Rear Admiral ® Gulab Thadani was the pioneer in the transfer of Technology and technical implementation of Indian Navy’s program of new acquisition of Ships and Submarines. He is a living legend.

The number of Sindhis who joined Indian Navy may not be the large, but they rose to highest positions due to their efficiency, honesty to their profession and hard work, and gathered fame.  Some of them were Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahliani, the first Sindhi to become the Chief of Naval Staff of India, Vice Admiral Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani, the Vice Chief of Indian Navy, and Rear Admiral Gulab Thadani. They were, in fact, mentors of Indian Navy. Sindh Courier has published the life sketch of Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahliani and Vice Admiral Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani. Here is the life sketch of Rear Admiral Gulab Thadani.

Rear Admiral Gulab Thadani, known as GC Thadani, was born on 03 Aug 1930 in Hyderabad, Sindh in a highly respected Sindhi business community. After his primary education in Hyderabad, the family shifted to New Delhi in 1940. He joined Indian Navy in the year 1949 and served for 38 years. Rear Admiral GC Thadani has vast experience of visiting many countries and handling extreme sea and war conditions.

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Watch Video of Book Launch

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He has narrated his entire naval and personal life in autobiography named as “Sailing through Life, on a Happy Journey” released on July 30, 2019 in Mumbai three days prior to his 89th Birthday where Dimple, his beautiful daughter spoke about her dynamic, brilliant, noble and inspiring Dad.

The memoirs cover his life in Delhi in the early 40s and he describes vividly the aftermath of Partition in 1947, the largest ever migration of refugees, the Hindu-Muslim riots and massacres that history had witnessed. The Admiral accomplished his High School from St Columba’s School and moved on to St Stephen’s College prior to joining BHU for engineering. His destiny directed him to join the Indian Navy in 1949. For the Cadets training, he was sent to Dartmouth College, HMS Devonshire, UK. After his midshipman’s tenure onboard HMS Triumph he joined Manadon, Plymouth for Marine Engineering. Having successfully completed his Engineering specialization in 1956, he was posted to 4 Coastal Minesweepers as a Technical Officer.

During his naval career, Rear Admiral Thadani served in the ships of both Eastern and Western Commands, Naval Headquarters and 3 tenures in Naval Dockyards. His last Sea appointment was E.O. INS Amba. During the 1971 War, the Admiral was Command Engineering Officer, Eastern Naval Command and was awarded VSM for his contribution during the War. The Rear Admiral was a member of Dockyard Maintenance Team that was deputed to Russia in 1966 to acquire the Repair and Maintenance Technology for Submarines and Petya class Ships that were being inducted. He was a Pioneer in the transfer of Technology and technical implementation of Indian Navy’s program of new acquisition of Ships and Submarines. Rear Admiral Thadani had a long stint in Russia and Poland as the Deputy Naval Attaché. His last appointment was Director General Naval Projects, Mumbai. Post-retirement in Aug 1987, the Admiral was appointed Captain Commandant of the Engineering branch.

Gulab Thadani’s memoirs depict way of life in the Navy during the mid-’50s, an era when Indian Navy was shaping up and hard-work together with responsibilities ingrained into officers at a comparatively younger age. The book also captures the Admiral’s life from a holistic perspective, sharing intimate accounts of family relationships and the social bonhomie of our fine Indian Navy of yesteryears.

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Watch Rear Admiral (R) Gulab Thdani’s interview

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Rear Admiral recalls in a piece on his personal website: “I was the only one of us five siblings, to join the Navy. It is amazing that prophesy based on my horoscope became a reality. I recall that sometime in 1944-45, my late father came in contact with a Pundit from Meerut. My father invited the Pundit home and he read the horoscopes of all of us brothers. When my turn came, he told my parents that my life would be very different from my other three brothers (we were four brothers at that time). The Pundit predicted that I would not be a rich man, but I would always have sufficient income to lead a good and comfortable life. Also, that I would earn a good name and respect from those around me. He also told my parents that water is dangerous for me. My father immediately reacted and told me “no more swimming for you”.

“Now, looking back over the years, all my brothers became prosperous businessmen with good money while I in the Navy lead a different life with a lavish lifestyle of a different kind, lived sufficiently well, traveled widely and earned the respect of community at large with dignity…And I joined the Navy in 1949 almost five years after the prophesy,” he says.

