Why in the News?

The Indian Navy has formally inducted a traditional stitched sail ship, named INSV Kaundinya, at a ceremony held at the Naval Base in Karwar.

INSV Kaundinya

About INSV Kaundinya:

Induction: It is a newly inducted, stitched sail ship of the Indian Navy, formally inducted at Karwar Naval Base.
Design: The ship is based on a 5th-century design shown in a painting from the Ajanta Caves.
Construction Method: Built using ancient Indian shipbuilding techniques, including coconut fibre stitching, wooden joinery, coir ropes, natural resins, and cotton sails.
No Modern Additions: It has no metal parts, no modern rudder, and is powered by square sails and steering oars.
Cultural Symbols: Features include the Gandabherunda (two-headed eagle of the Kadamba dynasty), a Simha Yali on the bow, and a Harappan-style stone anchor.
Sail Plan: The vessel has 3 masts — the main mast, mizzen mast, and bowsprit mast.
Planned Voyage: A 15-member Indian Navy crew will sail it to Oman by late 2025, retracing ancient maritime trade routes.
Project Partners: This heritage revival project is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

Kaundinya is regarded as the first known Indian sailor to cross the seas over 2,000 years ago.
He is credited with founding the kingdom of Funan (in present-day Cambodia and South Vietnam) through a historic alliance with Queen Soma.
Their story is recorded in Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Chinese sources, though not in Indian texts.
Future dynasties like the Khmer and Cham traced their origins to this union.

[UPSC 2003] Consider the following statements:

1. The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in the early medieval times.

2. The Cholas sent an expedition against Sailendra empire of South East Asia and conquered some of the areas.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Options: (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2* (d) Neither 1 nor 2