Rajendra Chola's portrait unveiled by Maharashtra Governor Dr Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai
It was a great day of celebrating India's military power and striking capabilities by instituting greatest naval Emperor Rajendra Chola's portrait at Mazgon Docks Shipbuilders, the Indian Navy's power centre in Mumbai, by Governor of Maharashtra & Tamil Nadu Dr Vidyasagar Rao and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on September 30. The Portrait was given to the Chairman and Managing Director of Mazagon Docks Ltd Rear Admiral (retd) Rahul Kumar Shrawat. Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar sent a special message of congratulations praising the greatness of Rajendra Chola. The Chola’s portrait will be soon presented to Defence Minister in New Delhi also for his Office.
The function began with the conceptualiser of the Chola’s portrait presentation to naval shipbuilders Shri Tarun Vijay saluting the armed forces for successful surgical strike in PoJK killing the terrorists and smashing their camps. He remembered the inspiring resolution by RSS Paritinidhi Sabha exhorting the nation to celebrate the 1000th year of the coronation of Chola emperor. He said it is coincidence that the military might of Rajendra Chola is being honoured in Maharashtra on the day when India has shown to the world her superior military and strategic prowess. “Rajendra Chola was the greatest naval emperor of the world, India produced a millennium ago (1014 CE—year of coronation) and his memory is essential not only for national unity but also to get inspiration to keep Indian Ocean as a zone of peace,” he said.
Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University Prof Sanjay Deshmukh spoke highly of Rajendra Chola and recited a Tamil poem in praise of the Emperor Chola. He said India is proud of its two great maritime heroes—Rajendra Chola and Shivaji.
Governor Dr Vidyasagar Rao appreciated the campaign to bring Tamil glorious icon to the other parts of the nation and said it is time to strengthen India's naval power taking inspiration from Rajendra Chola's great naval power one thousand years ago.
He said it is time to increase our maritime power and Chola stands out as the great icon of our naval strength. He informed the audience, which consisted of some senior IAS officers, navy and coast guard top brass, about the highly sophisticated naval might of the Cholas.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said India was always a maritime power but there was a time when we neglected it and it was resulted in the 2008 attack on Mumbai that happened through sea route only. Hence, it is very important to revive the memories of the great naval empire of the Cholas to make our naval power into a maritime super power once again. He said Shivaji had understood the importance of it.
Son of the great Rajaraja Chola I, King Rajendra (reign 1012-1044 CE) is credited with expanding the Chola empire across the seas to South-East Asia and to the North up to the Ganges, earning him the sobriquet ‘Gangai Kondan.’ He became the Chola emperor in 1014 CE after serving as a co-regent with his father for two years. He is also credited with establishing a university for Vedic studies at Ennayiram in Tamil Nadu. Remembering such a glorious reign on its millennial anniversary is an inspiration to the people. The Indian Navy also commemorated the 1000th year of the King Chola’s coronation with a series of activities.
