New Delhi: The country is celebrating the Indian Navy Day on Monday, December 4. Later in the day, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, will visit the Sindhudurg Fort, which is on an Arabian Sea island just off the coast of Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, where the main Navy Day 2023 parade will be held.
Apart from giving a speech, the prime minister will also unveil a statue of 17th-century Maratha emperor Shivaji Bhonsale I (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj). The chief ministers of Maharashtra and Goa will also attend the event.
This is the second time the main Navy Day celebrations and parade are held outside New Delhi. In 2022, it was held at Visakhapatnam with President Droupadi Murmu as the chief guest.
Functions are being held in naval bases and stations across the country to mark the day, except under the Eastern Naval Command. The Eastern Naval Command postponed the celebrations until December 10 because of Cyclone Michaung in the Bay of Bengal, which is lashing the coastal regions at this moment.
Why is Navy Day celebrated on December 4?
India celebrates Navy Day on December 4 every year to commemorate the Indian Navy’s daring and successful attack on Pakistan’s Karachi harbour during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. The sensational operation codenamed “Operation Trident” crippled Pakistan’s navy. This later proved to be a key role in India’s and played a crucial role in India’s eventual victory with the Bengali guerrillas, Mukti Bahini, against Pakistan in the war.
The Indian Navy launched Operation Trident on the night of December 4, 1971, with three missile boats INS Nipat, INS Nirghat and INS Veer, each armed with four Soviet made SS-N-2B Styx surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 40 nautical miles (74 kilometres), two Arnala-class anti-submarine corvettes – INS Kiltan and INS Katchall, and a fleet tanker – INS Poshak.
The group was under the command of Commander Babru Bhan Yadav, the commanding officer of the 25th Missile Boat Squadron.
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The boats successfully infiltrated the heavily guarded Karachi harbour on the Arabian Sea and launched a surprise attack on Pakistani warships and wreaked havoc there. The damage was so significant that it disrupted Pakistan’s maritime operations, including sending logistical support to the-then East Pakistan. Apart from the successful attack, the Indian group returned without suffering any casualty.
This audacious strike demonstrated the Indian Navy’s capabilities and resolve, and it served as a turning point in the war eventually, leading to the creation of Bangladesh. Operation Trident was considered to be the most successful naval operation after World War II at that time.
In recognition of the Indian Navy’s bravery and strategic brilliance during Operation Trident, the Indian government decided to observe December 4 as Navy Day.
The nation celebrates Navy Day with great enthusiasm and respect acknowledging and honouring the Indian Navy’s contributions to safeguarding India’s maritime borders and ensuring national security.
