Sourendra Nath Kohli

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Param Vishist Seva Medal
Other workAuthor, We dared[3]
Author, Sea power and the Indian Ocean[4]

INS Rana (D115)
.

Early life

Kohli was the son of B. L. Kohli, and studied

BA (Hons.) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.[6]

Naval career

Early career

Kohli joined the Royal Indian Navy Volunteer Reserve as a cadet in May 1936, immediately after his graduation. He was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the RIN on 25 June 1938,[7] with promotion to lieutenant on 1 May 1941.[8]

During World War II, Kohli served in the

HMIS Dalhousie
.

Post-Independence

After

INS Rana (D115) on her purchase from the Royal Navy in 1949, receiving promotion to acting commander (substantive lieutenant-commander) on 30 June of that year.[9]

Other appointments that Kohli held included those as the Senior Officer of the flagship of the Indian Navy,

INS Godavari (D92). Later, he also served as the Commanding Officer of the flagship, INS Mysore (C60). He was promoted to substantive commander on 30 June 1951,[10] and was promoted to substantive captain on 30 June 1955.[11]

Kohli served as the superintendent of the

Naval Dockyard
in Bombay. He also twice served as the Director of Naval Plans. His staff appointments included those as Chief of Material and then as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff.

Flag rank

Kohli rose to flag rank in 1965 with promotion to substantive

National Defence College
for two years until 1971.

On 12 February 1971, Kohli was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) of the Western Naval Command. During the war with Pakistan in December 1971, Kohli provided operational leadership for the devastating attacks on Karachi harbour. He also led the defence of Indian Naval facilities on the west coast. He was also responsible for overseeing the safety of the Indian mercantile fleet during the war. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his exceptional leadership during the 1971 war.[14]

Chief of Naval Staff

On 1 March 1973, Kohli took over as the Chief of the Naval Staff.[15] He retired from the Navy on 29 February 1976.[5]

Later life

Kohli authored We dared, a memoir of the Indian Navy operations during the war of 1971.[3] He is also the author of Sea Power and the Indian Ocean, an analysis of the geo-political and maritime concerns in the Indian Ocean region.[4]

Personal life

Kohli was married to the late Sumitra Kohli, and had three daughters.[1]

References

  1. ^ . Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  2. ^ http://www.hindu.com/revents/04/19970499.htm[dead link]
  3. ^ . Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Sea power and the Indian Ocean". National Defense University Library. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Admiral Sourendra Nath Kohli, Padma Bhushan, PVSM". Information Resource Facilitation Centre, Indian Navy. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  6. ^ "Admiral Sourendra Nath Kohli". Bharat Rakshak.
  7. ^ The London Gazette, 14 October 1938
  8. ^ "The Royal Indian Navy". The Navy List: June 1944. HM Government, UK. 1944. p. 1965.
  9. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 9 July 1949. p. 953.
  10. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 14 July 1951. p. 133.
  11. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 30 July 1955. p. 151.
  12. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 20 August 1966. p. 491.
  13. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 19 July 1969. p. 674.
  14. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 30 June 1973. p. 724.
Military offices
Preceded by
C L Bhandari
Chief of Materiel
1963-1965
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet

1967-1968
Office abolished
New title
Office established
Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet
1968-1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Lieutenant General
M M Khanna
Commandant of the National Defence College
1969-1971
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command

1971-1973
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Naval Staff
1973–1976