Disaster at Sea: SS Vaitarna - India’s Forgotten ‘Titanic’

SS Vaitarna popularly known as Vijli (Literally electricity) or Haji Kasam ni Vijli, was a steamship owned by A J Shepherd & Co, Bombay that disappeared on 8 November 1888 (24 years earlier to RMS Titanic sinking) off the coast of Saurashtra region of Gujarat in cyclonic storm during a crossing from Mandvi to Bombay. More than 740 people on board went missing in the disaster. The incident resulted in the creation of nautical lores and songs.

SS Vaitarna was the first steamship built by Grangemouth Dockyard Co. Ltd., Grangemouth and launched in 1885. She was schooner made of steel and took three years to complete. This screw steamer had three floors and twenty five cabins. She had a single funnel, two masts and a fore-and-aft rigged sail furled against the forward mast. The engines were built by Dunsmuir & Jackson, Glasgow. She was owned by A J Shepherd & Co, Bombay and was registered in Glasgow. She was 170.1 feet long, 26.5 feet broad and 9.9 feet deep. It was brought to Karachi by traveling around Africa for a maiden trip to Bombay.

She traded between Mandvi, Cutch State and Bombay ferrying passengers and goods. She took 30 hours to travel from Mandvi to Bombay at a fare of Rs8/-. The ships of the region were not designed to mitigate storms as they generally travel along the coast from port to port during calm seasons and were laid up in harbor during stormy monsoon sea.

The Incident SS Vaitarna was anchored on Mandvi port on 8 November 1888, Thursday), at noon and she left for Dwarka after taking 520 passengers on board. She reached Dwarka and had some more passengers on board, reaching 703 in number. She left for Porbandar. Though according to lores, Porbandar port administrator Lelie told the Captain not to venture into the sea, but later research did not supported the claim. Due to bad weather she did not stop at Porbandar and directly headed for Bombay. At evening, she was seen off the coast of Mangrol, and later at night some people claimed that she was seen wrecking near Madhavpur (Ghed) amid severe storm. The next day she was declared missing.

No bodies or debris of the ship was found. She was assumed to be wrecked in a cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea. Though the folklores states casualty of 1300 people, there were 746 people (703 passengers and 43 crew members) on board who went missing in the disaster. The other numbers reported are 798. 741 (38 crew member and 703 passengers) and 744. There were thirteen wedding parties and several students who headed for Bombay to appear in the matriculation examination of Bombay University in December.

Kasam Ibrahim or Haji Kasam was the captain of the ship. He was an aristocrat from Kutch holding tracts of land between in Borivali and Dahisar in Bombay. He had his office at Abdul Rehman Street and he lived at Malabar Hill. It is also believed that he was blessed by Fakir that he will own 99 ships and Vijli was his last. Haji Kasam Chawl in Bombay Central is named after him.

Following the disappearance of the ship, the Bombay Presidency formed a committee, Marine Court of Inquiry, to probe the matter. It pointed out that Vaitarna was ill-equipped with safety measures. It did not have enough lifeboats and life jackets aboard. She was overwhelmed by the heavy storm. The aneroids used on board the other steamers of the line of the ships to which Vaitarna belonged were checked and found erroneous. Bombay Presidency and Shipping companies sent steamers to find the shipwreck but were unsuccessful.

Lores The incident resulted in formation of many nautical Lores, Myths, Legends and Songs over the years and became popular in folklore of Gujarat. The ship was popularly referred to as Vijli in folklore and is chiefly associated with its captain Kasam Ibrahim.

(a) Poet from Jamnagar, Durlabhrai V. Shyamji Dhruv published a collection of songs titled Vijli Vilap.  

(b) Bhikharam Savji Joshi also published another collection in the same name. 

(c) Jhaver chand Meghani collected and published one of such songs in his folk song collection, Radhiyali Raat, titled "Haji Kasam, Tari Vijli Re Madhdariye Veran Thai". 

(d) Gujarati author Gunvantrai Acharya wrote a fiction titled, Haji Kasam Tari Vijli (1954) based on the incident.

(e) Y. M. Chitalwala, a researcher based in Dhoraji researched the incident and documented it in Vijli Haji Kasamni published by Darshak Itihas Nidhi in 2010.

(f) A film based on the incident, Vijli: Mystery of the Phantom Ship, directed by Dhwanil Mehta and starring Rana Daggubati, was announced in 2017 with story written by Yogesh Joshi.

