While India's vast history often stands undisputed, a common criticism levied against the nation is its lack of historical memory. This claim is demonstrated in the under-celebrated military accomplishments, such as the victory in the 1971 war. This leads to a distinct appetite for accounts like 'The Indian [email protected] Reminiscing the Voyage' by Commodore Ranjit B Rai (Retd) and defence journalist Aritra Banerjee, a much-needed homage to India's naval history, drawing significantly from Banerjee's in-depth expertise and passion for the subject.
Notably, Banerjee’s deep-rooted knowledge about India's naval power, thanks to his extensive journalistic work on the topic, distinguishes him as a compelling maritime raconteur. The book stands out for its exploration of neglected chapters from the past, such as the overlooked heroics of the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II and the consequential RIN mutiny of 1946, ignored by British historians. This inspired the Indian Navy to correct the record by building its own archives.
Banerjee, alongside Cmde. Rai, a former Director, Naval Operations (DNO) and Director, Naval Intelligence (DNI), offers readers a ringside view of sea-mark moments in Indian naval history. The authors' firsthand experience and the autobiographical approach lend the narrative an air of authenticity, recounting how a seemingly innocuous query from a visiting Soviet Admiral at INS Nilgiri in the 1970s sparked a significant philosophical shift in the Indian Navy's approach to armament.
Banerjee and Cmde. Rai's memoir guides readers through India's naval journey, from its British beginnings, the subsequent adaptation to Russian philosophy, and finally, in the new century, to the American, among others. The narrative is enriched with vivid anecdotes of shipmates and global events, allowing readers a glimpse into the evolution of the Indian Navy and India as a nation.
Concise editing by journalist Shreya Mundhra and chapter contributions from leading domain experts such as the likes of Professor Harsh V Pant and Cmde. Chitrapu Uday Bhaskar (Retd) expand on various aspects of the Indian Navy's evolution, from its shift from a buyer to a builder post-1972 to the unique geostrategic position it holds in the Indian Ocean. However, the rise of China in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is identified as a significant security threat, compounded by the shared maritime space with Pakistan.
The book rightly acknowledges the Indian Navy's vital role in diplomacy, both hard and soft, asserting its importance as an extension of the foreign office. Over the past four decades, the Navy has been actively involved in international missions, most notably in swift disaster relief following the Tsunami.
As the narrative progresses to the early 1990s, Banerjee and Cmde. Rai take readers on a journey through the onset of India's economic reforms, giving a comprehensive overview of India's geopolitical shift towards the East.
The book also highlights the success of India's first nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra and the monumental achievements of Indian scientists and engineers in the development of INS Arihant.
'The Indian [email protected] Reminiscing the Voyage' is a concise yet richly detailed volume, adorned with black and white photographs that add a nostalgic touch to the narrative. Despite its brevity, the book captures the Indian Navy's past and present while also providing a glimpse into the future of India's security landscape. It encapsulates the long journey of India's naval evolution, from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and from Vice Admiral RD Katari to Admiral Hari Kumar, while reminding us that there are many more nautical miles yet to be traversed in the Indian Navy's ongoing journey.
The book can be ordered the book on Amazon by clicking on the following link: The Indian [email protected] Reminiscing the Voyage
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