. May be these elephants were transported for export purpose in exchange of worthy things by the ‘Sadhavas’.

 

The second image (given above) is from the Konark Sun Temple that shows a baby giraffe facing an elephant. As we know, giraffes are not native to India or Asia and are natural habitats of Africa. So this artifact suggests, may be the giraffe came via sea route all the way from Africa and it might have been traded by the ‘Sadhavas’ in exchange of something valuable. Or it might have been a gift from the King of an African nation for the ancient King of Odisha.

 

Whatever might be the fact, the end point is that, both these artifacts suggest a rich maritime history of ancient Odisha and reaffirm our capabilities as a brave nation that navigated through rough and dangerous sea route to reach far stretched lands even though most of the ancient nations were just satisfied with being safe in the comfort of the land.