History of the Indian Navy

Dominant powers have possessed navies in present-day India for many centuries. Pre-colonial dynasties like the Cholas used naval power to extend Indian trade and influence overseas especially to Southeast Asia. During the 15th century the Marakkar Navy under Zamorins and the 17th and 18th century Maratha Navy fought against British and Portuguese colonizers. The British East India Company had its own navy organized, later known as the Bombay Marine. With the establishment of the British Raj in the 19th century, the naval force became the "Indian Navy of His Majesty," then the "Indian Marine of Her Majesty," and finally the "Royal Indian Marine."During World War I, this navy transported large numbers of Indian troops overseas and, like the Royal Indian Navy, took part in combat and protected communications during World War II. In 1947, when India became independent, part of the Royal Indian Navy was allocated to Pakistan's new state; the remaining Indian forces took the title of Indian Navy in 1950. The Indian Navy was involved in Goa 's annexation in 1961, in wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, and in smaller-scale operations more recent.

In 1503 Manavikraman, Kozhikode's Samoothiri Raja, began the naval build-up in response to Portuguese attempts to extract trade privileges. He had commanded and appointed Mohammed Kunjali as his fleet's Marakkar (admiral). The Samoothiri Rajas effectively repelled numerous attempts by the Portuguese to overthrow their rule over the course of the next century, with each side enlisting different allies over time. The Samoothiri Rajas had served four generations of Kunjali Marakkars.Over time, however, gaps have grown between Mohammed Ali, Marakkar IV and his owners, resulting in his self-declaration as the "Lord of the Indian Seas." Afterwards the Samoothiris collaborated with the Portuguese to defeat Mohammed Ali in 1600. They later allied with the Dutch East India Company in order to defeat the Portuguese.

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha Empire in 1674.He is also known as the Father of the Indian Navy. The Marathas have formed a naval force from its inception, consisting of cannons mounted on ships.

The Maratha Navy's dominance began with the Satara chief Maratha 's ascent of Kanhoji Angre as the Darya-Saranga. Under that authority, he was master of India's western coast from Mumbai to Vingoria (now Vengurla) in Maharashtra 's present-day state, except for Janjira, affiliated with the Mughal Empire. He repeatedly threatened the colonial forces of Britain and Portugal until his death in 1729, capturing several British East India Company vessels, and demanding ransom for their return.

A joint attempt by the Portuguese (Viceroy Francisco José de Sampaio e Castro) and the British (General Robert Cowan) at humbling Kanhoji failed on 29 November 1721. Their combined fleet of 6,000 soldiers in four man-of-wars, in addition to other ships led by Bombay Marine Captain Thomas Mathews, did not attain their goals. Assisted by Maratha naval commanders Mendhaji Bhatkar and Mainak Bhandari, Kanhoji continued to capture and defeat the ships of Europe until his death in 1729.

The 'Pal' was a man-of-war 3 masted Maratha with guns peeping on the broadsides.

On 26 January 1950 when India became a republic, the name was changed to the Indian Navy, and the vessels were redesigned as Indian Naval Ships (INS).

The first Indian Naval Staff Chief, appointed on April 22, 1958, was Vice Admiral R. D. Katari.