Today is National Maritime Day
On 5th April 1919 an Indian owned ship the SS Loyalty sailed for Britain.
What was so special about this ? Let's see..
On 5th April 1919 an Indian owned ship the SS Loyalty sailed for Britain.
What was so special about this ? Let's see..
The EIC established a shipping monopoly. Indian carpenters , blacksmiths etc could not build a ship unless it had EIC blessings
19th century laws meant that a ship sailing to England as a rule should have 80% British officers. No Indian could command a ship built by Indians at Bombay Dockyard.
The British Government established a cartel which cut rates to dirt cheap levels and finished all competition.
102 Indian Shipping Companies .. industry which apparently Britain gave us... Closed down. With a total lost capital of over 50crore.
Including one by Tata
102 Indian Shipping Companies .. industry which apparently Britain gave us... Closed down. With a total lost capital of over 50crore.
Including one by Tata
A similar cartel, involving Jute, had sprung up in Bengal. It is to JD Birlas credit he managed to somehow managed to find his way.
VO Chidambaram Pillai started a shipping company. Many ships were accidented. On some flimsy reason he was sent to 40yrs in prison.
His crime was challenging British Government monopoly in Indian waters by opening a legal trade.
His crime was challenging British Government monopoly in Indian waters by opening a legal trade.
Indian Shipping should perish, so British shipping may flourish
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Mahatma Gandhi
The British Companies unleashed an unfair rate war by establishing a cartel against Tata Shipping.
If this was the fate of Tata, imagine other people
If this was the fate of Tata, imagine other people
Finally for attempt number 103 , there appeared Walchand Hirachand Doshi.
From Solapur in Maharashtra
From Solapur in Maharashtra
Much work in construction business and also the Kurla - Reay Road railway line in Mumbai before taking up shipping
The SS Loyalty had started life as RMS Enterprise - same ship which had taken Swami Vivekanand to the USA !
Purchased by Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior and outfitted as SS Loyalty, a hospital ship for the war.
It was on sale at Bombay Docks for 25 lakh
Purchased by Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior and outfitted as SS Loyalty, a hospital ship for the war.
It was on sale at Bombay Docks for 25 lakh
Walchand Hirachand decided to buy it. Knowledge of the ship had come from a chance meeting with one Watson of the Crompton and Greaves Company, while on a rail journey to Mumbai.
Where was the money going to come from ? 25 lakhs was a huge amount.
Where was the money going to come from ? 25 lakhs was a huge amount.
Narottam Morarji, Sir Lallubhai Sawaldas and Kilchand Dewachand stepped in.
The Scindia Steam Navigation Company was floated.
Its shares were oversubscribed.
The SS Loyalty was outfitted and set sail on 5th April 1919.
.... And then it's problems started.
The Scindia Steam Navigation Company was floated.
Its shares were oversubscribed.
The SS Loyalty was outfitted and set sail on 5th April 1919.
.... And then it's problems started.
How could an Indian owned ship sail across the ocean to England ??
Mind you, not Indian manned - that would happen in 1950 also under Scindia.
British Companies registered it as Second Class, increasing insurance premiums.
Mind you, not Indian manned - that would happen in 1950 also under Scindia.
British Companies registered it as Second Class, increasing insurance premiums.
Walchand found it difficult to find shipyards for fully outfitting his ship.
The vessel needed 1500 tons cargo.
Lord Inchcape of the British India Company WARNED shippers against trading with Walchand
Walchand Hirachand purchased cargo from his own pocket !
The vessel needed 1500 tons cargo.
Lord Inchcape of the British India Company WARNED shippers against trading with Walchand
Walchand Hirachand purchased cargo from his own pocket !
The ship managed to sail back !
It had completed its journey and Indian Shipping was on its way !!
It had completed its journey and Indian Shipping was on its way !!
Lord Inchcape came up with other hurdles
One was to offer a hefty s to buy out Scindias.
Narottam Morarji went to his shareholders and told them that they would make short term monetary gain, while India would face long term industrial loss
..
One was to offer a hefty s to buy out Scindias.
Narottam Morarji went to his shareholders and told them that they would make short term monetary gain, while India would face long term industrial loss
..
* offer hefty sum
Except one, all shareholders refused Lord Inchcape's offer.
Except one, all shareholders refused Lord Inchcape's offer.
Burma was a huge rice producing country.
The rice was transported (British firms)
Walchand Hirachand decided to step into this trade.
Response was as expected - the Brit companies slashed freight rates from Rs 18 to Rs 6.
The rice was transported (British firms)
Walchand Hirachand decided to step into this trade.
Response was as expected - the Brit companies slashed freight rates from Rs 18 to Rs 6.
Moreover , any trader doing any kind of trade with Walchand was refused this discount
That was the end of the Burma venture but for two Indians in Burma- Seth Mulji Dharamsey and Sir Abdul Karim Jamal
Who, mainly AKJ, at great personal risk shipped their cargo on Scindia ships
That was the end of the Burma venture but for two Indians in Burma- Seth Mulji Dharamsey and Sir Abdul Karim Jamal
Who, mainly AKJ, at great personal risk shipped their cargo on Scindia ships
* 12 years RI including the Oil Press at Madurai Prison.
Dunno how 40 got typed
Dunno how 40 got typed
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