In the economic field, the trade, which was one controlled by the Arabs in almost perfect harmony with Indian rulers, passed into Portuguese hands. This all started after May 29, 1498, after famous navigator and explorer Vasco da Gama landed at Kappakaduvu, ten kms north of Calicut. Though they claimed to have discovered a new sea route after rounding the Cape of Good Hope and crossing equator, the route might have been known to the Arabs and the Gujarati traders, who frequented it.

With the discovery of the new route the economicexploitation of India started as they were followed by Dutch, French, Danes, Austrians, Swedes and British, who came for trade and established colonies. Moreover, the fact that a Gujarati Muslim, Ibn Majid piloted the ship of Vasco da Gama from east coast of Africa to Calicut, shows that navigation across open seas was not the exclusive domains of Europeans, said Lt Kamlesh Kumar and Lt Sanjay Nagar.

Naval historians and experts deliberating at a recently-concluded seminar on the European influence in shaping maritime India organised by the Maritime History Society, Mumbai at the western naval command's INS Angre, felt that lack of cooperation and coordination among Indian rulers resulted in dominating over Indian territories. Several research papers on wide-ranging topics were presented at the seminar.

Wg Cdr Naravane, in a paper on ``impact of foreign powers on Indian maritime history'', especially with reference to the Portuguese, pointed out that when Vasco da Gama landed there was no single politicalstate nor even a confederation of states in Hindustan. There were numerous small and big rulers who often styled themselves as kings. The Afghan king Bahlol Lodi had died in July 1498 and the Lodi empire, then on a steady downward, was snuffed out by Babar in 1527. In Gujarat, Bahadur Shah was beset with difficulties, both at home and outside, in conflict with Humayun in north and Ahmednagar in south. Moreover the Baghamani empire in the Deccan had started disintegrating. Vijaynagar was also on a downward trend, he says.

The western coast was under the nominal control of Gujarat -- upto Bombay, of Nizamshahi upto Dhabol, the Adilshahi upto Goa and the Vijaynagar kingdom in Goa. It is interesting to note that Vasco was not welcomed in Calicut, and he has to sail to Cochin, as it was an enemy of Calicut. The quick intellect of Gama did not take long to realise how he could profit by taking advantage of acrimony between native states, he said.

Their political, economic, social and military strength helpedthem to dominate the Indian rulers and later establish control over the Indian Ocean. Soon, exploitation of Indian markets started and later conversions. The Portuguese came to trade, but established territories and colonies. However, Portuguese exploits were shortlived as other western nations followed suit and picked their preys in the Indian Ocean, says Lajwanti Shahini, adding, Portuguese penetration of the Indian Ocean was not a chance venture, but a result of long preparations and carefully matured plans.

Lt Cdr S Nandal, Lt R P Singh and Lt R K Jha in their presentation said that the Portuguese were the first of the European nations to appreciate sea-power and flouted the age-old concept of the freedom of the high seas and claimed monopoly over Indian seas for their advantage. However, on the other hand Indian rulers have neglected the sea power and depended highly on land armies for defence. Cmde Ajay H Chitnis said that the maritime developments included construction of ships specially designedfor the seas they where to operate in, their arming and navigational training which gave them an edge over the Indian rulers.