ADM JG NADKARNI MEMORIAL TALK -2022

Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause. - Abraham Lincoln

Being a Military Veteran is an experience that’s second to none. A chance confab with a senior veteran who may have impacted our service career years ago conjures up an electric feeling as the palms grasp warmly and a glitter reflects in our smiling eyes.  Genuine Bliss is writ large on our faces and the atmospheric caprice turns willfully buoyant. 

 

       Navy Foundation Pune Chapter affirmed to hold Memorial lecture annually to honour late Adm JG Nadkarni, who left for his heavenly abode on 02 Jul 2018. A great initiative by Pune foundation in the wake of Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai Chapters who have been conducting memorial lectures since long. Cmde PK Malhotra, President NFPC had invited Cdr Vijay Vadhera, NM(G), President NFMC and Hon. Secy for the lecture  scheduled for 29^th  Sep 2022. The former couldn’t attend due to preoccupation.  The Guest speaker and the Chief Guest for the Event was VAdm Ajendra Bahadur Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, FOC-in-C (West), who enlightened the gathering on ‘Navy @ 100’.   

 

     Meena and I were greeted at the Central Park Hotel Lobby by Cmde PK Malhotra and Cdr Mohan Philip, President and VP of NFPC and directed expeditiously to the Pavilion Banquet hall as the Chief-Guest was expected any moment. There was an open stall of Naval mementoes, insignias and decor items put up by Veteran Ramarao, ex-PO from Bangalore. As we gingerly slid the Hall door, we witnessed about 100 senior Veterans in Savdhan pose in 7 rows of gift-wrapped white chairs. One could hear a pin drop, as all were awaiting the arrival of the Chief Guest. Even before we settled down in the rear row, VAdm Ajendra Bahadur Singh our CinC was escorted in. He was warmly welcomed by the MC, Veteran Air Marshal BN Gokhale in his introductory address that covered the Life and times of Late Adm JG Nadkarni. Among the various dignitaries present was Veteran RAdm RJ Nadkarni, former FODAG and the illustrious Son of late Adm JG Nadkarni. Veteran Air marshal Gokhale, Dir CASS then introduced the Guest speaker VAdm AB Singh and welcomed him on stage after requesting everyone to rise to observe 2 mins silence to pay tributes to Late Admiral JG Nadkarni, our former CNS. 

     At the outset, the C-in-C paid tributes to Adm JG Nadkarni, touching upon his contributions to the Navy in terms of its expansion during the mid-80s. He considered him as a God-Father figure to his course, being Father of his Veteran coursemate RAdm RJ Nadkarni, present among the dignitaries.

  The C-in-C had structured his insightful talk “Indian Navy @100 (2047) – Where we want to be.” He dwelt upon the Ancient Maritime heritage of India from over 5000 yrs covering various dynasties to RIN ; from 33 old ships during independence to 200 ships strong Navy today with 2 Air-Craft carriers and 45 underconstruction warships. The Admiral also deliberated upon Project Seabird, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav @75,  the Amrit Kaal from @75 to @100 transforming into full Atma Nirbhar Bharat and a Developed country by 2047. His research dwelt and encompassed on 3 essential Qs :

1. What would a developed India as a nation expect the IN to perform in this journey from @75 to @100 ?

2. What do we former / serving officers expect IN to be able to undertake in 2047?

3. What would be the role of technonogy in this journey and how do we expect Oceans and Maritime domain around us to transform till 2047.

 

The interest generated in the talk is reflective of the probing queries put forward by Cmde Ajay Chitnis on Naval R&D cadre, RAdm CS Patham on self-sufficiency and infrastructure, VAdm AV Subhedar on the proposal of 3^rd AC, Cmde PK Malhotra on Maritime consciousness. There was also a query on manpower issues and induction of Sailors/Agniveers. Hon Capt Gopi Shetty requested for ships visit for his Sea Scouts which was acceded to.  

  

      Senior Veteran RAdm S Vadgaonkar delivered the Vote of Thanks for the Guest Speaker and the senior dignitaries to have graced the occasion. Cmde PK Malhotra, President NFPC then felicitated the Guest Speaker our CinC VAdm AB Singh, VAdm Ajay Kochhar, Commandant NDA, Cmde K Mukherjee, Cd Ed and Wel O,  Veteran Air Marshal BN Gokhale, Hon. Capt Gopi Shetty, Ocean Cadets Academy and and a few other dignitaries.

Capt Raahul Mahajan (NAVPAY), LtCdr Abhimanyu Shekhawat, Rep NAVPEN. It was then time for Happy Hours, time to mutually interact with each other. All veterans were delighted to engage with their CinC and other Senior Veterans. It was joyous to meet a few other members of NFMC from Mumbai; Cdr Shailendra Sharma and Cdr HMS Tanwar. All aviators RAdm Vadgaonkar, Cmde Ajay Chitnis, Cmde JJ Verma, Cmde PK Malhotra Cdr Guddu Sharma and self got together  for a group Photo session. It was also a pleasure to meet Capt Kukereja, a former Seaking Pilot.  We interacted with Adm CS Patham, the first Diver of Navy to have become a Flag Officer and Meena was thrilled to recall her Dad’s memories with him. Her Father had been among the first batch of Naval divers post independence.  I was glad to meet VAdm SCS Bangara and VAdm Vinod Pashricha with whom I had interacted earlier too. It was great to meet VAdm DSP Verma, an aeronautical engineer and former DG- ATV with whom I had interacted as CAVO-II in Vizag in the mid-90s. Had a chance to meet RAdm Mohanrao, RAdm Godbole and VAdm AV Subhedar, former COM with whom I’d served in ND(MB). Interacted with former ADGCG VD Chafekar, seated in the row ahead, whom I’d first met in Kolkata in mid 80s on deputation to Coast Guard.      

       The catering delicacies were sumptuous and the  desserts luscious. Meena and I shared some great moments with most Veterans.  How time slipped by couldn’t fathom as we dived deep into our memory lanes with brother Veterans from Pune. We were the last to depart after conveying our heartfelt gratitude to Cmde PK Malhotra, Cdr Mohan Philip and Cdr Nadgouda for the Wow-wonderful Event. We wished the NFPC more glory in the future. Cmde Malhotra felicitated Brig & Mrs AK Mathur & Meena with a memento and printed booklet "IN Family Logbook"  

       Meena and I, before wheeling out from Central Park, Saluted the Core Committee of Pune Navy Foundation and wished them well for all their amazing welfare efforts for Pune Veterans. 

Sam No Varunah

Jai Hind.    

( Photos & Video courtesy @Meena Dutta....ZOOM the photos/ Video for convenient view.)   

VIDEOS

👇👇👇

(DOUBLE CLICK TO PLAY)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqVYi2-MabY&t=19s&ab_channel=MeenaDutta

ZOOM the Video for convenient viewing

About the Author

Commander Rajinder Dutta (Retd) has been a Naval Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor with about 3000 hrs of flying on various fixed wing Aircraft of Indian Navy, viz HT-2, HPT-32, Kirans, Islander, Super Connie, Fokker F-27 and IL-38.

 He is the Hon Secy of NFMC, a Master of Ceremonies and an avid blogger.    http://rajdutta26.blogspot.com/