Naval Diver's Daughter Recalls

Western Naval Command (established 01 Mar 1968), if blessed with a vocal-chord, would proudly recount her life’s glimpses on the eve of Golden Jubilee, “Still an infant under 4, I was called upon by Mother India to vanquish the enemy in 1971. The missile boats of my fleet affected an unprecedented attack on Karachi to destroy its harbor along with its patrolling warships on 04th Dec. This, in turn, helped my twin sister ENC to affect a complete blockade of the Bay of Bengal, deploy my Aircraft Carrier’s Sea-Hawks on East Pakistan’s Airfields and Garrisons.

I was thus instrumental in scripting the surrender of 94K Pakistani soldiers on 16th Dec 1971, ensuing the Birth of Bangladesh. I was thus christened as ‘The Sword Arm of Indian Navy’. My fleet of Ships kept growing and by the turn of the century, I was emotional like a Bridesmaid, when 86 Warships from 19 nations saluted the Supreme Commander of Our Armed Forces, President KR Narayanan on 17 Feb 2001 in a Sail-past onboard INS Sukanya, when I hosted the maiden IFR for our country. My Heart did bleed during the unfortunate Sindhurakshak explosion on 14 Aug 2013, that took away 18 of my brave-hearts. Today the reach of my fleet ships is Global and they are deployed continuously to thwart any Piracy attempts in the Arabian Sea and ensure the SLOCs remain open. The ships are ever ready for any eventuality/deployment 24/7/365. Today with a plethora of Ships, Submarines and Aircraft under my umbrella, I can dexterously thwart the designs of any invader with an evil eye on my Mother India”

    The Western Fleet has grown into a formidable force in the World in the past 50 yrs and celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 01 Mar this year. To commemorate the Mega event, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, took salute at ceremonial divisions onboard INS Vikramaditya on 08 March 2018. Apart from making her presence felt on the World stage during the 1971 War, the Fleet of the Western Naval Command has participated in important operations like Op Cactus, Pawan, Rahat, Sukoon and Madad. The Indian Navy’s Sword Arm has thus carved out an enduring pedestal in the hearts of every Indian, and pledges today to discharge its obligations in an exemplary manner during Peace and remain Victorious during War. 

    I have grown in the cradle of Western Naval Command since my infancy from 1971 when my Father LtCdt VP Bakhshi was posted to CCDT (Mumbai) and was the CDO at the time of the outbreak of hostilities. He recalls, “I was privileged to be involved in the building of our fine Navy from its incipient stage. Having joined HMS Himalaya, Karachi as a Boy in 1945, even before the ashes of the Little Boy and Fat Man had cooled, I opted for the Diving Branch post-partition. I vividly remember that we were Indian Navy’s First batch of 6 divers deputed to the UK for undergoing Deep Sea Diver’s course when I was barely 17. Indeed the diving training makes one tough. But thereafter Life in the Navy was challenging with various emergency assignments coming our way from all over the country. Besides, we set up our own Diving School in Cochin.

Naval divers were often called upon to fish out bodies from the disaster sites and water-bodies. One technical assignment cropped up in May 1961, when there were heavy rains in Sonbhadra district of UP and water levels at Rihand Dam started to rise alarmingly while the dam gates became inoperative, requiring immediate diving assistance for underwater repairs. 4 of us were airlifted from Mumbai urgently. We worked in buddy pairs under trying conditions to successfully repair the gates by late evening and thus averting the submerging of nearby villages. I was honoured with NM (gallantry) on Republic Day the following year and was commissioned as an Officer on Special Duty Diving cadre in 1964. But before that in 1958 I got married to Urmila, the only lady who used to drive a Lambretta in NOFRAs at Cochin and Colaba in the 60s and 70s.

         Our assistance was also sought for by the Bombay Film Industry before the term Bollywood was coined, although I was never fond of movies. In 1976, a gentleman having sought HQs approval, walked into CCDT. I was the Officiating OIC. He said he wanted to shoot some underwater scenes. I asked him, “Who are you?”. He said, “Sanjay Khan, actor. You didn’t recognize me, Sir ?” I said, “No. I have not seen a movie for the last 15 years”…We then chalked out the schedule for the shoot in the Command Swimming Pool. When I went home I matter-o-factly asked my kids whether they knew who this man was. My kids jumped, “OMG ! Sanjay Khan! Don’t you know him, the hero of Hindi films”. During the shoot at the Command Pool, a lot of naval personnel, ladies and kids came to interact with the cast of the movie, ‘Chandi-Sona’.

      We divers are a very close-knit family. I had been a little strict with my sailors as far as their leave forecast was concerned, but on festivals, I used to call them over for drinks to my house. In the late 70s, I received a telegram stating my ‘mother-in-law expired. Come soon’. In a depressed state, I drove to Pune with my sobbing wife. On reaching, we found my hale and hearty mother-in-law opening the door. We were in for a cheerful shocked. I left my wife there and drove back the same night. On investigation, it turned out that a disgruntled sailor who was asked to postpone his leave due ops commitments, had played this prank…At the defaulter table I excused him with a light warning, that brought a smile to his gloomy face.

       All my children have done me proud. Meena made me proud by winning two Silvers in the Nationals Masters Swimming championship in Rajkot five years ago. Quite some time ago when she had applied for the post of Ladies Swimming instructor, she was interviewed by the HQs panel. All the members questioned her on various aspects of life-saving, but when Lt Shirgaonkar, the sports member requested Cdr Tugnait, the CDO to question her, all he said was, “What can you ever ask the daughter of the senior-most Diver of Indian Navy”…When She narrated this to me, I thought that I was a blessed person and my Life in the Navy had been worth it. Now at the fag end of this wonderful Life, when Alzheimer’s has set in, I can proudly claim to have thoroughly enjoyed my Naval Life. Starting my life as a young Boy in the wonderful Naval fraternity. If ever I was to get a chance to have another go at Life, starting from my teens, I would again join my fine INDIAN NAVY…”

       Well that’s my Father’s recall of his days in the WNC. I have been nurtured and groomed in Western Naval Command Colaba, all my formative years till I graduated. Destiny brought a Naval Aviator into my Life to be my Life-partner. I have seen the demography of Navy Nagar change albeit slowly in the past 50 years. From a few buildings in a Jungle, that we used to playfully venture inside, to a full fledged Naval Base (Navy Nagar and NOFRA), walled and secured, the transition has been noticeable and prominent. I owe the fulfillment of my Life’s years to the Navy and dedicated both my Master’s National Swimming Silvers (2013) to the Sword Arm Command.

               I wish the Western Naval Command a Brilliant Golden Jubilee 2018 and  bright operational years ahead. Shano Varuno !