Iconic Indian Navy figure, Vice Admiral MP Awati, passes away
What's the story
Vice Admiral (retired) Manohar Prahlad Awati, popularly known as the father of the Indian Navy's circumnavigational adventures, passed away at the age of 91 years, early on Sunday at his native village of Vinchurni in Maharashtra.
An iconic figure in the Indian Navy, Admiral Awati also headed the National Defence Academy once.
Here's all about him.
Twitter Post
The Indian Navy pays its regards to Admiral Awati
End of an Era.....Good Bye Admiral @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD @IAF_MCC @HQ_IDS_India @adgpi @IndiaCoastGuard @nsitharaman @narendramodi @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/U2UfX7C7fx
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) November 4, 2018
Naval career
Awati was an important figure in the 1971 Bangladesh war
Born on September 7, 1927, Awati joined the Royal Indian Navy in 1945.
A specialist in signal communication, he served on several Navy ships.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, Awati was the commanding officer of INS Kamorta, and was engaged in combat operations for almost a fortnight, capturing three enemy ships and destroying an enemy submarine.
He was awarded a Vir Chakra.
Other honors
Awati was instrumental in the Navy's circumnavigational missions
Between March 1967 and July 1977, Awati served as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA).
Awati was also instrumental in envisaging and initiating the Indian Navy's circumnavigational adventures, including Commander Dilip Donde's first solo adventure in 2010, and the recent one by the all-women crew of INSV Tarini, which completed its circumnavigation of the globe earlier this year.
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A token of Admiral Awati's dedication to the armed forces
In 2015, Admiral Awati presented the NDA with a Webley .38 calibre revolver, which was handed to him as a token of surrender by two senior Pakistan Navy officers in the war of 1971. It now remains in the NDA museum.
Reactions
Several leaders commemorate Admiral Awati
Understandably, Admiral Awati's passing saw many send in their condolences.
India's Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Defense Subhash Bhamre, and many others took to social media to commemorate Admiral Awati - one of India's "tallest heroes".
As per Admiral Awati's wishes, his last rites were performed in Vinchurni on Sunday afternoon.
Twitter Post
Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's homage to Admiral Awati
Vice Admiral M P Awati (Retd) #PVSM, #VirChakra passed away; was the commanding officer of a naval unit of the Eastern Fleet,Dec’71. Captured three enemy ships carrying contraband goods. His actions led to destruction of an enemy submarine. An icon in naval history. My homage.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) November 4, 2018
Twitter Post
Admiral Sunil Lanba pays tribute to Admiral Awati
Deeply regret to inform the sad demise of Vice Admiral MP Awati (Retd) early this morning, at his hometown Vinchurni, Phaltan, near Satara. He was 91. A giant of a man, one of our tallest heroes and greatest icons. It's truly the end of an era. May his soul RIP - Adm S Lanba CNS pic.twitter.com/Y3l6idVNaK
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) November 4, 2018