Indian Navy -The Best Ambassador

Admiral HCS Bisht Jul 26, 2018

Post the Modi Govt coming to power in 2014, the erstwhile 'Look East Policy' of the Govt of India was expanded to the 'Act East Policy', which encompassed a more proactive role for India in ASEAN and the Asia Pacific region. The Act East Policy has gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions including establishment of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. Our relations with a large no of countries in ASEAN have been upgraded to strategic partnerships. We have also forged much closer ties with countries in the Asia Pacific region. Further, apart from mechanisms like ASEAN, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and East Asia Summit (EAS), India has also been actively engaged in regional fora such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
A similar mechanism called Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) had been initiated by the Indian Navy in 2008, with the aim of capitalizing on regional strengths of IOR littorals and was a significant international maritime-security initiative by India. IONS presently is a grouping of 35 members and seeks to provide a regional forum through which Navies of all the littoral states of the IOR periodically meet to constructively engage with each other through the creation and promotion of regionally relevant mechanisms, events, and activities. Today IONS enjoys a reputation almost equivalent to the western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS), which is a US Navy initiative and has been in existence for nearly three decades now.
Whilst the Act East policy at a macro level has been the harbinger of greater co-operation between India and the ASEAN as also between India and countries in the Asia Pacific region, the Indian Navy's contribution in building bridges of friendships across the oceans and seas has been very noteworthy. The Indian Navy today remains the principal manifestation of India’s maritime power and plays a central role in safeguarding and promoting her security and national interests in the maritime domain. The Navy’s roles and responsibilities have also expanded significantly over the years in response to changing geo-political, geo economic and geo-strategic circumstances and as the net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region, it has made a mark for itself.
One important role of the Navy, which is generally not known to the common man is the diplomatic role that it performs. Oceans form the 'Blue Yonder' which have historically provided a connecting role to maritime nations and ships are the vehicles that undertake that role. A warship being a microcosm of the diverse cultural, regional and linguistic matrix of our country is best suited to perform the Ambassadorial role with another country.
The IN because of its reach and sustainability has been visiting various ports in our areas of interest and has proved to be good Ambassadors of India in our near and extended maritime neighbourhood. Though our Embassies and diplomatic missions being the representatives of the Govt of India in various countries, have a very large mandate, the Indian Navy, on its part, has over the years carved a niche for itself in our maritime neighbourhood and is a known face in a large no of ports.
There is always a great sense of excitement in the Indian diaspora, before a ship visit. The itinerary for the visit is carefully planned keeping in mind a balanced mix of protocol, people to people contact, sports and adventure, sightseeing, visit by local populace, school children etc. The Indian diaspora generally look forward to visiting the ship. The evening reception, hosted onboard, is particularly popular, since the environment reminds people of being back home. It is here that the Indian hospitality is on display. The meals are cooked onboard and invariably, all guests are very appreciative of the culinary delights that they relish onboard. There is also a small cultural programme which is an inhouse effort representing items from various parts of India and some speeches interspersed during the reception. The programme usually ends with the National anthem. There are also sports fixtures planned between the host Navy teams and the visiting ships' teams and this enhances the bonhomie and camaraderie between the Navies. Another important highlight is the performance by the Naval band at prominent places in the city and one generally sees congregation of large no of music lovers.
Indian Naval ships have been regular visitors to the prominent ASEAN nations. Of late IN ship visits to the Asia Pacific region have increased. I was Captain of a Talwar class stealth frigate in 2005-06 and had the unique opportunity to visit three Asia Pacific countries apart from Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. These countries were Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Of these the visit to Fiji was the most memorable. Fiji that time had a nearly 50% Indian origin population, most of whom had never visited India. My ship's visit was the first major one in about 30 years time, though the Sail Training ship of the Navy INS Tarangini, which is a very small ship, had been there about two years before mine. The feeling for India was palpable when people saw the Indian tricolour fluttering on the ship. There were serpentine ques for a visit to the ship, with some women in traditional Indian attire, wanting to do 'Aarti', since they felt that their motherland had come to visit them. It is pertinent to mention that for Indian origin Fijians, to visit India from Fiji is very expensive and most of them can not afford it. A ship visit, therefore, is the closest they could think of seeing India. Emotions were running high amongst the crowd when the National anthem was being played and one could see many moist eyes. The Indian Navy has since then undertaken a few more ship visits to Fiji.
Till a few years ago, IN ship visits to the Asia Pacific region were far and few between. Now, however, Indian Naval ship deployments in the Asia Pacific region is part of the regular beat. Since 2014, IN ships have been participating in the Rim of the Pacific Exercises (RIMPAC), which is the largest congregation of Naval ships, submarines and aircraft conducted off Pearl Harbour, Hawaii by the US Navy. Our ships have also been visiting some of the ports in the region en route, like Marshall Islands, Federated Republic of Micronesia, Guam etc and leaving a positive impression of India in countries like these. Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Sahyadri is presently participating in RIMPAC 18 till early August.
The Indian Navy regularly participates in 'Tall Ship Races' and has also been at the forefront of displaying the art of sailing around the world. As of now, INS Tarangini, a Sail Training Ship of the Indian Navy, is undertaking 'Lokayan 18', a seven month long voyage to Europe with the theme of ‘Sailing through different Oceans and Uniting Nations’. The ship is visiting 15 ports in 13 countries. She is participating in the culmination ceremony of the 'Biscay Tall Ship' race at Bordeaux, France and will also take part in a Tall Ship race starting from Sunderland, United Kingdom.
Oliver Cromwell, the 17th century English Military and Political leader had rightly said ' A Man of War (warship) is the best Ambassador'. This saying is as true and relevant today, as it was then.

Admiral HCS Bisht

Guest Author Vice Admiral HCS Bisht is an alumnus of Sainik School, Ghorakhal, Nainital, the National Defence Academy and the Naval Academy. He superannuated from the Indian Navy after almost 39 years of service on 31st Oct 2017. He had specialized in Gunnery and Missiles and is graduate of the 1992 batch of Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, London. He also attended the Naval Higher Command Course in 2001 and the NDC course in 2007. His important appointments have been Flag Officer Sea Training, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, Director General Indian Coast Guard and Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Naval Command.