The making of a Sailor

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The making of a Sailor






Thursday, September 17, 2015

By : The Hindu




There is so much written about ‘how a captain goes down with the ship’, a maritime tradition when the captain, the sole leader of the men on his ship takes the ultimate responsibility for both the ship and for all the men on board.

• There is so much written about ‘how a captain goes down with the ship’, a maritime tradition when the captain, the sole leader of the men on his ship takes the ultimate responsibility for both the ship and for all the men on board. One of the most well known examples of such leadership is that of Captain Narendranath Mulla who went down with INS Khukri during the 1971 war.
  
  The Indian Navy is full of tales of valour of others too such as Chiman, Patel, Marad, Mahapatra, Sangal, Chakravarthy and Thomachan. They were ordinary sailors who demonstrated extraordinary courage at sea. Their exemplary leadership qualities were instilled in them at INS Agrani, Coimbatore, miles away from the Sea.
  
  For 50 years now, INS Agrani has trained senior sailors of the Indian Navy in leadership qualities and managerial skills. Over 72,000 sailors including those from the Coast Guard and from other countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mozambique and Tanzania have passed through its portals. Sailors undergo four weeks of rigorous training including capsules on leadership, management and professional subjects. The sailors undertake projects and practical case studies. They also undergo intensive camp training, practise firing sessions, troop games and military drill exercises at Madukkarai.
  
  It is often asked what the Navy is doing in Coimbatore that is so far away from the sea. Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s words come to mind. He said, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” Classrooms inside Agrani bear the names of Chiman, Patel, Marad, Mahapatra, Sangal, Chakravarthy and Thomachan. They were sailors who displayed immense courage in the face of severe adversities.
  
  Chiman Singh, a Clearance Diver was badly wounded by shrapnel when posted on a patrol boat entrusted with the task of attacking enemy targets off Khulna in Bangladesh in 1971. In spite of his wounds, he rescued survivors and charged into the enemy so that his colleagues could escape capture. Singh was eventually overpowered and taken prisoner to be later released on the liberation of Bangladesh. For display of conspicuous gallantry during the war, Chiman Singh was awarded Mahavir Chakra, the second highest wartime gallantry award. Mangal Bhai Patel noticed the bursting of a superheated steam pipe in the boiler room of the ship that was engaged in an offensive sweep in the Arabian Sea.
  
  Patel rushed into the boiler room which was filled with steam at a temperature of nearly 400 degrees centigrade and shut off the emergency control valves. He suffered severe burns, but he succeeded in saving the ship. Narain Atti Marad, also shut off the oil sprayers and furnace pump and prevented further damage to his ship that was engaged in offensive operations. Bipra Charan Mahapatra, a member of the diving team had to locate the position of an enemy submarine which sank off Vishakapatnam as a result of the Indian Naval attack. Despite the risk of an internal explosion in the submarine, Mahapatra endured long hours of continuous diving operations to locate, identify and provide vital information.
  
  All the three sailors Patel, Marad and Mahapatra were awarded Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime gallantry award. Megh Nath Sangal, Lakshman Kumar Chakravarthy, M O Thomachan led their men into attack in the face of air strikes and firing of shore gun batteries, during the attack on Karachi harbour in 1971. All three were awarded the Vir Chakra, the third highest wartime gallantry award.
  
  These men were trailblazers. They were trained as Seaman, Divers, Electricians, Engine Room mechnicians and telegraphists as part of their profession.
  
  But they each took on responsibilities beyond the normal call of duty and did the Indian Navy and the nation proud. They stand true to the motto of INS Agrani: Kartavyadev gauravam meaning pride in duty.