Chhatrapati Shivaji’s navy never really sought to challenge the Europeans since it lacked the capacity to fight them on the high seas.
The Marathas understood their capabilities and limitations well, and shrewdly remained close to the shore.
Given how history played out, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to call Shivaji the ‘father of the Indian Navy’ makes little sense – but that doesn’t seem to have been enough to stop him.
Manoj Joshi breaks down the matter, and explains the true origins of the Indian Navy.