During the Republic Day parade on January 26, the Indian Navy will demonstrate its military might and unwavering commitment to protect the nation’s strategic interests in the maritime domain. This display comes at a time of heightened global concerns over escalating tensions in the Red Sea and pirate attacks in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden. Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Controller Personnel Services (CPS), revealed that the naval tableau at Kartavya Path will not only highlight the Navy’s resolve about ‘Nari Shakti’ with a comprehensive focus on women in all roles and ranks but also showcase two crucial and contemporary themes: Nari Shakti (women power in force) and Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) through indigenisation.
The Indian Navy will feature a mixed composition of 144 young men and women marching down the historic Kartavya path for the first time, symbolising its dedication to gender neutrality, according to officials. The main section of the tableau reflects the second contemporary theme – Sea Power Across the Oceans Through Indigenisation. The naval tableau will showcase the first fully indigenous Carrier Battle Group, which includes the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, along with highly capable escort ships such as Delhi, Kolkata, Shivalik, and the Kalvari-class submarine.
Coincidentally, the INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, and INS Chennai of the Kolkata class are currently engaged in anti-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea. Notably, INS Chennai played a crucial role in a recent operation that successfully thwarted a piracy attack on the MV Lila Norfolk off the coast of Somalia. In the course of this operation, the Indian Navy’s MARCOS (Marine Commandos) were deployed to conduct a comprehensive sanitisation process, the officer said.
Meanwhile, the tableau will highlight the presence of light combat aircraft and advanced light helicopters. The display will include the multi-band military communications satellite GSAT-7 and the Rukmani satellite.
“Every element on the tableau has been designed and built in India, highlighting India’s growing prowess in shipbuilding, aerospace, missile and rocket technologies, making our chests swell with deep nationalistic pride,” the official said.
The Navy currently has over 1,100 women Agniveers in service, including the 4th batch undergoing training, Vice Admiral Singh said. The Navy has also begun to recruit women Agniveers as musicians and sportspersons.
Continuing the Navy’s focus on empowering women (Naari Shakti), a naval official shared that two women officers embarked on a 188-day journey aboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini during the 50th edition of the Cape to Rio Race, covering an impressive distance of nearly 17,000 nautical miles. Additionally, the Indian Navy recently achieved another milestone by appointing a female officer as the commanding officer of a warship for the first time. As she takes command in the coming weeks, she will chart a course into unexplored waters for women, paving the way for many more to follow. These achievements underscore the Navy’s commitment to the philosophy of an all-roles, all-ranks approach in deploying women in service, encompassing both officers and sailors.
Team BharatShakti
