?The Indian Navy: Glorious Past?Vibrant Future?, a coffee-table book that seeks to capture the sweep of history of the Indian Navy as it marks its 60 years, was released by Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan in Mumbai on the occasion of Navy Day celebrations on Saturday. The book is published by The Indian Express Group and is sponsored by Pipavav Shipyard.
Speaking on the occasion of its launch, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command Vice-Admiral Sanjeev Bhasin said the book would be a valuable addition to the existing literature on the history of the Indian Navy. ?It traces the history of the Indian Navy from the pre-Independence era till date and meticulously captures the acquisitions and the growth of the Indian Navy over the years,? Bhasin said.
?This is the 60th year of the Indian Navy and this book couldn?t have been published at a better time,? added Vice-Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, the Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command.
The book traces the origin of the Indian Navy from the arrival of the East India Company and how this influenced its growth during the pre-Independence era. It follows the first steps the Navy took after Independence and devotes a chapter to how the decisive victory in the 1971 war was a coming of age for the Indian Navy. The book also presents the future challenges that the Navy faces along with the warships and the technologies that the force is using to become a powerful arm of the military.
?Over the last two decades, there has been a slow but certain recognition of India?s new maritime imperative. This, in turn, has led to greater attention to the building of a powerful navy that can secure India?s interests,? says C Raja Mohan, The Indian Express?s strategic affairs editor, in his introduction to the book.
