Tales from Vikrant Days Vikrant was docked at cruiser wharf for Long refit for fitment of ski ramp in 1983 and as a young Chetak pilot of Vikrant flight, I was really having a whale of a time in Mumbai. Disembarked to INS Kunjali for flying and returning to AC confines of 2R flats was indeed heavenly. I was enjoying piling up the flying hours as much as riding my new Bullet. The Ward room atmosphere was extremely lively with a new color TV and VCR installed. Both items were provided for the first time in the Navy ostensibly for recording air operations but were being used for operations of a different kind. Keerthi Kuriens and Bull kulkarni literally provided the entertainment by getting the best video cassettes to be screened after sundown. But alas! the good times don’t last. NHQ in their exalted wisdom nominated me for Pilotless Target Aircraft Controllers course at NARO (Naval A/C Repair Orgn.) Kochi for 08 weeks duration. It seems there had been few accidents of PTA and now the Navy wanted to experiment with a pilot as a controller and with Vikrant in refit, I was a readily available guinea-pig. My world came crashing down; the thought of long boring embarkations without any flying haunted me. The frigate carrying PTA could not operate helicopter. Another fear was facing board of enquiry in the most likely event of loss of PTA. I poured my heart out to Lt Cdr Raju Sethi, my flight commander who promptly took me to Cdr (air). Raju Sethi was at his persuasive best with Richard Clarke who was sitting in his trademark No 8s minus his shirt. He appeared to listen but paid greater attention to his moustache twirling it in place. Finally he gestured us to follow him into the Captain’s cabin next door. The composition of this high level committee of Vikrant would awe anyone. Capt KASZ Raju was a towering personality with deep piercing eyes that could read every mind before a word was uttered. Cdr Clarke resembled more of a Hollywood hero than an ordinary Indian Naval officer, only nodding now and then. Raju Sethi pleaded my case with the passion of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto defending Kashmir at United Nations. “The future of the Indian Navy having blue water aspirations would be severely compromised sending it into an abyss if Dipy is sent for this course” he argued. He went on with similar rhetoric till interrupted by Captain with “Send a letter to NHQ and follow up”. The letter was duly drafted by Raju sir with emphasis on the ‘imaginary’ fact as to how I was a vital cog in Sea Harrier induction etc etc and it started its journey up the echelons of this great service. The telephonic enquiries with DDAOT (incharge of postings,courses etc.) at NHQ clearly spelt no hope. I was doomed to be a PTA controller. Any way resigned to destiny, I got the Railway warrant issued and booked my ticket. My bike I sent to Kochi through Sanjay Karve sailing on Shakti. I also wrote to my parents regarding change of address for sending letters. Sitting distraught and dejected in ante room, I overheard Lt Sukhjinder Singh Astt to Astt Flight Deck Engineering Officer(Later Cmde and PD Gorshakov Project) enquiring about Lt Rao, an under trainee engineering officer. I told him that I had had breakfast with him the previous day. Point Noted. Lt Rao had been observed missing from the ship and he returned from Hyderabad the next day after his testerone levels returned to normal. A COI was constituted and it recommended trial by court martial. Lo and Behold, I was nominated as a witness on having been the last person to have seen Rao on board prior to his disappearance. Promptly a signal was sent to NHQ to delete my name from the course as I was required for GCM proceedings. NHQ wasted no time and pulled out Sudhir Pillai preparing to go on cruise to Jeddah on Dunagiri. Before my friend Sudhir knew what hit him, he was chugging away on Bombay-Jayanti Janta to Harbour terminus station to be a PTA Controller. Relieved and happy, but apprehensive about my first tryst with court martial, there as a gentle knock on my 2R-21 cabin. It was Lt Rao who came in quickly avoiding the Exo, Cdr Shankar’s glance and slid the door shut behind. “Thank you so much brother… you have saved me” he said. A bit intrigued I asked “how come”. His confession was startling…. “Actually I had been missing from the ship for 10 days but your statement has shortened my absence without leave to only 3 days.” My casual remark of having breakfast with him had earned me his eternal gratitude. The GCM was a total anti climax. The proceedings got over in 10 min flat as Rao pleaded guilty after opening formalities. The court adjourned and reassembled quickly giving Rao a severe reprimand and a wide grin from ear to ear..
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 11:32:09 +0000
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