“During my career in the Navy, I experienced a few setbacks when a few officers, close to my seniority tried one-upmanship, and sidelined me and gained their own upper hand. Luckily, I came unscathed through these professional upheavals thanks to my competence and continued high performance over the years. I was very fortunate to have the support of some very fine officers under whom I worked, and those who worked under me,” Thadani writes.

This book is a remarkable cultural and chronological retrospective of his life spanning the period from 1930s when his family was in Hyderabad Sindh. It covers his inadvertent but successful career in the Indian Navy replete with detailed accounts of his youthful exploits in England, his professional experiences as a young Naval officer, and his expertise as one of the Indian Navy’s earliest pioneers in the submarine repair technology transfer from the former U.S.S.R to India. Other historical accounts include his involvement with the 1971 war with Pakistan, and circumstances that led to the sinking of Pakistan’s submarine Gazi. He describes life as defence diplomat in Moscow under the Soviets, and chronicles some brief but fascinating encounters with Dhirubhai Ambani, Prince Charles and His Holiness the Pope. The book also spends time on his personal life, and intricately winds through his family, marriage and friendships. Written in a simple narrative style, the book keeps one engaged and provides a lovely glimpse into the life of a passionate man and honorable Naval Officer.

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Source: GC Thadani Website, GC Thadani Website Family Photos, Sindhiwiki, Raj Dutta Blogs, Raj Dutta Blogs  

The post A Sindhi who pioneered Technology Transfer in Indian Navy first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Sindhis are said to be the mentors of Indian Naval Force. Late Vice Admiral Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani is one of those Mentors.

The number of Sindhis who joined Indian Navy may not be the large, but they rose to highest positions due to their efficiency, honesty to their profession and hard work, and gathered fame.  Some of them were Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahliani, the first Sindhi to become the Chief of Naval Staff of India, Vice Admiral Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani, the Vice Chief of Indian Navy, and Rear Admiral Gulab Thadani. They were, in fact, mentors of Indian Navy. Sindh Courier recently published a detailed write-up on life and achievements of Admiral Tahliani. Today we are sharing life-sketch of Late Vice Admiral Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani.        

Here is the life sketch of Vice Admiral Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani.

Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani, born in Karachi on 29 June 1931, was a senior Indian Navy Officer. He was a mentor and guide to many generations of Indian Naval Officers. The Naval history cell in Naval Headquarters was a place for many young officers to seek his advice and guidance. He served India with distinction for 60 years from 1949 to 2009, working to the last day of his life as Officer on Special Duty to Naval Headquarters.

Gulab Hiranandani served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff from 1987 to 1989. He was awarded the Nausena Medal for gallantry during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.

Hiranandani is credited with the detailed planning of the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala and INS Kadamba in Karwar, the foundation stones for which were laid during his tenure as flag Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Naval Command. During his tenure all Naval Training was centralized under the southern Naval Command. A brilliant tactician, his work remains pivotal to Indian naval training on maneuvers and operational tactics.

He authored three landmark books on Indian naval history, Transition to Triumph, Transition to Eminence and Transition to Guardianship. These books covered the history of the Indian Navy from 1965 to 2000.

Service career

Gulab Hiranandani joined the Royal Indian Navy in 1949. He was trained with the Royal Navy, between 1949 and 1953. He underwent specialized training in Gunnery and Missiles in 1957. In 1965, he attended the Naval Staff College at Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He held a Master’s degree in Military Science and a doctorate in Political Science.

In 1961, he was appointed the Commandant of INS Dronacharya, and was promoted to commander on 30 June 1969.

During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, Hiranandani served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. In this role, he led the detailed planning and logistics for key naval operations. He was awarded the Nau Sena Medal for his role in planning and implementing of Operation Trident and Operation Python.

Hiranandani served as the Deputy Director Weapons’ Policy and Tactics (1968-1970) where he was instrumental in the acquisition of the Missile boats used in Operation Python & operation Trident. He developed the tactics on how to deploy them in War. During his Tenure as Commanding officer (1970-1971) he developed and tested methods of towing the short range missile boats from Vizag in Bombay in heavy seas during the monsoon of 1971. These techniques were then used to tow the missile boats near Karachi harbor to be used as Missile delivery Vehicles with devastating effect. He was appointed the Director of Combat Policy and Tactics, serving from 1974 to 1977. He was a deep thinker and brilliant tactician. His work on naval strategy remains the basis for much of the tactical training and operational maneuvers of the Indian Navy. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for this contribution. Hiranandani was promoted substantive captain on 1 January 1976. In 1980, he commissioned INS Rajput (D51), the lead vessel of the Rajput class destroyers as its first Commanding Officer.

