The king who looked east 1,000 years ago

This year marks a millennium since the coronation of Rajendra Chola I who sent his ships to south-east Asia for trade. The author reports on the celebratory events

"Make in India" and "Look East Policy" may be buzzwords of modern India, but they could well have been coined a millennium ago. For it was exactly 1,000 years ago that India's engagement with south-east Asia was strengthened by Rajendra Chola I after his enthronement as the successor to Rajaraja Chola of the dynasty that ruled over much of south India for 450 years. Rajendra Chola built strong ships, crossed the seas using ancient maritime knowledge, conquered cities in foreign lands and nurtured trading.

"Our commercial connections with south-east Asia were vital to the merchants of Rabia and Persia during the 7th-8th centuries, but it was during King Rajendra's reign that a proper system was put in place," says KRA Narasiah, author of several books on maritime history and a veteran researcher on the Chola dynasty. "This is relevant even today and is exactly what Prime Minister Narendra Modi is speaking about."

Rajendra was crowned the king in 1014. He extended his rule not only up to the banks of the Ganga in north India, thereby earning the title "Gangaikonda Cholan", but his army also invaded modern-day Bangladesh and cities in what are now Malaysia, Indonesia and southern Thailand. Narasiah notes that the intention behind these invasions was not to take over a country, but to ensure security for the vast Chola mercantile fleet that was threatened by pirates.

To recall the maritime prowess of the Cholas, the National Maritime Foundation, Chennai Chapter, in association with the Indian Navy and the Tamil Nadu Government, organised a sailing expedition in which INS Sudarshini left Chennai for Nagapattinam with personnel of the Indian Navy and National Cadet Corps onboard. The ship now is on a voyage around the world. "It is fitting that a circumnavigating ship is being involved in the celebrations for a king whose navy had gone beyond our boundaries even in those ancient times," says Commodore Amar K Mahadevan, naval officer in-charge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Commodore (retd) S Shekhar, regional director, National Maritime Foundation, says that the manner in which Rajendra gave shape to the trading guilds predates the setting up of today's industry bodies. He points out that these guilds were not under the control of the king, rather the trade and transport were managed by professionals and the palace was only a facilitator, supervisor and safe keeper. References to these can also be seen in Pattinappalai Mathuraikkanchi and other Sangam Literature.

The main economic activities of the Cholas, other than agriculture, comprised textiles and pearl fishery, which was known to the earliest Greeks and other foreigners. Barter trade was the standard method of transactions, while pepper and spices were exchanged for gold in foreign trade.

The millennium celebrations started at the end of July with the release of essay collections and books on Rajendra Chola at a two-day event near Thanjavur, capital of the Chola kingdom. People of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the city that Rajendra Chola founded and used as his capital, and its surrounding villages held a huge rally started from Maaligai Medu, the village where the remains of the king's palace have been excavated.

In Thanjavur, around 100 volunteers on motorcycles escorted 20 torch bearers, who took turns relaying the torch to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The torch was used to light 1,000 lamps at the temple.

Among other activities was an elocution contest on the legacy of Rajendra Chola. The National Maritime Foundation also organised a panel discussion on the Chola navy on November 8.

On the anvil are the design and production of a maritime-themed calendar for 2015, to be released as part of Navy Day on December 4 at Chennai. Plans also include building a memorial to the Chola king in Thanjavur, an expo on maritime heritage and training programmes for the fishing community.