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The spoils of the war
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Now out with his autobiography, "The Man Who Bombed Karachi", retired Admiral S.M. Nanda tells SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY how he designed the fall of Karachi in 1971 War.
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Admiral S.M. Nanda... the hero of Karachi.
AT AGE 89, former Admiral S.M. Nanda is justifiably shaky. Hard of hearing, trembling hands, a failing eyesight... you understand when he says his recollection of the past events now might not be all-inclusive. But still, you have to trust his straight back, authoritarian looks, and that imposing bearing of a man who even now won't take a no for a task assigned. That typical air of defence personnel.
Termed by "good friend" Khushwant Singh as "the man who bombed Karachi", the Admiral no doubt waxes eloquent when queried about his 35 years of eventful service in the Indian Navy, the summit being the Indo-Pakistan War in 1971, coiling in thus an autobiography at this fag end of life. Released in New Delhi this past week amid the usual Who's Who gatherings with glasses in their hands, this Harper Collins publication celebrates not only how the Indian Navy aided the Army and Air Force to win the war but also how this smallest of India's defence force triumphed in putting it in the country's active defensive preparations thereon.
"When things were hotting up prior to `71 war, Mrs Gandhi would hold a daily meeting of the three defence chiefs at her office. General S.H.J.F. Manekshaw would offer his suggestions followed by Air Chief Marshal P.C. Lal. The Prime Minister would invariably look at her watch at the end of this and ask in a nonchalant manner, `Admiral, do you have anything to say?' That itself would suggest that Navy stands low in the scheme of things," recalls Nanda. After one such meeting, he thrust himself onto the Prime Minister urging her to "listen" to his plans.
"I grew up near Karachi port and worked there as a Naval officer. I knew the port well. So I requested Mrs Gandhi to allow me to go ahead with my designs on the enemy port. She gave me an indirect answer though: `Well Admiral, if there is a war, there is a war.' And, I got the answer". Thereon started his plans and the result was "a couple of sealed envelopes" despatched to ships on strategic points with instructions not to open them till asked.
"Even within the Navy my idea of an offensive attack on Karachi was opposed. I was suggested to safeguard Mumbai port and I asked, `What will Pakistan be doing?' They said they would be protecting Karachi and then I asked again, `Then who is attacking Mumbai port?' Though our ships started sailing towards Karachi, we stuck to Mrs Gandhi's instructions that we would wait till Pakistan strikes," he recollects the D-day for the Navy being December 3-4.
Leading his men at the front from Delhi, the Navy successfully nailed Pakistan Navy, sinking three of their vessels, seizing merchant ships and cutting off all supply lines. "It came to such a pass that foreign cargo ships sought our permission to leave the port". In "The Man Who Bombed Karachi", he details it all which no doubt would offer enough fodder to those wanting to know a first person account of this sliver of history. The book, which he says, took three years to be completed, besides telling the tale of his life after Navy, also gives word to "pressure tactics" of several big players like Britain and America during the war.
But this apart, don't we all know that General Manekshaw turned out to be the hero of the war, that added honour of a Field Marshal? "Soon after the war, I got a call from the Prime Minister's Office saying Mrs Gandhi wants to add another star on to the General and sought my opinion on it. It was P.N. Haksar on the other side who also told me that Air Marshal Lal is opposed to it. And, I said, I am game if Mrs Gandhi doesn't take a star from me and give it to the General," laughs the Admiral recalling the moment.
Now, not only the Army has a Field Marshal, but the Air Force too has a Marshall in Arjan Singh but no one in the Navy yet. And if at all a time comes to choose, this grand old man might be game for it this time. But, when you come out of his palatial residence at Prithiviraj Road festooned with a fleet of cars waiting with ACs on and realise such a five-star life he leads as a retired Admiral (?) in a country neck deep in poverty, you seriously think, he has had enough of the good things of life!
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