He was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command in 1981, with promotion to rear admiral on 7 May 1981. Promoted Vice Admiral on 30 June 1983, he was appointed the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff the same year. During this time he laid the foundation for the Project 15 Class of Stealth Guided Missile destroyers. He worked in close co-ordination with the DRDO & Bharat Electricals to indigenously design the electronics and Missile systems required for new Warships. He was instrumental in putting together a long ship building plan which gave the Indian Navy the capability to be self-sufficient in building its own up to date warships and missiles.

In 1985, Hiranandani was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command. During his tenure in this office, he led the detailed planning for the development of the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala. He was also involved in the planning of INS Kadamba in Karwar, Karnataka. He was instrumental in persuading the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Karnataka to transfer the land for these massive projects to the navy. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for these contributions.

Hiranandani retired from active service in the Indian Navy in 1989.

Later contributions

After retirement from the Navy, Hiranandani served as a member of the Union Public Service Commission for six years between 1989 and 1995. He retired as the commission’s Acting Chairman.

In 1995, he was appointed the Official Historian of the Indian Navy. He authored a trilogy on the history of the Indian Navy. Transition to Triumph covering the period between 1965 and 1975 was published in 1999. Transition to Eminence captures naval history between 1976 and 1990 was published in 2004. Transition to Guardianship covers the history of the navy between 1991 and 2000 and was completed just few hours before his death on September 2009. It was released on Navy Day, 4 December 2009.

Hiranandani also wrote a number of analytical reports on a maritime security and strategic issues.

The contemporary history of the Indian Navy, he authored, is unique as by providing a detailed account on Naval history in the 20th century it allows Naval officers to learn about naval history and perhaps help them to learn from this and prevent mistakes. One of Admiral Hiranandanis’ favorite sayings was, “Those who fail to learn from the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them” His aim in writing the History of the Indian Navy was to leave behind a document for later generations of Naval Officers to learn from the mistakes of the past.

Following his death, Indian Navy instituted a ‘Vice Admiral GM Hiranandani Rolling Trophy’ and the first ever trophy was received by Lieutenant Commander Abhishek Yadav from Smt. Susheel Hiranandani, the spouse of Admiral Hiranandani on 26 Apr 13 at a function held at the Maritime Warfare Centre at the Naval Base Kochi.

Personal life

Hiranandani was married to Susheel Hiranandani. His son is a physician and his daughter, Late Meera Sanyal was a banker and civil society activist. His final years were spent at Malakkara near Chengannur in Kerala with his son Dr. Manik Hiranandani.

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Source: Wikipedia, goodreads.com, Indian Navy, amp.google-wiki.info, concepts.org

The post Sindhis – The Mentors of Indian Naval Force first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Admiral Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani, a Sindhi hailing from a small village Thatt Bhojraj near Mithiani town of Naushehro Feroze district of Sindh, served as the 11^th Chief of the Naval Staff of Indian Navy from December 01, 1984 to November 30, 1987.     

Admiral Tahiliani, who was born in Karachi on 12 May 1930 and passed away on 14 October 2015, had also served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) of the Western Naval Command, FOC-IN-C of the Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF). A carrier-based aircraft pilot, he also served as the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.

Childhood and Early Education

Although Admiral Tahliani was born in Karachi, his ancestral village was Thatt Bhojraj, located near Mithiani town of district Naushehro Feroze (formerly in Nawabshah district) Sindh. Admiral Tahliani’s grandfather lived in Karachi due to his job in postal department and father Hariram was studying in Karachi.

He got his primary education at his village school. Recalling his childhood days in an interview late Tahliani had said, “I and my cousins often visited our ancestral village. I spent many years at village Thatt Bhojraj and studied at local school where only one teacher used to teach the children. That teacher also served as postman of the village.”

“My father had also joined postal department after he completed his education, and was posted in Naushehro Feroze. We lived there for some time, but as my father’s first love was teaching, he quit postal department’s job and joined education department, where he was posted as principal of a school in Tando Allahyar.”

