The Hindu : Front Page : INS Tarangini returns to President's welcome

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Monday, Apr 26, 2004

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INS Tarangini returns to President's welcome

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on INS Tarangini, which returned to the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on Sunday after a 15-month world cruise. - Photo: K.K. Mustafah

KOCHI, APRIL 25.

The Navy's sail ship, INS Tarangini, returned to its base at the Southern Naval Command here today after a historic voyage around the world. The President and Supreme Commander of the armed forces, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, welcomed the ship and its crew at an impressive ceremony at the South Jetty at the Naval Base here.

Addressing a gathering of Naval personnel, their families and other dignitaries, the President said that INS Tarangini's 458 days of voyage around the globe would ensure that there was never a subjugation of Indian territory or danger to its sea-borne economic activity.

Mr. Kalam praised the officers, cadets and sailors of INS Tarangini for re-establishing the tradition of sea voyages with a purpose started by Columbus. Columbus had taken about eight months to travel 3,000 nautical miles. INS Tarangini covered 35,454 nautical miles in 15 months, visiting 37 ports in 18 countries.

"Columbus discovered a new continent through his mission, whereas you have travelled through all the continents and won the hearts of the people of the continents you visited," Mr. Kalam said. For the inmates of INS Tarangini, he said, the sea was the classroom and elements of nature their teachers.

"Adventure creates an environment of curiosity. Curiosity provides enthusiasm. The combination of curiosity and enthusiasm leads to high thinking. Thinking leads to hard work, which in turn leads to action. INS Tarangini is the combination of all these phenomenon," he said.

Wearing the cap of INS Tarangini, the President briefly touched on the role of maritime dominance in colonising continents. He said he used to wonder whether India did not have warriors or kings with an adventurous spirit and ambition like Alexander the Great. The 15-month mission of INS Tarangini had answered his question. While flying India's flag of peace in all parts of the world, INS Tarangini had reaffirmed the spirit that ``the whole world is one village and all the people are our kith and kin.''

Later, Mr. Kalam walked up to the officers, cadets and sailors and congratulated them individually. He posed for a photograph with the eight who sailed from the beginning to the end of the voyage.

The President was accompanied by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Yashwant Prasad, and the three Commanding Officers of the ship.

He congratulated Commanders Shoukathali Sheikh, P.K. Garg, and Mukul Asthana, who captained INS Tarangini in different phases of its voyage.

Earlier, Mr. Kalam boarded INS Tarangini before it entered the harbour. Sorties by an ALH, followed by two Chetak helicopters, two Islander aircraft and two Dornier aircraft which flew in formation, welcomed the ship.

A 21-gun salute from INS Tir, the training ship of the Navy, greeted the sail ship as it entered the harbour with the President on board. At 11 a.m., the vessel came alongside, with all the cadets standing on the deck and a cheerful President waving to the crowds.

Soon, all the ships berthed at various points sounded a siren. The President then got off the vessel and came to the stage. Cadets carrying flags of the 18 countries they visited marched past the President, who saluted each flag.

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