He is four score years and fourteen and yet age sits light on his shoulders. He is still strong, active and energetic and his voice displays his confidence and robust optimism for his country and countrymen. Retired Vice-Admiral SH Sarma, a Param Vishist Seva Medal winner, was born in December 1922 in Odisha. He left home before 14 years old to join the Indian Mercantile Marine Training Ship Dufferin where he topped his three-year course and was awarded the Viceroy’s gold medal as the best all-round Cadet in 1939. After the training onboard the Dufferin, he joined the British India Steam Navigation Company and rose to the rank of 2nd Officer, transferring to the Royal Indian Naval Reserve in December 1942. He saw action during the World War II in the Burmese and Malaysian theatres. On cessation of the war, he joined the newly-formed Royal Indian Navy and subsequently the Indian Navy. After a number of handpicked appointments early in his career, Admiral Sarma was elevated to the rank of Captain superseding some forty officers, an unheard of precedent. Admiral SM Nanda, then Chief of the Naval Staff, later recognised and applauded the then Captain Sarma’s singlehanded efforts in the repair and re-commissioning of the INS Brahmaputra by promoting him to the rank of Rear Admiral ahead of several of his seniors. Admiral Sarma is the only officer to have been promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral and appointed as Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College, New Delhi, without having done the NDC course, again an unheard of precedent. later, as Vice-Admiral, he was appointed the Commandant of the National Defence College. He was the first Flag Officer to command the Eastern Indian Naval Fleet. It was under his command and during the 1971 war that the Eastern Indian Naval Fleet took on the Pakistani forces in the coastal areas of the then East Pakistan by surprise and compelled them into submission. During the operations, the East Pakistan ports were very effectively blockaded by ships of the Eastern Indian Naval fleet. This blockade was recognised and documented by the Naval authorities all over the world as the most effective of blockades in recent times. The Eastern Fleet was also credited with sinking of the Pakistani submarine Ghazi. For this, Admiral Sarma was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal by the President of India. As the Admiral in command of the Southern Naval Command and as the Director General of the Naval Dockyard Expansion Scheme, he again excelled beyond all expectations and was promoted to Vice-Admiral superseding several officers. After three and a half decades of distinguished and resplendent service career, he retired in February 1978 as the Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, a command that covered the entire eastern seaboard of India from Kolkata in the north to Tuticorin in the south and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the east. After his superannuation, he accepted the Chairmanship of IPIBEl refractories for eight years at the request of the Government of Odisha. He took time to recount his memories and depict his reflections and reminiscences in his book “My years at Sea” delineating his eventful life at sea. This young nonagenarian continues to be a repository source of wisdom, an incredible warehouse of knowledge, an avid reader still ahead of our times and is endowed with a multifaceted world view. Because of his tremendous weakness and overwhelming passion for his homeland Odisha, he continues to live in Bhubaneswar with his younger son Captain Navin C Sarma (ex-Dufferin) and along with his loving and caring daughter-in-law Nalini.
In an interview to The Pioneer, this Bhismapitamaha of the Indian Navy (like the great grand sire Bhisma of the Mahabharata era) spoke to Sugyan Choudhury at his residence.
Do you think that the Indian Navy is capable enough to confront any threat to India’s territoryIJ
The Indian Navy has progressed a lot in fewer days. We have two nuclear submarines. The nuclear submarines are a different breed of submarines from which we can fire long-range missiles. They have unlimited range. They can submerge and get up at any point they like. They can submerge at the Indian coast and can get up in Australia or in some farthest countries remaining under water for months together while doing their navigation accurately. Our aircraft career Vikramaditya has long range and has the capability of surveying the whole of the Arabian Sea in one day. We have destroyers, frigates which are not susceptible to radar and cannot be easily picked up. Besides, we have also guided missiles at our command. We can’t say that we are equal to all the big powers, but we are capable enough of meeting our current needs.
Do you think that the Indian Navy has enhanced its position in the Indian OceanIJ
Yes, of course. You know, I was in the command of the 1971 war against Pakistan. The then General Yahya Khan who was the President of Pakistan observed that the captivation of Pakistan Army would not have been precipitated but for the timely action of the Indian Navy. Well, we can say that it was the compliment from the enemy. We have many write-ups about it. Some foreign newspapers equated my command to that of British Admiral Nelson.
How has the Indian Navy been capable to protect the maritime interest of IndiaIJ
Maritime interest of India mainly consists of protecting convoys at the seacoast. Protection of the seacoast has been divided into three parts by the Army, by the Coast Guard and by the Navy. If it is farther at the sea, the Navy takes over. Nearer the coast, the Coast Guard takes over. If it is nearer of the territory, the Army then looks into it. You see we have to look at the important places and the vulnerable ones which are prone to enemy attack. For example, we had an attack in Kolab in Mumbai from Pakistan side. We are wiser in protecting such other vulnerable places by maintaining strict surveillance by the Navy.
Could you please tell us about one of the most memorable experiences in your careerIJ
I have already told you about the same. Not everybody has the good fortune to serve in a war and take a lead in it. I was in command of the Eastern Fleet in 1971 war. The Indian Navy was so much successful that we prevented escape of the Pakistan Navy towards the South, i.e., towards Malaysia and Burma. We conducted a successful blockade so much so that some foreign newspapers called this equal to that of the blockade conducted in past by British Admiral Nelson. I think this is the most memorable experience in my chequered naval career.
Has our Indian Navy undergone modernisation at par with other developed nationsIJ
I must say we may not be that advanced at par with the powerful countries, but I can say with confidence that we are close to them, not far behind. We are indeed a strong navy. We have modern ships well-equipped from every angle. We have shadow frigates that cannot be detected from air or from surface and they can proceed to the enemy and can attack them from the nearest quarters. We have some ships that can fight against nuclear explosion. They can stop the nuclear weapons from coming into force by nipping the weapons in the bud.
What would be your message to the future generation of naval officersIJ
I would say that I had the opportunity of joining top four alluring jobs like the Calcutta Port Commissioner, as an IAS officer in Odisha and as a Director General of a department in the Government of India and the like. But I shunned them all and got stuck to the Indian Navy. If I would be given an opportunity to serve in my next birth, I would have no choice but to join my country’s navy.