INSV Kaundinya – Stitched Sail Ship

Source: HT

Context: The Indian Navy formally inducted INSV Kaundinya, a stitched sail ship inspired by 5th-century Ajanta cave paintings, at Karwar Naval Base.

• The ship will undertake a transoceanic voyage from Gujarat to Oman later this year, reviving India’s ancient maritime heritage.

About INSV Kaundinya – Stitched Sail Ship:

• What It Is?

• A fully functional stitched sailing ship built using ancient Indian shipbuilding techniques, inducted as an Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV).

• Inspiration: Modeled on a 5th-century CE ship depicted in Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra — showcasing India’s maritime heritage through art.

• Developed By: Jointly developed under a tripartite agreement (July 2023) between: Ministry of Culture (Funding Agency) Indian Navy (Technical Validation & Oversight) Hodi Innovations (Shipbuilder)

• Ministry of Culture (Funding Agency)

• Indian Navy (Technical Validation & Oversight)

• Hodi Innovations (Shipbuilder)

• Objectives:

• Revive and demonstrate traditional Indian shipbuilding methods. Celebrate India’s ancient maritime trade and navigation skills. Promote cultural diplomacy and heritage awareness globally.

• Revive and demonstrate traditional Indian shipbuilding methods.

• Celebrate India’s ancient maritime trade and navigation skills.

• Promote cultural diplomacy and heritage awareness globally.

• Key Features:

• Construction Technique: Built using stitched plank technique, where wooden planks are joined using coir rope, coconut fibre, and natural resin — no nails used. Design Validation: Reconstructed using iconographic extrapolation from Ajanta paintings, with hydrodynamic testing at IIT Madras. Artistic Elements: Sails feature Gandabherunda and Sun motifs, bow has a Simha Yali, deck holds a Harappan-style stone anchor. Traditional Rigging: Equipped with square sails and steering oars, replicating ancient sea-faring designs. Naming Legacy: Named after Kaundinya, the legendary Indian mariner who sailed to Southeast Asia, symbolizing historical Indo-Pacific ties.

• Construction Technique: Built using stitched plank technique, where wooden planks are joined using coir rope, coconut fibre, and natural resin — no nails used.

• Design Validation: Reconstructed using iconographic extrapolation from Ajanta paintings, with hydrodynamic testing at IIT Madras.

• Artistic Elements: Sails feature Gandabherunda and Sun motifs, bow has a Simha Yali, deck holds a Harappan-style stone anchor.

• Traditional Rigging: Equipped with square sails and steering oars, replicating ancient sea-faring designs.

• Naming Legacy: Named after Kaundinya, the legendary Indian mariner who sailed to Southeast Asia, symbolizing historical Indo-Pacific ties.