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 The
assembly of warships and show of Naval might without any belligerent
intentions, has taken place often from times immemorial, and
today this tradition is called The Review of the Fleet and
refers to inspection of operational ships by the head of state
who is normally the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
It is an occasion of professional celebration, when the nation's
defenders of the seas, offer their allegiance and showcase
their operational capabilities. From time to time resurgent
maritime nations hold International Reviews by inviting friendly
nations to participate and the Indian Navy held an impressive
International Review in 2001 off Mumbai when 63 ships took
part.
The
seas and its challenges are indeed the common bond which links
sea farers of the world as one, and the laws of the seas ensures
freedom of the seas to all. The Indian Navy's motto is Om
Shano Varuna, which signifies salutation to the God of the
Seas Varuna, invoking blessings to be auspicious to it. While
India boasts of a maritime heritage dating back to Vedic times,
no authentic records are available of Fleet Reviews of the
distant past. In this respect, Britain dates her first Reviews
in 1415 when King Henry V inspected his Fleet before sailing
for war against France.
The
honour of reviewing the Indian Fleet, as the Head of the State
for the first time, went to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first
President of the Indian Republic on 10 Oct 1953. This year
the President Pratibha Devis Singh Patil will take the salute
at the 10th review from the combined fleets of the Indian
Navy at Mumbai harbour opposite the Taj Mahal Hotel on 20th
December .
In
the last PFR in 2001 for President Abdul Kalam in the evening
just one mile off the coast of Vizag witnessed the complete
range of fighting capabilities of the Indian Navy including
two Uran missile firings were showcased to the 5 lac Vishakapatnam
viewers who lined up along the Ramakrishna beach and the breath
taking maneuvers were beamed on TV nationwide. It was a spectacle
seldom staged by any Navy so close to shore. This was possible
as the 10 fathom depth of water is close off Vishakapatnam
and permits even submarine operations and it cannot be replicated
on the West Coast.
The
President of India will receive a 21 gun salute and review
the Indian Fleet of 85 ships including Coast Guard units and
merchant ships lined up from the bow deck of her Presidential
yacht the OPV INS Subhadra with Sukhanya as standby under
the command of a Cdr distinguishable by the Ashoka emblem
on the ship's side flanked by Defence Ministers Pranab Mukherjee,
Shri MM Pallan Raju and CNS Admiral Nirmal Verma and Service
Chiefs and some other 75 VIPs embarked. The Prime Minister
may join. Other distinguished guests and media will board
the sister ships.
The President's yacht at close quarters will be escorted by
the two Super Dvora fast attack craft which can develop 40
knots as escorts clearing the range in speed laden moneuovres
generating large wakes making the naval cavalcade impressive.
Each ship on parade from the sailing ship INS Tarangini to
the mighty aircraft carrier INS Viraat will be manned by her
ship's company in pristine white ceremonial uniforms, and
as the President passes by, they will doff their caps in salutation
and gave three resounding Jais, signifying their loyalty to
the President and the State.
 The
President reviews the fleet once during his tenure in office.
This time it will be a grand ceremony in pleasant weather
with ships precision anchored by their navigators in four
lines, painted in fighting grey colours, ship shape and dressed
overall. The Supreme Commander after reviewing the Navy's
strength will see impressive fly past by 65 aircraft and helicopters
and sail past by missile boats and mine sweepers reaffirmed
her faith in the ability of the Navy to safeguard the nation's
maritime interests. In today's times the Navy's and Coast
Guard's responsibilities are on the rise. The Indian Navy
is expected to bear the larger burden of safeguarding the
trade in the Indian Ocean and ensuring the Sea Lines of Communications
SLOCs and choke points are kept free for passage. And to combat
Piracy too as Sixty percent of the world's trade including
precious energy resources traverse the Indian Ocean in 80,000
ships annually, and the fear of piracy and high jacking and
terrorism looms large which could disrupt the world's economy
which is witnessing an unprecedented boom.
In
the nearly six decades plus few years that India has been
independent , the focus of its security concerns has centered
on the sanctity of its land frontiers, from external threats
as well as from the plague of terrorism. Pakistan remained
India's principal concern on both counts, as three and a half
wars were fought with it, and China's 1962 war was a sad chapter.
Today times and balance of power equations are changing and
India is an accepted nuclear power. In this new role the Navy's
tasks which includes maritime cooperation with USA are no
longer structured to times of war alone; its responsibilities
now extends to maritime peacetime roles including assistance
in time of natural disasters like it displayed in Tsunami,
even for its neighbouring countries, which was lauded.
Given
geographical realities seagoing forces in the Bay of Bengal
will more and more have to play a larger role. India's maritime
imperatives are shifting to its Eastern seaboard in India's
'look East' policy..The President will release a set of four
commemorative stamps depicting the strength of Indian Navy
and will attend a banquet and a musical evening before the
dinner on 19th December. .
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