Recently, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, reviewed the project progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) located in Lothal, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The much anticipated NMHC complex is projected to have Asia’s biggest underwater marine museum and India’s grandest naval museum.
The National Maritime Heritage Complex: A Showcase of India’s Rich Maritime History
NMHC is a project being constructed at the historically significant region of Lothal, Gujarat which is a part of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways is overseeing its construction. The essential objective behind the establishment of NMHC is to display the maritime heritage and history of India from ancient times till the present era. This is done via an edutainment approach – integrating education and entertainment, and leveraging modern technology.
NMHC is anticipated to be established as the world’s largest maritime museum complex and aims to become an international tourist destination as well. This initiative will play a key role in educating visitors about India’s rich maritime history and promote a positive image of India in the global maritime sector. NMHC falls under the Sagarmala Programme umbrella and is being developed in collaboration with public and private institutes, organizations, and CSR initiatives. Major ports in India have also contributed funds to support this project.
The unique features of the NMHC complex include a mini recreation of Lothal, four theme parks centered around themes of Memorial, Maritime and Navy, Climate, and Adventure and Amusement, and a Coastal States Pavilion.
Lothal: The Ancient Port Town
Lothal, located in Gujarat’s Bhāl region, is one of the southernmost sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. Historians believe it was built around 2,200 BC and flourished as a trade center around the same era, establishing trade connections with West Asia and Africa. This ancient town was known for its trade of beads, gems, and ornaments. In Gujarati, “Lothal” translates to “the mound of the dead.” The excavated site of Lothal is renowned as the only port town of the Indus Valley Civilization.
In April 2014, Lothal was nominated for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. However, its application currently remains in limbo, featuring only on the tentative list of UNESCO.
Remembering India’s Ancient Civilizations: Past UPSC Examination Questions
Here are a few examples of previous year questions from the UPSC Civil Services Examination relating to India’s ancient civilization:
In the 2021 Prelims, a question was posed regarding water harvesting and management in ancient towns. The options were Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, and Ropar, with Dholavira being the correct answer. Another question in 2013 asked about the characteristics of the people of Indus Civilization, whereby the correct option was that they worshipped both male and female deities. In the 2019 Prelims, a question was asked about Harappan sites, with Sohgaura being the correct answer as it’s not a Harappan site.
