By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi, December 5. On the night of December 4-5, 1971, the Indian Navy conducted Operation Trident. During the course of the operation, the Indian Navy inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani vessels and facilities in the port city of Karachi. This happened a day after the 1971 India-Pakistan war started amidst the fight for the liberation of Bangladesh.
During Operation Trident, Pakistan lost a minesweeper, a destroyer, a cargo vessel carrying ammunition, and fuel storage tanks in Karachi. Another destroyer was also badly damaged and eventually scrapped.
India won the war decisively and East Pakistan became the new nation of Bangladesh. Following this, at the Senior Naval Officers’ Conference in May 1972, it was decided that Navy Day would be celebrated on December 4 to commemorate the actions of the Indian Navy during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, and Navy Week would be observed December from 1 to 7.
Navy Day in India is now celebrated to commemorate Operation Trident as well in to reverence all the martyrs of the 1971 war. The day also serves as a tribute to the navy personnel who safeguard India’s maritime borders and ensure the country’s security, trade, and prosperity through the sea. Navy Day showcases the operational readiness, discipline, and modern capabilities of the Indian Navy, which protects India’s vast coastline and maritime interests.
This year’s Navv Day was celebrated on Wednesday, December 4, with the theme ‘Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation’. This theme underlined the Navy’s interest in self-reliance, particularly through technological upgradation.
The highlight of this year’s celebrations was a display by the Indian Navy of its operational prowess and capabilities through an ‘Operational Demonstration’(Op Demo) that covered many facets of naval operations by ships, submarines, aircraft, marine commandos and Indian Army personnel at the pristine Blue Flag Beach, Puri, Odisha,
President of India and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Droupadi Murmu was the chief guest for the event, which was hosted by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff. The event was also witnessed by senior central and state government officials, military dignitaries, and the local populace.
Speaking on the occasion, the President greeted all personnel of the Indian Navy on the occasion of Navy Day. She said that on December 4, “we celebrate our glorious victory in the 1971 war and commemorate the selfless service and supreme sacrifice made by naval personnel in defence of the motherland”.
“India is grateful to all personnel of the Indian Navy and every Indian salutes them for serving the nation with honour and courage,” she stated.
President Murmu said that “India’s geography has endowed us with all the elements necessary to be a great maritime nation”. A long coastline, island territories, seafaring population, and developed maritime infrastructure encouraged India’s maritime activities along the coast and across the oceans from more than 5,000 years ago.
“With a glorious maritime heritage and history to look back upon and a future full of promise to look forward to, India has always been a strong maritime nation – our fortunes, glory, and identity being defined by the seas,” she stated.
She expressed confidence that the Indian Navy would continue to ensure maritime security, essential to enable India’s rise to a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The President commended the Navy’s pioneering efforts in providing appropriate growth avenues to ‘Nari Shakti’ (woman power). She noted that the Navy was the first service to induct women Agniveers. She said that two women naval officers, Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa, provide the best example of this new paradigm, as they circumnavigate the globe in INSV Tarini as part of the ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama II’.
Op Demo brought focus to the Navy’s rich maritime history and demonstrated the valour and courage of its personnel and their resolve to safeguard national maritime interests ‘Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow’.
The event also showcased the Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art ships and aircraft to the spectators and online viewers through live streaming on the Indian Navy’s YouTube channel as well as on Doordarshan channels.
Op Demo saw the participation of 15 warships, aircraft comprising MiG 29K and MH 60R, along with combat beach reconnaissance by the marine commandos of the Indian Navy. Other major attractions included performances by the Naval Band, Continuity Drill, and Horn Pipe Dance by the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC). The event culminated with the illumination of ships at anchorage followed by a laser and drone show at the beach.
This was the second time that the Indian Navy had organised a mega event at a location other than a major naval station. Blue Flag Beach, Puri, is about 500 km from Visakhapatnam and about 200 km from the nearest naval station at INS Chilka.
Apart from Puri, Navy day was celebrated in other parts of the country too. In Mumbai, people were treated to an awe-inspiring showcase of skill and discipline at the Gateway of India. The Indian Navy’s elite MARCOS commandos displayed their precision and advanced combat training, captivating onlookers and emphasising their critical role in national security.
Mumbai’s skies lit up with a spectacular air show as naval helicopters and fighter jets performed breathtaking manoeuvres. Enthusiastic spectators flocked to the Taj Palace Hotel promenade and central roads to witness this thrilling display.
The centre of Navy Day celebrations is usually the port city of Visakhapatnam or Vizag in Andhra Pradesh. However, with the main event being held in Puri this year, Vizag was silent.
But, Vizagites need not worry. According to the Yo Vizag website, to continue the tradition of hosting Navy Day celebrations, the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has scheduled a special naval operational demonstration on January 4, 2025. Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharka, who is currently the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command, assured Vizagites that Visakhapatnam will still witness a naval operational demonstration to commemorate Navy Day.
“This is not to say that the people of Vizag will miss out on this annual activity,” Yo Vizag quoted Vice Admiral Pendharka as saying. “We will be conducting an additional operational demonstration off RK Beach on January 4, 2025.”
And thus, there will be another grand celebration of the Navy Day a month from now.
