“With a sense of pride in our heritage, I am pleased to announce that the ranks of the Indian Navy will be renamed in accordance with Indian culture.” We are also aiming to increase the power of women in our armed forces. “I’d like to congratulate the Navy on appointing the country’s first female commanding officer on a naval ship,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked at the Navy Day celebrations in Sindhudurg.
PM Modi spoke to the role of great Indian legend Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and stressed the significance of naval force. “My greetings to all the members of the Navy family. I am fortunate to extend greetings on Navy Day from this Sindhudurg Fort. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj knew the importance of the power of the sea. His slogan meant, ‘The one who can control the sea is the most powerful’,” he said.
“Inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the nation is moving forward, leaving the mentality of dependence behind. I am happy that the epaulettes worn by our Naval officers will now have a sight of the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. New epaulettes will now have a symbol of Shivaji Maharaj’s army. It is my fortune that I had the opportunity to connect the Naval flag with the heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” PM Modi added.
The indigenousness of naval power
Defense of the Union Rajnath Singh emphasized the government’s attention on the Indian Navy’s operational demands and how India is progressing toward indigenisation of its naval capability. “A decade ago, it was believed that the threats faced by the country were only land-based. And the Navy was not given much importance. But when PM Modi came to power, he rose above this limited mentality and focused on the Navy, along with the Army and the Air Force. Today, the Indian Navy is moving towards indigenisation rapidly,” the minister said during his address at the event.
“PM Modi commissioned the first indigenous aircraft carrier a few months ago. Previously, most equipment was imported, but now we are a builder Navy rather than a buyer Navy,” he noted.
On December 4, the Indian Navy commemorates the daring “Operation Trident,” a huge naval attack on Karachi port during the 1971 War.
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