To commemorate Vijay Divas, the 1971 war victory, Vice Admiral SH Sarma was felicitated at a function on Friday here.
Sarma is the senior most surviving veteran of the World War II and all the wars India has fought since Independence. The highest ranking and most decorated Odia officer is still active at the age of 98.
It was Admiral Sarma who secretly formed the Eastern Indian Fleet and was the first Admiral to Command it. It was under his command, during the 1971 war that the Indian Naval Fleet in the Bay of Bengal, took on the Pakistani forces in the coastal areas of the then East Pakistan and bombed them into submission. During these operations, the East Pakistan ports were very effectively blockaded by ships of the Indian Naval Fleet, initially cutting the supply routes to the Pakistani Army and later the escape routes, resulting in the capture of over 93000 Pakistani soldiers.
As the Admiral in command of the Southern Naval Command and as the Director General of the Naval Dockyard Expansion Scheme, Admiral Sarma again excelled beyond all expectations and was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral, once again superseding several officers.
After 35 years of distinguished and unparallel service, Admiral Sarma retired in February 1978, as the Commander-in Chief of the Eastern Naval Command. On retirement at the age of 55, he returned to Orissa.
Admiral Sarma took time to recount his memoirs in his book “My years at Sea”, giving an insight to his early life, his time at sea and the Indian Navy.
He is the senior most person from Odisha to have served in the Defence services of India, remains the patron of the War Veterans Association of Odisha and also the “Navy Foundation of Odisha”. He resides at his residence “Navy House”, in Bhubaneswar, with his younger son Navin and daughter-in-law Nalini.