My insatiable zeal for traveling berthed us this time in the vibrant state of Gujarat. We traveled the length and breadth on wheels and were mesmerized by what this land had to offer. We brought back with us a wealth of knowledge and a lot of winsome memories.
We landed in the quaint city of Diu, one wintry morning. Though the sun was sharp during the day, a cold breeze seemed to beckon us as if to tell a story of not so bygone an era.
We were drawn to the Memorial of a 'made to scale' memorial of a Frigate, encased in a glass case.
The prudently sited Memorial on a raised piece of land overlooks an unending expanse of the Arabian Sea. The tranquil aquamarine waters coupled with the blue sky above seemed to have a lot to enunciate. I decided to shut down, pick up my ears and scour out of the depository; a chunk of history that lay approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Diu.
This is the soul-stirring saga of the dauntless grit of a hero - Capt Mahendranath Mulla, MVC.
He was commanding INS Khukri, a blackwood class Frigate during the 1971 war. Diu was the assembly area for ships in readiness to attack the Karachi harbor. INS Kirpan and INS Khukri were berthed in the placid waters awaiting orders.
It was another routine evening with the sinking sun casting gorgeous hues of orange and yellow on the vast canvas of the sky. Work was as usual when the communique of the sinking of 'PNS Ghazi', a Pakistani submarine by the Indian Navy arrived. This was received with much gusto and jubilation. Very soon the crew gathered together to raise a toast to the sinking of the Ghazi.
It was a pitch dark night with the moon obscured by clouds. There was almost no visibility through the periscope. The crew was busy testing the improved version of the sonar on the ship. PNS Hangor, a Daphne class submarine had already left Karachi harbor in all readiness for an attack.INS Khukri was unaware of Hangor lurking stealthily underwater.
PNS Hangor fired their first torpedo at INS Kirpan which failed to explode. Unfortunately, INS Kirpan turned away from its location. Getting its act together, INS Khukri darted towards Hangor. A torpedo was fired at Khukri which unluckily exploded under the oil tanks and the boiler room.
During the pandemonium and chaos, fully aware that the Frigate was sinking, Capt Mulla was personally supervising the rescue of his men. Most officers were caught below the deck. The Capt along with others were pushing the officers trapped, through a small hatch door. Most of them got thrown into the icy-cold waters of the sea. They were insisting on the Capt to abandon the ship. But Capt Mulla was adamant and stayed on. According to Capt Manu Sharma, a survivor, the last words he heard from his Capt were "You go and don't worry about me." After going underwater and coming up, he could see from a far distance, Capt Mulla holding the top of the ship's railing and smoking a cigar. The ship was steadily sinking and he was seen going down with it true to the highest traditions of the Indian Navy.
What attributes go into the making of such brave men? Is it fearlessness coupled with unflinching patriotism, intrepidity, and the pluck to do the impossible? In the words of Mrs Ameeta Mulla Wattal, she says "Never call your best action a sacrifice. If one fights for a cause, it is because one cannot live with the way things are."
Those who knew Capt Mulla describe him as an officer who was extremely courageous, determined with a prodigious devotion to duty. At the same time, he was light-hearted with an exceptional penchant for Urdu poetry. he was a great inspiration to his men and had a way to keep them motivated. One survivor wrote, " he not only taught us to live but also how to die."
INS Khukri took along with her Capt Mahendranath Mula, Cdr Muktadavil Oommen, 16 brave officers and 176 sailors. She was the first ship to sink after the Second World War.
As a gust of strong wind swept through my tangled hair, a chill ran down my spine, I held on to my shawl, hugging it a little closer and read the name etched on the edifice, right to the last man. What a stupendous sacrifice. What dynamic people, who will forever embody the lofty ethics of the Indian Navy.
References:
- Tehelka _ khukri
- Transition to triumph by Vice Admiral GM Hiranandani
- INS Khukri survivor stories
- Why they chose to go down - Ameeta Mulla Wattal
We landed in the quaint city of Diu, one wintry morning. Though the sun was sharp during the day, a cold breeze seemed to beckon us as if to tell a story of not so bygone an era.
We were drawn to the Memorial of a 'made to scale' memorial of a Frigate, encased in a glass case.
The prudently sited Memorial on a raised piece of land overlooks an unending expanse of the Arabian Sea. The tranquil aquamarine waters coupled with the blue sky above seemed to have a lot to enunciate. I decided to shut down, pick up my ears and scour out of the depository; a chunk of history that lay approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Diu.
This is the soul-stirring saga of the dauntless grit of a hero - Capt Mahendranath Mulla, MVC.
He was commanding INS Khukri, a blackwood class Frigate during the 1971 war. Diu was the assembly area for ships in readiness to attack the Karachi harbor. INS Kirpan and INS Khukri were berthed in the placid waters awaiting orders.
It was another routine evening with the sinking sun casting gorgeous hues of orange and yellow on the vast canvas of the sky. Work was as usual when the communique of the sinking of 'PNS Ghazi', a Pakistani submarine by the Indian Navy arrived. This was received with much gusto and jubilation. Very soon the crew gathered together to raise a toast to the sinking of the Ghazi.
It was a pitch dark night with the moon obscured by clouds. There was almost no visibility through the periscope. The crew was busy testing the improved version of the sonar on the ship. PNS Hangor, a Daphne class submarine had already left Karachi harbor in all readiness for an attack.INS Khukri was unaware of Hangor lurking stealthily underwater.
PNS Hangor fired their first torpedo at INS Kirpan which failed to explode. Unfortunately, INS Kirpan turned away from its location. Getting its act together, INS Khukri darted towards Hangor. A torpedo was fired at Khukri which unluckily exploded under the oil tanks and the boiler room.
During the pandemonium and chaos, fully aware that the Frigate was sinking, Capt Mulla was personally supervising the rescue of his men. Most officers were caught below the deck. The Capt along with others were pushing the officers trapped, through a small hatch door. Most of them got thrown into the icy-cold waters of the sea. They were insisting on the Capt to abandon the ship. But Capt Mulla was adamant and stayed on. According to Capt Manu Sharma, a survivor, the last words he heard from his Capt were "You go and don't worry about me." After going underwater and coming up, he could see from a far distance, Capt Mulla holding the top of the ship's railing and smoking a cigar. The ship was steadily sinking and he was seen going down with it true to the highest traditions of the Indian Navy.
What attributes go into the making of such brave men? Is it fearlessness coupled with unflinching patriotism, intrepidity, and the pluck to do the impossible? In the words of Mrs Ameeta Mulla Wattal, she says "Never call your best action a sacrifice. If one fights for a cause, it is because one cannot live with the way things are."
Those who knew Capt Mulla describe him as an officer who was extremely courageous, determined with a prodigious devotion to duty. At the same time, he was light-hearted with an exceptional penchant for Urdu poetry. he was a great inspiration to his men and had a way to keep them motivated. One survivor wrote, " he not only taught us to live but also how to die."
INS Khukri took along with her Capt Mahendranath Mula, Cdr Muktadavil Oommen, 16 brave officers and 176 sailors. She was the first ship to sink after the Second World War.
As a gust of strong wind swept through my tangled hair, a chill ran down my spine, I held on to my shawl, hugging it a little closer and read the name etched on the edifice, right to the last man. What a stupendous sacrifice. What dynamic people, who will forever embody the lofty ethics of the Indian Navy.
References:
- Tehelka _ khukri
- Transition to triumph by Vice Admiral GM Hiranandani
- INS Khukri survivor stories
- Why they chose to go down - Ameeta Mulla Wattal
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