Lothal Maritime Heritage Complex will be a bridge between past, present & future: Union Minister Sonowal

The vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heritage as well as development. We have to work to preserve whatever our ancestors have done.  With the role that India is playing in the world under Modi-ji, the world is discussing what India’s thought is. Earlier, people did not look at India this way, but in the last 10 years there has been a transformation in various sectors, with India developing rapidly.

Our PM says India has been strong for ages. Look at Lothal. We have to prove that we are the best. In the maritime sector, we were once a world leader. From the dockyard to the planned city in Lothal, it’s a fact that in maritime trade and shipbuilding, we played a crucial role in the ancient world. If we don’t tell this to the present generation, how will they understand? We want to show the world that we have been a maritime power in the ancient past.

We are building a museum and cultural centre, which will be crucial for tourism and research, to show the world how we interacted with the world for thousands of years. We recently invited historians and archaeologists from across the world to Delhi to share knowledge about our civilisation. This structure at Lothal will be a bridge between the past, present and future. It will preserve global maritime culture and trade.

What do you think about the controversy over Dr Manmohan Singh’s cremation at Nigambodh Ghat and the Congress’s allegations of mismanagement and disrespect to the former PM?

I want to stay away from political questions today. This construction of the museum is very important, and I would want to stick to it.

What is your memory of Dr. Singh? Could you share any interaction with him, something that you cherish?

He was a true gentleman. He was very cooperative and positively responded whenever anyone approached him. When I was Dibrugarh MP from 2004 to 2009 and he was the Prime Minister, I once wanted — also because he was a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam — to inform him about some incident in the state, but he was not in office. I conveyed the information to his staff. After 4-5 hours, Dr. Singh called me up to enquire about the issue. This was a very positive way of behaving with his colleagues in the House. I was in the Opposition but he did not ignore me. This was a learning experience for me.

Since you invited historians and archaeologists from across the world for a conclave in Delhi in the run-up to the construction of this heritage complex, is the government also contemplating collaborations with universities and researchers abroad regarding maritime history and other issues?

Twenty nations are already in dialogue, and three nations – Vietnam, Portugal and the UAE – have already signed MoUs with us. International collaborations have been proposed with archaeological institutes and universities for joint excavations, research and documentation of ancient maritime trade routes, curating special exhibitions showcasing ancient trade routes, shipbuilding techniques and the role of the maritime in shaping global civilisations.

We have proposed, apart from the three MoUs already signed, collaborations with Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives, Iran, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Egypt, Tanzania, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs. MoU’s with Sri Lanka and Thailand will be signed shortly.

What is the deadline for the maritime complex at Lothal?

The first phase will be completed by August 2025, and the entire project will be completed by 2028. It’s not just for tourists to see the museum and go. We have created lots of amenities for a wholesome experience.

What kind of economic impetus do you foresee for the area around Lothal once the maritime complex comes up?

It is going to generate 22,000 jobs. We expect 25,000 visitors per day. So, it will generate an ecosystem that will be helpful for people.

An IIT-Delhi researcher died recently at Lothal while collecting soil samples for study. Have there been consultations between your ministry and other institutions regarding how to ensure that such incidents are avoided in future?

The matter is related to the Archaeological Survey of India. Nothing came to us.

While maritime trade constitutes a large chunk of global trade, why is it that India has not been able to establish itself as a global maritime power for decades despite our large population? What are your plans to bolster our clout as a maritime nation?

Two big ports are coming up — one on the west coast at Vadhavan in Maharashtra and the other on the east coast at Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar island. By 2047, we have targeted to handle more than 10,000 million metric tonnes of cargo. That is our vision. We have to handle bigger quantities. Today we are handling 1,600 million metric tonnes of cargo.