The Forefathers

	THE FOREFATHERS

[ Naval Gallery ]

-	-
	A new and significant chapter in the history of the Indian Navy was opened when Rear Admiral Ram Dass Katari (later Vice Admiral and the first Indian Chief of Naval Staff), became the first Indian Admiral who took over as Flag Officer (Flotilla) from Rear Admiral Sir St John Reginald Joseph Tyrwhitt (later Admiral and Second Sea Lord of the Royal Navy) on 02 October 1956. The Admirals are seen here seen shaking hands after the simple but impressive handover ceremony held on board INS Delhi at Bombay.
-	-
	Engineer Sub Lieutenant D.N. Mukerji became the first Indian to be commissioned into the Royal Indian Marines (RIM), as it was known back then, on 06 January 1928.
-	-
	Lieutenant Ram Charan, an Indian Navy meteorologist, was the first Indian to visit the Antarctica, in the South Pole, when he accompanied an Australian polar expedition in 1960. He died in a road accident in 1961.
-	-
	An Indian Naval contingent leads the first Republic Day Parade, on 26 January 1950, at the Irwin Stadium (now National Stadium). Indian President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Defense Minister Sardar Baldev Singh, and the three service chiefs are seen in the picture. This was the last time the Indian Navy led the Republic Day Parade as the senior-most service - the Indian Army acquired that coveted title.
-	-
	INS Hamla, the Indian Navy's Supply & Secretariat School on Marve beach (Mumbai), was the scene of a passing-out parade on the morning of 04 February 1956. Ten smartly dressed, direct-entry, Sub Lieutenants of the fourth batch passed out after successfully completing their seven-month training. Commodore Adhar Kumar Chatterjee (later Admiral and CNS), the Commodore-in-Charge of Bombay inspected the passing-out officers.
-	-
	Indian High Commissioner, V.K. Krishna Menon, being piped aboard HMIS (Her Majesty's Indian Ship) Rana. The prefixes, RIN and HMIS, were dropped after the India became a Republic in 1950 and the terms IN (Indian Navy) and INS (Indian Naval Ship) were adopted instead.
-	-
	On board HMIS Delhi (left to right) - Secretary of the Admiralty, the Commander-in-Chief of the Nore, the Indian High Commissioner V.K. Krishna Menon, Second Sea Lord, the Commander-in-Chief of the RIN, and the Commanding Officer of HMIS Delhi.
-	-
	Finding their sea legs on the quarterdeck of INS Delhi, during her cruise to Indonesia in June 1950, are Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, his daughter - Indira Gandhi and her sons - Rajiv and Sanjay, dressed up in sailor uniforms.
-	-
	An Indian Navy Guard, led by Lieutenant (later Vice Admiral) R.K.S. Gandhi, marching to India House on the Indian Independence Day celebrations at London on 15 August 1949.
-	-
	Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inspecting ship's company of HMIS Delhi at her arrival to Mumbai on 15 Sept 1948.
-	-
	Lady Willis, wife of the C-in-C at Portsmouth, unveiling a vessel's name - Rajput - for the Royal Indian Navy.
-	-
	Rear Admiral (later Admiral of the Fleet) Lord Mountbatten inspecting ship's company, HMIS Delhi.
-	-
	The Commanding Officer, Officers and Ship's Company of HMIS Ranjit.
-	-