India, Feb. 9 -- By Ashvini Ranjan

Our cruise ship set sail from Corsica, the rugged and beautiful island that gave the world Napoleon Bonaparte. As the coastline slowly receded, I sat on the balcony of my cabin, gazing at the vast expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. The rhythmic sound of waves brushing against the hull had a strangely meditative quality.

My thoughts drifted to the great naval battles that had once churned these very waters. Battles that decided the fate of empires. I also reflected on the extraordinary journey of a man who rose from a narrow, unremarkable lane in Corsica to become Emperor of the French.

Having just visited Corsica, my mind returned to the Battle of Trafalgar, a decisive turning point in European history...