Read More

Perennial problems India faces & possible solutions

Reforming the political/bureaucratic system (to eliminate corruption) will be on almost everyone’s list of top problems India faces today, but not mine. I am not saying that they are not one of our biggest problems, but by targeting the political/bureaucratic class (as if they are the only corrupt people in India), we are only attempting to cut the leaves and are not focusing at the root of the problem.

Which is, The people of India….

A society that believes and indulges in corruption/favoritism at every available opportunity will only produce corrupt leaders. That’s one of the principle flaws of democracy, but then democracy ensures that people get the leaders they deserve.

1. Corruption – The first problem I identify in India is corruption/favoritism, but the way to solve it would be to change people’s ideas/attitude about corruption. Stricter laws, punishments can help, but these are not sufficient. We know that corrupt society will find ways to bypass rules/laws.

I can write on why corruption is bad, but such articles get a very limited reach. And besides, majority of our people still don’t have access to Internet or even basic education. But, there is one medium that has enormous reach – TV/Cinema. If directors/movie makers/Tele-serial makers could come forward to make good movies/serials that make people rethink about their corrupt ways and still make it interesting with a gripping story-line, the message might spread faster.

The Leads to corruption can be multi-faceted, and not necessarily only money oriented. Corruption in morality, in competition and attitude are of the same generic form of corruption.

One of the solutions could be to come up with a crowd-sourced funding platform (a site maybe) where prospective movie directors showcase stories/ideas and people vote/fund (not donate) for best of such ideas/concepts. The revenue from the movie should be shared with the funding bodies. Awareness is the first step to solving any problem.

2. Sustainable Living – Well, sustainable living is the solution, not the problem! In our quest towards success, wealth, happiness, etc. we forget that we are over-exploiting the resources available to us. Want wood? Destroy forests. Want energy/mobility? Pollute environment. Want connectivity? Make non-recyclable products and destroy the earth. Want space? Occupy marsh-lands. Want food? Kill animals. Want enjoyment? Drink alcohol, smoke, eat unhealthy food and risk diseases (The current COVID19 pandemic is a manifestation of the same unsatiable appetite of human beings). This list could go on…

Sustainable living is a wonderful concept that let’s us enjoy life without over-exploiting worldly resources. It’s a concept that encourages inclusive growth, for us as well as all the creatures living around us. We need sustainable living ambassadors to promote this wonderful concept in all medium (blogs, FB, newspapers, TV, movies, etc.) that can take the message to its beneficiaries (people). Though Indian culture and traditions have been majorly focused towards sustainable living but needs to be reinvented through movements like SUSTANIA.

3. Education – The kind of education we get is one of our biggest problems. Of course, it is much better than not getting education at all, but we are struck with an education system that produces imitators and not innovators/inventors. We have parents/teachers who are content with the current system and focus only on marks, and don’t much care about knowledge transfer/unlocking the true potential of students.

If our previous generations were blind to this problem, it’s understandable – they were the first generation to receive any proper education. But how can we be blind to it? Why do we want our children (also) to become back-office processing agents? Why is a Google or Microsoft not coming out of India, despite high proficiency in coding abilities and English?

I have written on this extensively in my previous blogs but whatever we do, we should eliminate the concept of memorization/mugging up for exams quickly. Examinations should not be a one day affair and should much largely focus on grasping the overall fundamentals of the specific domain. Moreover the curriculum must trigger thought processes and counter questions.

4. Neighborhood Cleanliness – Yes, we are all experts in keeping our homes/offices clean. But when it comes to the neighborhood, we give it scarce respect. We notice excessive waste that get accumulated around waste-bins and empty plots being used as dump yards.

Of course, first we should make sure that there are enough waste-bins in each locality. Corporation should appoint a coordinator from within each community, who would give them feedback on the no. of waste-bins required etc. Secondly, our Government should look at innovative methods like this solar-powered compressing waste-bins that can not only accommodate more waste (per bin), but can also message authorities when full.

5. Economic independence – Each and every person in our society (except minors) should be economically independent. Especially, women. That will prevent subjugation and crimes (esp. against women). I guess we have come a long way in educating girls, and in cities women equal men in the work-force. But, in small towns and villages, women are not given equal rights to work. We need more SHG’s(Self Help Groups) for women in rural areas that will impart skills and create a dependable income stream for them. Economic independence also triggers education and incubates business ideas for future small start-ups for building the village Eco system of India.

Overall all of the above needs a deterministic approach towards execution and constant metrics driven follow up and monitoring…. It is immaterial as to who holds the helm of power, the citizens of our country should ask sticky questions to their chosen leaders, related to the achievement of the above metrics.