“Since my father had a big family and his salary was low, he also had to quit the teaching to shift to Baroda in Indian much before partition, and joined a business,” Admiral Tahliani told adding that at the time of shifting to Baroda, he was 13 years. He got rest of the education in Baroda, where he was admitted in a missionary school.

The partition didn’t affect his family as they had already shifted to Baroda and lived there in a rented flat. However, they lost their agricultural lands and other property due to partition.

Watch and Listen to Admiral Tahliani’s interview.   

Naval career

Tahiliani was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1 September 1950, and was confirmed as a sub-lieutenant on 17 May 1952. He joined the Indian Naval Air Arm and qualified as a pilot for carrier-based aircraft. He is a graduate of the Naval War College, United States and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He also qualified as a test pilot. He was a distinguished graduate of the French Test Pilot School and an outstanding pilot.

Promoted lieutenant-commander on 16 July 1960, he was the first naval pilot to land an aircraft on the deck of INS Vikrant, when he landed his Hawker Sea Hawk fighter on 18 May 1961. He served as a carrier-based strike pilot on board INS Vikrant; following his promotion to captain on 31 December 1970, he commanded its carrier borne squadron during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. His exemplary vision, catapulted the Indian Naval Air Arm to where it is today. He was instrumental in the procurement of the second aircraft carrier INS Viraat along with its fighter complement of Sea Harrier aircraft.

Later, he served as the commanding officer of INS Trishul (1960) and INS Vikrant. Promoted to acting Rear Admiral on 30 December 1977, he was appointed Flag Officer, Goa Area, with promotion to substantive rear admiral on 1 February 1978. Later, he was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet.

His next appointment was as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters. This was followed by appointment as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. He was promoted to Vice Admiral while in this office.

In February 1982, Tahiliani was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command.

In March 1983, he was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. In May 1984, he was appointed the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

On 1 December 1984, he took over as the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy.

Tahiliani retired from the Indian Navy on 30 November 1987.

Awards

Admiral Tahiliani was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service for 37 years.

Later career

After retirement, Admiral Tahliani didn’t sit idle and engaged himself in social work, for which he founded an organization named as “Servants of the People Society”. After a couple of years, then Prime Minister of India V. P. Singh offered him to be the Governor of Sikkim, which he accepted. Tahiliani served as the Governor of Sikkim from 8 February 1990 to 20 September 1994 when he tendered resignation.

After quitting the office of Governor, he again became active in Servants of People Society. During that time he helped launch the India chapter of Transparency International as a founder member in 1997. He served as the chairman of the India chapter practically from its founding until 2010 and was chairperson of Balvantray Mehta Vidya Bhawan Anguridevi Shersingh, a senior secondary school located in the South District of New Delhi, India.

Tahiliani was elected to the board of Transparency International in 2002.

Admiral Tahiliani, while he was chairman of TI India chapter, once had said, “If the political leadership is serious in tackling poverty as it professes, it has to deal with corruption first”.

He was very much outspoken on issue of corruption in India. When the Transparency International released a report about corruption in India, he had said, “This study is not at all surprising as some of the most significant legislations have not yet been passed. The Lok Pal Bill, declaration of assets by politicians, auditing of accounts of political parties, speedy trial of erring politicians, forfeiture of illegally acquired property and many other such legislations are in a limbo.”

Personal life

Tahiliani was married to Jaswanti Tahiliani. His wife Ms. Jaswanti Tahliani was equally distinguished as the first female engineer in Mumbai. He is the father of noted Indian fashion designer, Tarun Tahiliani, and executive director of Ensemble India, Tina Tahiliani Parikh.

His son Tarun Tahlianimother, in an interview had jokingly said, “My father, one of the most wonderful men, has got the worst taste. Every time he bought something, even bed sheets, I got nightmares.”

But his mother, he admits, had a great aesthetic eye. “She loved beautiful things and was a model once.” It could be the Sindhi blood in his veins, too.

“Sindhis are generally very shaukeen (fond), you know,” he said.

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Source: Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence India, India Today, BMVBASMA, Indian Navy Press Release, NDTV, Indian Navy Aviation Press Release, Stratpost, The South Asian and other websites

The post Admiral Tahliani – A Sindhi who became India’s Naval Chief first appeared on Sindh Courier.