India’s relations with the Arabs have historical antecedents. Arab traders of the 8th century were the first Muslims in the subcontinent. In the centuries hence, leading up to the present times, this association has withstood the ups and downs of history.
The Arabs of yore were seafarers, traders, invaders and exuberant travellers, as is evident from the tales of Sinbad, the Sailor. One such sailor was the guide to one of the greatest explorers of all time, Vasco da Gama.
Much has been written about the first European traveller to India. But not many recall the immense contributions of his pilot, Ahmad Ibn Majid, the Omani Arab who guided Vasco da Gama from the African coast to the Malabar Coast. Vasco da Gama’s journey was historic, as it opened up up the gates of European explorations towards the East when an alternate trade route was discovered through the Cape of Good Hope.
Ibn Majid was already an established name in the maritime business when Vasco da Gama sought him as his guide to navigate the treacherous waters of the Indian Ocean. Majid was born in Julfar, Ras Al Khaimah in the present-day United Arab Emirates. Over time, he learnt the craft of professional navigation from his father, a famed navigator.
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