INSV Kaundinya Sails to Reclaim India's Maritime Legacy, Challenge Colonial Narratives

• INSV Kaundinya, built with ancient Indian stitched-plank techniques, embarked on its maiden voyage from Porbandar to Oman on Dec 29, 2025, flagged off by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.
• The expedition aims to reclaim India's rich maritime past, challenge Eurocentric colonial historiography, and restore confidence in indigenous knowledge systems.
• The voyage validates traditional shipbuilding and navigation methods, affirming India's historical role as a maritime power and disrupting the 'modern' vs. 'primitive' colonial binary.
• PM Narendra Modi lauded the initiative, highlighting India's rich maritime tradition; Sanjeev Sanyal emphasized India's active historical maritime presence.
• This 'decolonisation in motion' re-establishes India's civilisational identity, promotes non-domination, and strengthens its role in the Indo-Pacific.

Why It Matters: INSV Kaundinya's voyage reclaims India's maritime heritage, challenging colonial narratives and affirming indigenous knowledge.