Malvan (Sindhudurg, Maharashtra): The prime minister, Narendra Modi, announced that ranks of the Indian Navy will be renamed to junk “slave mentality” and bring them in alignment with Indian tradition. He said this during his speech at the main Navy Day parade held at Malvan town in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district on Monday.
“The Indian Navy is now going to name its ranks in line with Indian traditions,” the prime minister announced on the occasion.
While addressing the Indian Navy personnel who were gathered here to celebrate the Navy Day, Modi also hailed the appointment of a woman officer as the commanding officer of a naval warship for the first time. The prime minister expressed his government’s commitment to increasing the numerical strength of women in the armed forces.
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He also paid glowing tributes to the 17th century Maratha warrior-emperor Shivaji Bhonsale I (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) for his vision and warfare strategy. He said the Maratha king knew the importance of naval power.
#NavyDay2023#OpsDemo at Sindhudurg
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 4, 2023
जलमेव यस्य, बलमेव तस्य
"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡" pic.twitter.com/6Y9ctRFQTQ
On the occasion, he also expressed happiness over epaulettes being adorned by naval officers that will highlight the heritage and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The new ones will be like the new naval ensign.
Read also: Navy gets new ensign with major changes from old flag
The Navy Day event was celebrated in Malvan in the backdrop of the iconic 17th-century Sindhudurg Fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It reflects India’s rich maritime history.
Every year, December 4 is celebrated as Navy Day to acknowledge the role of the maritime force and commemorate its achievements in “Operation Trident” during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, also referred to – in India and Pakistan – as the 1971 India-Pakistan War or the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
Read also: Know why India celebrates Navy Day on December 4
Watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s full Navy Day 2023 speech here:
The story has been last updated at 5.58am, Tuesday, December 5, 2023.