I recently had the opportunity to re-visit the Odisha State Maritime Museum and remember once more that people from my home state were known for their seafaring adventures in ancient and medieval times.
The place is a treasure trove of Buddhist heritage and culture. The most tragic part of it was the large map of ports that showed the decline in the number of port cities over time. The ancient coasts (as well as many inland banks) were littered with ports. The numbers decline over time and today, there is just Paradeep.
Loss of cultural artifacts makes you feel something. Often, it is a sense of loss. But sometimes it is also something more sublime — like a sense of acceptance. All things end. You are looking at the ruins of something ancient that ended. This means that all things that may be loosely defined as ‘now’, will also end. These include terrible tragedies as well as great achievements. Or great tragedies masquerading as great achievements. As a science fiction and fantasy person, I am used to the idea of ancient civilisations lost to time and ruins of cultures swallowed whole by cosmic accidents. Why should the world I live in be any different?
While I am on the topic of maritime culture, I recently read Shannon Chakraborty’s novel The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi.
It’s a maritime fantasy adventure featuring a retired pirate captain called Amina al-Sirafi. Do try if that seems like your kind of thing.
I have this vague idea about a maritime adventure story that I may or may not write. If I do, it will probaby end up on Aagaami. Hope you are subscribed!