Manohar Prahlad Awati
Vice Admiral | |
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Service number | 00037-H[2] |
Commands held | |
Battles/wars |
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Awards |
Early life
Awati was born to a family of academics in
Early career
He graduated from the
In 1957, the
In May 1959, he was selected to attend the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.[14] Promoted to commander on 31 December 1962,[15] he went on to command the cadet training ship INS Tir, the destroyer INS Ranjit, and the ASW frigate INS Kamorta.[8] Awati was promoted to the substantive rank of captain on 30 June 1969.[16]
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was sparked by the
Awati was in command of the 31 Patrol Vessel Squadron and its lead ship - the Arnala-class corvette INS Kamorta (P77). He was decorated with the Vir Chakra for his command of the Kamorta.[18] The citation for the Vir Chakra reads as follows:[2][19]
Gazette Notification: 86 Pres/72 15-7-72
Operation: 1971 Cactus Lily Date of Award: 1971
CITATION
CAPTAIN MANOHAR PRAHLAD AWATI
00037-H
Manohar Prahlad Awati was the commanding officer of an Indian naval unit of the Eastern Fleet during the operations against Pakistan in December 1971. Throughout the period, he was called upon to operate within enemy waters where there was constant danger to his ship from enemy mines and submarines. Undeterred, he carried out continuous probes into the enemy defended harbours in Bangladesh and inflicted heavy damage on the enemy. During the blockade, he attacked and captured three enemy ships carrying contraband goods. He also gained a submarine contact and pressed home an attack with great vigour, which possibly resulted in destruction of and damage to the submarine. Throughout, Captain Awati displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.
Post-War career
After the war, he was appointed the Naval Officer-in-Charge, Goa, in 1972, where he was the founding President of the Goa Yachting Association.[20] His tenure at Goa was abruptly interrupted when he was ordered to proceed to Mumbai to take over as the commanding officer of the INS Mysore (C60), which had a mutiny on board in 1973.[3] The mutiny had occurred due to poor man-management, and Awati soon smoothed things over.[3][1][21] In 1975, he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom.
Flag Rank
After his return to India, he was promoted to the rank of
Post-Retirement
An avid ecologist, Awati created a scrub jungle in his native village, Vinchurni.[1] It is said that he was once offered the job of the Ranger/Conservator of the Serengeti game reserve and the Ngorongoro forests, which he declined. He is the author of three books on nature and wildlife, Homo Sapiens and Panthera Leo, The Vanishing Indian Tiger and Nature Clubs of India.[4]
Awati conceptualised the "Sagar Parikrama" project launched in 2007, which entailed solo circumnavigations around the globe on Indian-built sailboats.
In 2015, Awati presented to the NDA a Webley Revolver of .38 calibre, which was handed over to him as a token of surrender by two senior Pakistan Navy officers during the 1971 War.[5]
Vice Admiral Awati died on 3 November 2018 at his home, in Vinchurni, Satara district, Maharashtra.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e C. Uday Bhaskar. "Farewell, Captain". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d ""Vice Adm Manohar Prahlad Awati"". The War Decorated India & Trust. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Telegraph Obituaries (11 January 2019). "Vice Admiral M P Awati, distinguished and genial senior officer in the Indian Navy – obituary". The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Cmde Srikant B. Kesnur (4 November 2018). "Manu Awati - Young Man & The Sea". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ a b Express News Service (5 November 2018). "Indian Navy loses one of its heroes: Vice Admiral MP Awati passes away". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ Maninder Dabas (5 November 2018). "Father Of Navy's Circumnavigation & 1971 War Vir Chakra Awardee Vice Admiral Awati Passes Away". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Father of the Indian Navy's circumnavigational adventures, Vice Admiral MP Awati, passes away". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ a b Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande (5 November 2018). "Manohar Awati: Sailor, War Hero, Adventurer, Leader, Chronicler…Crosses the Bar". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ Awati, M. P. "1946 Anno Domini-Anno Memorabilis". Quarterdeck (2011).
- ISBN 9788170621485.
- ^ a b Singh 1991.
- ^ Nanda 2004.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 13 December 1958. p. 279.
- ^ "NAVAL OFFICERS FOR STAFF COURSE" (PDF). indianairforce.nic.in. 22 May 1959.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 9 March 1963. p. 84.
- ^ "NAVAL PROMOTIONS" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. 30 June 1969.
- ^ "Indo-Pakistani War of 1971". Global Security. 27 November 2016. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016.
- ^ Hiranandani 1999.
- ^ "Awardees". gallantryawards.gov.in.
- ^ Team Cafe. "Late Awati remembered". Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ Vice Admiral GM Hiranandani. Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990.
- ^ a b Amrita Nayak Dutta. "A naval visionary and father of the Indian solo circumnavigation project". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ Lt Gen KJ Singh. "As NDA cadet, I was witness to Vice Admiral Awati's kindness". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ Vice Adm. M P Awati. "A Phaeton, a horse and an Admiral, rather a Vice Admiral" (PDF). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ a b S. Anandan. "After a solo voyage round the world, hero's welcome awaits Tomy". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ Rick Spilman. "Commander Dilip Donde – First Indian Solo Circumnavigator". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
Bibliography
- Singh, Satyindra (1991), Blueprint to bluewater: The Indian Navy, 1951-65, Lancer International, ISBN 978-8170621485
- Hiranandani, G.M. (1999), Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975, Spantech & Lancer, ISBN 978-1897829721
- Nanda, S.M. (2004), The man who bombed Karachi, HarperCollins Publishers India, ISBN 978-8172235628