Vasco da Gama

 

Vasco da Gama was one of the gallant explorers in the world. He was born in 1460, in the town of Sines, Portugal. His father was Estevao da Gama, and mother was Isabel Sodre. He had four brothers and a sister.
   Many European kings were looking for a sea route to India, as Indian muslin and silk was very famous in this time. The Europeans also liked the species as well as precious stones which were exported from India. After all there are many sailors who tried to find a sea route to India, but all in vain. The Portuguese king sent Vasco da Gama to find a sea route to India. Vasco da Gama was 37 years old then, and it was his first voyage. On 8th July,1497 he left Lisbon with four ships and 170 men. He sailed for many days before reaching the Cape of Good Hope (located on the Atlantic coast of South Africa). After facing many problems he reached Mozambique, and a few days later he sailed to Malindi. There he met some Indian sailors. He found a Gujarati pilot who agreed to come with him to help him cross the Indian Ocean.
   On May 20th, 1498, Vasco da Gama reached Calicut (now Kozhikode) on the Malabar coast. Zamorin was the king of Calicut then. On seeing Vasco da Gama there the Arab traders got very angry.
 Vasco da Gama left Culicut on 29th August, 1498. But, while returning from the palace, Vasco da Gama was kidnapped. His brother captured six of the most important nobles in Culicut and decleared that if Vasco da Gama was not released, he had sail to Portugal with the men he had captured. As a result Vasco da Gama was released. They faced many problems while returning. Vasco da Gama left Lisbon with 170 men but returned with only about 50.
  In 1502,  Vasco da Gama sailed once again to India with ten ships. He attacked Calicut fiercely and sank many of the Arab trading ships. This time they returned with jewels and species. 20 years later, the king Portugal sent him to rule over the Portuguese colonies on the west coast of India. On 24th December,1524, he died at Cochin.