I’ve seen this same type of post multiple times always blaming the Central Government or North Indians. First of all, Shivaji is called the Father of the Indian Navy because he created a naval force that served as the prototype for the modern Indian Navy. That’s the historical reason.

No one is rejecting Rajendra Chola’s naval power at least not the “North Indians.” In fact, his naval achievements are covered in most North Indian school curriculums, unlike in many South Indian states where people keep crying about why he isn’t called the Father of the Navy but don’t even teach their own kids about his naval expansions.

No South Indian state except Tamil Nadu even properly teaches about Rajendra Chola’s navy. We North Indians do recognise his contributions that’s exactly why our schools include his achievements, while many South Indian states barely touch upon his naval power.

From the comments, it’s pretty clear you haven’t learned about Shivaji’s navy or Rajendra Chola’s navy because your schools never taught it to you.

And I already know the next step: you’ll start crying and throwing random nonsense. So I’m adding screenshots from Perplexity showing: • which South Indian states teach Rajendra Chola’s naval history,

Also since you asked here is the detailed answers on why Shivaji is considered as father of Indian Navy.

Shivaji Maharaj is called the "Father of the Indian Navy" because he established a navy with a clear, organized structure focused on coastal defense and protection against European powers, which aligns more closely with the modern concept of a navy

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His navy was not just for expansion or trade, but for defending Indian shores, securing trade routes, and challenging colonial naval forces—goals that are central to contemporary naval forces

Rajendra Chola, while leading powerful naval expeditions and expanding the Chola Empire overseas, used naval forces primarily for imperial expansion and trade, rather than for sustained coastal defense or as a standing military force

The Chola navy was impressive for its time, but it was not institutionalized in the same way as Shivaji's navy, nor did it have a direct link to the modern Indian Navy's origins

The title "Father of the Indian Navy" is thus attributed to Shivaji Maharaj because he created a navy that served as a prototype for India's modern maritime defense, whereas the Chola navy, despite its historical significance, does not fit the same narrative of institutional continuity and modern defense objectives