Explanation
The
Srivijaya kingdom was a powerful
maritime empire based in Southeast Asia, controlling key regions such as the
Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and surrounding islands. It dominated the
sea trade routes between India and China and played a crucial role in the
Indian Ocean trade network.
Option C is correct. Rajendra I (c. 1014–1044 CE) of the
Chola dynasty launched a successful
naval expedition against the Srivijaya kingdom around
1025 CE. This marked one of the earliest known
overseas military campaigns by an Indian ruler.
The campaign targeted important centres like
Kadaram (Kedah) and other strategic locations in Southeast Asia. The objective was to
establish control over maritime trade routes and remove obstacles faced by Indian merchants in the region.
The Chola navy was extremely powerful, and this expedition demonstrated their dominance, even leading to the Bay of Bengal being referred to as a
“Chola lake” for some time.
Interestingly, before this conflict, the
Srivijaya rulers (Sailendra dynasty) had maintained
friendly relations with the Cholas and were patrons of Buddhism. A monastery at
Nagapattinam was even built with their support. The conflict likely arose due to
commercial and strategic interests.
Thus, the campaign of Rajendra I highlights both the
maritime strength of the Cholas and the importance of
Southeast Asian trade networks in medieval times.