INS Vikrant -
A historical summation of its life of 71 years:
Keel Laid October 1943 in the UK - christened as HMS Hercules - Majestic Class Light Fleet Carrier.
Displacement - 20,000 tonnes. Built to fight in WWII; but was only 3/4th completed at the end of the war - so was never completed by nor served in the Royal Navy. Sold to India in 1957. Completed and commissioned as http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/cover-story/Ex-Navy-men-to-bring-Vikrant-back-to-life/articleshow/46857426.cmsINS VIKRANT in 1961. Served in the Indian Navy until 1997 (36 years) and was primarily responsible for India's naval victory with Pakistan in 1971. Received upgrades (1979 to 1982) to accommodate newer generation VTOL aircraft like the Sea Harriers. Converted to a naval maritime museum until 2004 and sent to the scrap heap sometime thereafter on account of no caretaker and no funds. Declared dead in November 2014 at a ship graveyard called "Darukhanna" where its carcass is now being cut for its high grade steel. An unceremonious end to a celebrated metallic warrior of the Indian naval forces.
I think I was about twelve when I boarded this elegant and majestic warship. By today's standards, its about half the size of any aircraft carrier; but, back then - it was one of the largest ships in the Asian region. I was awestruck by what I saw, and within a few days of my visit was inspired to join the Sea Cadet Corps. wanting to become a naval pilot someday. I loved planes a tad more than ships and a career as a naval pilot was just perfect to satisfy my thirst for being a part of both the air and sea, It's a different story that life had written for me. I still claim to be a man in uniform; but I sport business attire and not battle fatigues; fly in commercial aircrafts instead of a fighter jet; and commandeer a fleet of hotels and not ships. But back to INS Vikrant; could we all have done something to protect this inspiration of mine from going the way it did?
The Navy will carry on the Vikrant legacy like any other navy in the world has - that is - by christening a successor ship with the same name. India's own indigenous aircraft carrier has been named INS Vikrant and that will ensure that the name is not forgotten. But the history bound to the ship is lost. There have been calls by a political party in Maharashtra to construct a monument in the sea costing INR 2 billion or more honouring Chattrapati Shivaji (the first Maratha king). If a railway station, international airport and many landmark buildings have been named after him; surely the Maharashtra government could have purchased this ship at the value the scrap dealer paid (INR 630 million) and turned it into a fitting memorial that would have served both purposes. In fact the ship that was built to withstand the severity of the sea would not have needed environmental clearances either.
It is sad that politicians can commit billions of rupees to idolize their own ideologies and historical statements - on schemes that do nothing more than siphon off funds from actual public use to waste. This ship deserved a better fate being India's first carrier. In some other nations; the ship's steel would have been used to create miniature replicas of the vessel to be sold to those interested in getting their hands on a piece of this history. It certainly would have got the exchequer more than it received from the scrap dealer. This attitude also reflects how we treat our ex servicemen and why there are lesser and lesser recruits who voluntarily join the armed forces. If scams depriving pensions and assistance to the survivors of war heroes is taken into consideration - this callous end of INS Vikrant is a small matter in comparison.
Going back into my personal history of when I was a kid and fascinated by the armed forces, I heard a song played by the naval band and still remember the lyrics "Aisa desh kabhi na dekh - kabhi na suna hai.." (Never seen or heard of a Country like this - refering patriotically to India). I think, the words of this song lend a very different meaning to me today. Yes, I have never seen or heard of a nation that is so unpatriotic to its own protectors, may it be the men or women in uniform or the machines that serve them; specially when I take into account that this is the same Country that has a day reserved to worship work tools and weapons as gifts from God. I am sorry my inspiration that this is all that I could do to honor your memory and that of your valiant crew. "Jai Hind".
9th April 2015 : ’EX-NAVY MEN TO BRING VIKRANT ‘BACK TO LIFE
27th Dec 2015:
1971 WAR HERO INS VIKRANT IS COMING TO A ROAD NEAR YOU
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