New Delhi: The world’s oldest serving warship INS Viraat is moving towards the same fate as its predecessor Vikrant, with its dismantling now in progress even as a private firm is making a last-ditch attempt to instead convert it into a museum.

INS Viraat was decommissioned in 2017. Earlier, INS Vikrant, India’s first aircraft carrier, was decommissioned in 1997 and scrapped in 2014 after it was sold to a shipbreaker for Rs 63.2 crore.

Now, fresh images of Viraat have revealed that dismantling of the decommissioned warship has already begun in Gujarat with the breaking of the ski jump, according to an NDTV report.

Envitech Marine Consultants Pvt. Ltd, the firm trying to convert Viraat into a museum, has so far not been able to procure a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence or even reach a formal consensus with shipbreaker Shree Ram Group, which bought Viraat as scrap for Rs 35.8 crore.

However, it is still hopeful of sav

Envitech managing director Rupali Sharma told ThePrint that the firm is trying to move the Supreme Court to get the NOC from the government.

“We are trying to get the case filed in the Supreme Court so as to secure the NOC that is pending from the defence ministry. We have spoken to the shipbreaker and he has agreed to hold the cutting process for 48 hours.”

Sharma said the bit of dismantling that has taken place will not really hamper the efforts to convert the ship into a museum. “The lower part of the ship is intact.”

The cost of constructing the museum should be around Rs 500 crore and it will be the first-of-its-kind in Asia, whether it comes up in Maharashtra or Goa, she said, adding, “Both the states are keen”.

Envitech, which was registered in India in 2019, is an offshoot of Envitech Middle East. The company offers integrated services to support operations for land-based and offshore industries. It has also carried out several marine search operations with Indian investigative agencies.

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NOC issue

Sources in the government told ThePrint that the defence ministry and the Navy had for over two years examined various proposals to preserve the ship, but none were found good enough. The Navy is no more a stakeholder in the case.

“A variety of factors had been considered… whether the hull was worthy of being in water for the next few years… how the maintenance would take place, whether it would be sustainable and other such factors,” a senior government official said on condition of anonymity.

As far as the NOC is concerned, the government official said the buyer (Shree Ram Group) should have sought it, not the entity that is buying it from them.

“It is the buyer who should seek the NOC from the government to sell it to a third firm, not the other way around,” the official added.

Senior Navy officers told ThePrint that there were no separate funds given to the force for sustained maintenance of the ship.

“It was not hard for us, but unsustainable,” a senior Navy officer said. “We were spending a few crores per day from our funds (for maintenance of Viraat) which are already strained.”

Former Navy spokesperson Captain D.K. Sharma (retd) said naval personnel could not have been diverted for maintaining Viraat. “It would have affected other work. Also, while it is difficult to say the exact amount of what the Navy was spending to maintain Viraat, it was easily a few crores per day,” he said.

‘Have started the breaking process’

Meanwhile, the Shree Ram Group said the process of breaking down Viraat has begun and it has not applied for an NOC from the government. Group chairman Mukesh Patel said Envitech has applied for the NOC.

“An NOC is required because we had bought the ship in the auction as auction scrap. If it is being changed for some other use, the NOC is mandatory. We have asked Envitech to get us the NOC from the government and they are the ones seeking it from the government,” he told ThePrint.

Patel said he had asked Envitech to visit and see if the ship can be converted into a museum.

“Naval architects and others first need to visit the yard and see if the ship can go ahead. If yes, and the NOC is in place, they can take the ship. However, we have begun the work of breaking the ship as the interest burden is going up,” he said.

The scrap value, he said, would be determined by the ongoing scrap rates when it is sold. A conservative estimate according to current rates puts it anywhere around Rs 75 crore.

The company has demanded Rs 100 crore from Envitech to sell the warship.

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Proposals received to save Viraat

Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik had told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply earlier this year that while the government received many proposals for the ‘Grand Old Lady’ of the Indian Navy, none was considered good enough.

