April 5 is celebrated as National Maritime Day across the country and is dedicated to the role of maritime trade in the development of the Indian economy, and the role of India and its strategic location in global trade. An essential element of the Silk Route, India was a nation that acted as a node connecting the Middle East and Europe to the East Asian countries.
Each year, the day is celebrated with a particular theme that acts as a base of all events organised on this particular day. The day also represents and fuels the drive to improve the condition of maritime trade in India and help it reach new lengths.
NATIONAL MARITIME DAY: HISTORY
It was in the year 1919, when India was still under British rule, when on April 5, a ship called SS Loyalty, sailed from Mumbai to London. The ship was owned by Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd, the biggest large-scale shipping company owned entirely by Indians.
It was a significant day since at that time, the Indian sub-continent and its waterways were still under British rule. India, at that time, was a crucial land, in accordance with global trade, since it connected the European trade giants such as England, France, and Portugal, to the rest of Asia.