Read More

Block chain Technology in Supply Chain & Logistics and the Potential Application.

Prelude

Block chain technology has been at the heart of economic topics since the inception of the Bitcoin Craze. Bitcoin, the digital currency that saw record-breaking growth last year, is built on block chain technology, providing an endless ledger of transactions. Block chain technology in supply chain and logistics is believed to be the end-all solution to renowned transparency and end-to-end visibility, not to mention accountability. The interest in block chain technology in supply chain and logistics is simply irresistible, and supply chain executives need to know a few things about it.

Block chain Technology in Supply Chain & Logistics Is Still a New Topic

Part of the reason behind the fear and uncertainty around block chain is the novelty of the technology; it is still a new technology, regardless of what experts may say. The technology is available for use in the supply chain and logistics sectors in limited supply, and the most influential aspects of applications were developed for supply chains with mandated asset tracking and accountability, such as the pharmaceutical industry. Yet, broad applications of block chain technology are still in infancy.

Supply Chain Leaders Should Consider Block chain Technology’s Current Applications

Before looking into applications, it’s important to understand what Block chain technology is and is not. Block chain technology involves the creation of data “blocks,” detailing actions for a given transaction or actions, and such information is finalized and locked into a chain. The chain is only added to with each transaction, so the origin of transaction details, such as financial records, product details, and location, can be traced. Thus, all subsequent transactions can be verified and tracked, enhancing transparency and visibility into the transaction. In addition, block chains may be public or private, granting or denying access to the chain details based on authorization, so private information can be protected, while allowing addresses to authorized parties.

There are real ways to use block chain technology today. The development of crypto currencies has a great opportunity for payment processing and financial management of the supply chain. Swiss port has already developed a platform, which is currently in the pilot phase, for using block chain to manage cargo handling.

Other applications of block chain technology in the supply chain include Microsoft’s joint venture project (Ardents NovaTrack), used to track pharmaceuticals while in transport, but the potential application of the technology may quickly rise to be a leading soldier in the battle against the opioid epidemic. The recent developments regarding Walgreens’ presumed impact on the epidemic could have been identified earlier through block chain technology, reducing the company’s exposure to the risk of legal proceedings and remuneration.

Another excellent example of block chain in the supply chain of today includes limited access networking. Although these networks are not necessarily block chain in the literal sense, they bear remarkable similarities to the technology. If the technology tracks all actions, it is a form of block chain, but the key lies in eradicating the ability to edit past Transactional details. This is where many of today’s applications fall short, allowing for edits, but block chain in the truest forms is a complete record, making compliance virtually self-sustaining. As a result, the ability to track and manage the supply chain through block chain may be among the greatest sustainable practices to arise in the next decade, especially in an age where every dollar spent comes under the scrutiny of the public eye.

How Will Block chain Technology Affect the Future of Supply Chain & Logistics Management?

The future of the supply chain is limitless with the power of block chain technology, and paired with the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT), block chain will bring a new level of visibility and insight into supply chain management. Automated identification and data capture (AIDC), including RFID tags, will make block chain technology more efficient, empowering informed decisions and helping supply chain managers move more product, spend less on freight, and create positive customer experiences.

Need to Understand Block chain to define the Value of the Technology Now

Block chain technology will continue to be a defining characteristic of supply chain management in the future. Supply chain leaders that take the time to understand block chain technology and its potential applications can position their organizations to reap the greatest benefit when the technology becomes readily available. Since the best-laid plans for success in supply chain management require education, supply chain leaders must work to reduce inefficiency and move into digital-driven supply chain management. This is the only way to prepare for a future filled with “blocks” of transparency.

Read More

Energy Security & Geopolitics – Historical Brief and Current Germaneness

"In a world of increasing interdependence, energy security will depend much on how countries manage their relations with one another. That is why energy security will be one of the main challenges of foreign policy in the years ahead. Oil and gas have always been political commodities."

Plot:-

The impact of energy on global security and economy is clear and profound, and this is why in recent year’s energy security has become a source of concern to most countries. However, energy security means different things to different countries based on their geographic location, their endowment of resources their strategic and economic conditions.

Read More

India’s Resource Crunch & it’s impediment towards Nation Building

Ethos :-

The Windfall of Great Riches can, if mismanaged, make things worse, not better , for the recipients.

Background :-

Above saying can’t be more congruent for our great nation. A nation blessed with enough of all riches (Natural, Climatic as well as Human Capital). The oldest human civilization embodied with principles of oneness among many & it’s underlying tenets of spiritualism, which tries to look beyond just the physical existence of human life.

Read More