“INS Viraat could not be handed over to any state government because of non-receipt of a self-sustaining financially complete proposal. Thus, in view of considerations of safety, security etc, a decision to scrap INS Viraat has been taken in due consultation with Indian Navy,” Naik had said.

Earlier, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote to the ministry stating that the Maharashtra government is happy to cooperate in restoring and preserving the “historical ship”. The letter also asked the government to provide an NOC so the ship can be preserved.

“Maharashtra has been very keen earlier too, but the earlier proposal did not work out as the government was with a BJP alliance which was not in favour of the move,” she told ThePrint.

In 2018, the Maharashtra cabinet approved a proposal to convert the carrier into a museum and hospitality centre on a public private partnership (PPP) basis.

“We are keen on preserving the ship as most countries which love their armed forces would do. It could be a museum in any of the coastal cities. Whether it fetches money or not, the idea is to preserve it for posterity,” she said.

Chaturvedi added that she is yet to hear from the defence minister’s office and has sought a meeting with him on the issue.

Hermes Viraat Heritage Trust, a British trust, had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United Kingdom PM Boris Johnson suggesting that India can allow the warship to be towed back to the UK where a maritime museum can be set up, said an NDTV report.

Earlier, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had also submitted a proposal to convert INS Viraat into an aircraft museum, with tourist and hospitality components. It proposed a joint venture with the Centre, but the defence ministry rejected it in 2016.

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Why the ship’s loss is ‘colossal’

Naval veterans, many of whom have voiced their opinion strongly against the breaking of the ship, call the loss of the ship “colossal”.

Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan (retd), a former commanding officer of Viraat, told ThePrint that he has little hope of saving the ship and the efforts being taken now are “too little too late”, akin to a posturing of sorts.

“The torches are already cutting through the hull and the damage is much more in the high tides. The government and the bureaucracy are known for many good things but speed is not one of them,” he said.

“I do not hold much hope. Quite a lot of it is posturing. This could have been done more sensibly. The government could have chosen not to earn that money in the auction but spend it on creating a maritime museum,” he said.

Talking about the government rejecting all earlier proposals, he said there was a lack of interest. “It shows a lack of commitment to maritime issues. I’m saddened. The loss is colossal. It shows that you have the pockets, but not the heart and soul.”

Former Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba had said in 2017 that he had proposed to the government that INS Viraat be converted into a marine museum by taking her to one of the country’s major tourist harbours.

Originally commissioned as HMS Hermes of the UK’s Royal Navy in November 1959, INS Viraat holds the Guinness record for being the oldest serving warship in the world.

The 27,800-tonne ship played a critical role for the Royal Navy in the Falklands War in 1982, before being decommissioned in April 1984. India purchased her after refurbishment, and commissioned her as INS Viraat on 12 May 1987. She was eventually decommissioned in 2017.

Viraat operated Sea Harriers (White Tigers — fighter aircraft), Seaking 42B (Harpoons — anti-submarine helicopters), Seaking 42C (commando carrier helicopters) and Chetak (search-and-rescue helicopters).

It also participated in Operation Jupiter in 1989 (the Indian peace-keeping operations in Sri Lanka) and Operation Vijay in 1999 (Kargil War), and took part in important international joint naval exercises — the Malabar exercise with the US Navy, Varuna with the French Navy, and Naseem-Al-Bahr with the Oman Navy.

Viraat’s last major appearance was at the International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam in 2016. She was finally succeeded by INS Vikramaditya, which was commissioned in 2013.

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New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that with changing times, the nature of threats and wars is also changing, adding that in the future, more security-related issues may arise before India.

Attending the Military Literature Festival-2020 via video conferencing, the Defence Minister said, “From another point of view, I find this event very important. With changing times, the nature of threats and wars is also changing. In the future, more security-related issues may come before us.” On the issue of military literature, the Defence Minister said, “I myself have been deeply interested in linking military literature with the common people. My wish is that future generations understand the history of our country, especially the border history.”

“Soon after assuming office, I set up a committee. It is working towards bringing our border history and its associated wars, to the people in a simple way,” he added.
Rajnath Singh further said, “The think-tanks associated with the Defense Ministry publish offline and online researches, journals and periodicals related to military, strategy, so that people interested in this subject can reach such materials.”

