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A dream come true for veteran sailor

Former navy chief who conceived the Ezhimala academy feels let down by authorities.

Ezhimala: The former navy chief who initiated India’s new marine academy in this imposing mountainous region on a seashore says he was not informed about the school being inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday.

Admiral (retd.) O.S. Dawson, 85, felt disappointed after he read in newspapers about the opening of the Ezhimala Naval Academy, which he had dreamt about 30 years ago.

Mr. Dawson, however, said in life such things do happen.

“It was when I was the flag officer commanding in chief at the Southern Naval Command in the early 1980s that I began the paperwork for starting this. First, I wrote to the then Chief Minister of the State and he instantly agreed,” the veteran sailor said over telephone from his Bangalore home.

Dawson recalled how he was stunned to see Ezhimala when he first visited the place on a mission to rescue a fishing trawler.

“I was a young lieutenant in the navy when I was leading a small 100 feet vessel ML3112 at Kochi in 1948. We got a call that a fishing trawler was in trouble. We moved towards this place (but) the vessel commanded by a British was washed away.

“The place was extremely beautiful and believe me I felt this could be a prized possession for the navy,” said Dawson. And when he returned to head the Southern Naval Command in 1979, he had a plan for Ezhimala.

“I flew in a helicopter over the place for an aerial survey and then started moving the papers, for which I received full support from the then State Government,” said Mr. Dawson.

Mr. Dawson after becoming the navy chief in 1982 again took up the case of the academy.

“I faintly remember as navy chief, I spoke to (the then Chief Minister) K. Karunakaran. Things were moving, and I retired in 1984. But nevertheless, even though I am immaterial, I am really delighted that this has finally (got) ready,” said a pleased Mr. Dawson.

The Rs.7.21 billion naval school will conduct B.Tech courses for 750 cadets and commissioned officers from the academic session commencing next year.

Officers from foreign navies will also be eligible to attend the programmes at the academy to be headed by Rear Admiral M.P. Muraleedharan. – IANS

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