Kartik Purnima: a celebration of globalization

Globalization is nothing new, and sea trade has always played a significant role in connecting people. About four thousand years ago, the Indus Valley had extensive sea trade links with the Middle East. The attached picture of an Indus seal shows a boat. Sailors followed coastlines for navigation, and you can easily spot two birds on the boat, which were used in emergencies. If a boat inadvertently lost sight of the coast, the sailor would release a bird to get back to a safe distance.

While the Indus Valley and its trade declined, possibly due to climate change, sea trade began booming along the coastlines of Kalinga (now Odisha). Merchants from Kalinga (called Sadhavas) dared to venture into deep seas because of advancements in astronomy. Their ships were large enough to carry together more than 700 merchants, along with the crew and even elephants, to distant locations in Indonesia and China (see the attached map). Of course, cultural exchange is always an unintended consequence of trade.

It is unfortunate that we now know so little about the methods they used for navigation and shipbuilding. Perhaps there is still time to recover some of this knowledge. I remember a fisherman who gave us a boat ride in Chilika Lake a decade ago, mentioning that they tracked stars and the sun for navigational purposes.

Contrary to the popular notion that the Dutch East India Company was the first to introduce large-scale financial institutions that accelerated global trade, temples in India actually served as financial hubs. They drafted contracts and provided other financial services to merchants. That is why they became prime targets of Turkic armies starting in the 13th century. Indians then gradually withdrew from the seas, and eventually, crossing seas became a taboo in India.

Nevertheless, the old memories have not faded completely. People in Odisha celebrate the sea-faring tradition of Kartik Purnima each year by floating boats on the water. Bali Jatra (voyage to Bali, Indonesia) is celebrated in a grand way in Cuttack. So, early this morning, we went to Powai Lake to float boats made of banana stems.

(On LinkedIn, Kartik Purnima, 2024)