Talking about the benefits of the festival, Defence Minister said, “Here people can get the information related to the Army through books. By communicating with the officers and jawans, one can get to know about army personnel’s experiences. One can also learn about their systems of work.”

Speaking about the literature on nationalism, he said, “In our country, there is an old tradition of writing literature in the spirit of nationalism. Be it Hindi or Punjabi, or Gujarati, there have been writings in almost all languages that have awakened and developed a sense of love for country among people.”

“In ancient times, there have been scholars like ‘Chanakya’ who have written about warfare, which is still relevant in many respects,” said Defense Minister. -ANI

Also read: PM Modi lights ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ to mark 50th anniversary of 1971 war

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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 17

The fourth edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF) will kick off tomorrow, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivering the inaugural address virtually. Other prominent speakers during the inaugural address include Governor of Punjab VP Singh Badnore, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir NN Vohra, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Western Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt Gen RP Singh.

• Read also: Salute to reservoir of military might 

Formally launching the festival here today, Lt Gen TS Shergill (retd), Senior Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister, said the theme of the MLF this year was ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, as both were motivational figures in society.

Earlier during the day, Subedar Maj Yogendra Yadav of the Grenadiers, who was decorated with highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra for his action during the capture of Tiger Hill in the 1999 Kargil War, discussed the battle in an online samvad and also spoke about his life and experiences in the Army.

Due to restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival is being conducted virtually this time. Lt Gen Shergill said panel discussions and other events were being broadcast live

http://through popular social media platforms for a global audience. Some events held as a prelude to the festival have already recorded 16 lakh views on social media.

There would be 12 panel discussions by experts during the three-day event focused on contemporary strategic and geopolitical topics. The opening day would see discussions on sabre-rattling in Ladakh, Chinese air power capabilities and the deep states in India and Pakistan.

A separate session, ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, is being organised to discuss issues related to the soldier and the farmer that will include prominent political leaders from the region.

Emerging Indo-Pacific naval alliance, self-reliance towards defence preparedness and military leadership are other topics to be taken up during the panel discussions in addition to deliberations on books and highlights on the newly inducted Rafale fighter aircraft, Siachen operations and the legacy of the Gurkha soldiers. The Western Command Headquarters will present a curtain raiser on the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Former service chiefs Gen VP Malik, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, Admiral Arun Prakash, Admiral Sunil Lanba and Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne; and Members of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Rakesh Sinha, Mahua Moitra and Rajeev Chandrasekhar would be among the speakers at the event. Ram Madhav, Lt Gen DS Hooda, Lt Gen SS Mehta, Vivek Katju, Kanwal Sibal, Shyam Saran, Dr C Rajamohan, Gul Panag, Mona Ambegaonkar, David Scott, Dr Christine Fair and Andrew Erikson will also take part in the discussions.

The literature festival is an annual event conducted by the Punjab Government and the Western Command to honour and commemorate the legendary bravery and sacrifices of Indian soldiers and also to bring on to a common platform experts to deliberate on contemporary military, security and geopolitical issues.

We, as a nation, should forever remember with great pride and gratitude the ultimate sacrifice made by 4,000 soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield and 10,000 more who went home wounded or disabled. Let us also never forget our 54 officers and men taken prisoners of war, who are dead or dying in Pakistani prisons. It would be a fitting tribute to all of them if 2021, the golden jubilee year of the war, is declared as the Year of the Soldier.

Lt Gen SR Ghosh (retd)

Former GOC-in-C, Western Command

An iconic signpost on the Indo-Pak border read: “You are now entering Pakistan. No passports required. Bash on regardless.” This was for India’s 54 Infantry Division under the command of the charismatic Maj Gen WAG Pinto, spearheading the Indian offensive into the Shakargarh Bulge in December 1971.

For the nation, 1971 was a historic year and we, as newly commissioned second lieutenants, were part of this history, part of this great military success. And this victory is since celebrated every year on December 16 as Vijay Diwas.

Unfortunately, over the years, it appears that the 1971 war is gradually fading from public memory and being overtaken by Kargil, Balakot, Doklam and Galwan. Vijay Diwas has been replaced by Kargil Vijay Diwas. Has the nation forgotten the greatest ever victory achieved by its armed forces? Have all the sacrifices of our young officers and men gone in vain?

Today, many of us who were part of this great campaign are no more. The youngest alive are in their 70s. All that is left for these veterans is a brief wreath-laying ceremony on December 16 at a war memorial, for which most of them are not even invited. The rest of the nation, in any case, hardly remembers this war.

In the run-up to the 50th anniversary of the war next year, the nation needs to commemorate December 16, 1971, when under the leadership of the iconic General Sam Manekshaw, the Indian Army, supported by the IAF and the Indian Navy, blitzkrieged its way to achieve one of the greatest victories by any modern-day military, dismembering Pakistan, and bringing about one of the biggest humiliations any country could ever have to undergo.

The ‘famed’ Pakistani Army was disgraced in the eyes of the world when Gen AAK Niazi and his 93,000 soldiers prostrated themselves in front of the Indian Army in the biggest military surrender after World War II. Till today, the Pakistani military smarts from the ignominy of this defeat by an Army which it used to sneer at.

December 16 is a day of rejoicing because on this day we, along with the Mukti Bahini, liberated and created a free new nation, Bangladesh, and ended a barbaric pogrom by the Pakistani Army of mass killing and rape of its innocent and hapless people.

In a memorable conclusion to the war, young Major Ashok Tara, VrC, in a brilliant operation, rescued the entire family of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, held prisoner by the Pakistani Army, including his wife Begum Fazilatunnesa and daughter Sheikh Hasina, the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a great friend of India.

The war produced heroes like our young Param Vir Chakra (PVC) recipients 2/Lt Arun Khetrapal, Flying Officer Nirmaljit Sekhon and Lance Naik Albert Ekka, who along with several thousands of unrecognised, gallant soldiers laid down their lives with the words ‘Naam, Namak, Izzat’ on their dying breaths. We had inspiring officers like Major Hoshiyar Singh, awarded the PVC for his extraordinary bravery at Shakargarh, Major Ian Cardozo, who, given up for dead due to gangrene, chopped off his leg with his khukri and went on to become a Major General, or Maj KS Chandpuri, MVC, who with his small force, gallantly defended the post of Longewala against the greatly superior Pakistani forces, thus enabling the IAF to decimate the attacking enemy tank regiments.

A special place of honour should be reserved for the silent service, the Indian Navy. In a daring operation, its missile boats attacked the Karachi port, sinking and damaging several Pakistan ships and destroying critical logistics facilities. The Navy dominated both the western and eastern seaboards, thus greatly restricting freedom of action of the Pakistani Navy.

The new generations also need to learn about and honour extraordinary commanders like Capt MN Mulla, MVC, who, in the highest traditions of the Navy, chose to go down with his ship INS Khukri, along with near 200 officers and sailors.

On this occasion, we, as a nation, should forever remember with great pride and gratitude the ultimate sacrifice made by 4,000 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield and 10,000 more who went home wounded or disabled.

Let us also never forget our 54 officers and men taken prisoners of war, who are dead or dying in Pakistani prisons. How unfortunate and tragic that we as victors, allowed 93,000 Pakistani prisoners to return home to their families but could not bring back our own soldiers, while also returning 13,000 square km of captured territory won with the blood, toil and sweat of our men.

Next year is the golden jubilee year of the war. On this landmark occasion, not just the Indian military, but India as a nation also needs to celebrate Vijay Diwas 1971 and remind the world of this great victory of the ‘righteous over evil’. Apart from declaring 2021 as the Year of the Soldier, December 16 should henceforth be celebrated as the Armed Forces Day and do away with the irrelevant and antiquated Armed Forces Flag Day on December 7.

Let a chapter be added to our history books so that future generations read about this momentous victory and continue to remember and honour the sacrifices made by the gallant soldiers of India.