This story is from October 24, 2016

Navy Day celebrations start with band show

Navy Day celebrations start with band show
A file photo of INS Khukri.
KOLKATA: On October 21, 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose announced the establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India or Azad Hind in Singapore. Exactly 73 years later, sentiments ran high as a naval band performed `Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja' at Lascar Memorial in Kolkata, next to the only military establishment in the country to be named after him INS Netaji Subhas.
This is the naval headquarters for West Bengal under the Visakhapatnam-based Eastern Naval Command. The band, based in Visakhapatnam, has been performing in Kolkata for the last three years as a prelude to Navy Day that is celebrated on November 4.
Apart from martial tunes, the band, under Lt Cdr Satish K Champion, performed a 'Michael Jackson Spectacular' before switching over to Rabindrasangeet and even the popular bhajan 'Vaishnava Jana To' as well as 'Vande Mataram'. While Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, flag-officer commanding-in-chief, Eastern Naval Command, was the chief guest, the per formance was attended by several senior officers from the armed forces and the state administration.
Navy Day is celebrated on November 4 to commemorate the attack on Karachi harbour by Indian missile boats during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.That was a turning point in the war as Pakistan could no longer pose a threat in the seas and vital supplies to that country got cut off.
“Like every year, we shall be bringing in two warships for display at the Kidderpore Dock. Schoolchildren will be allowed to visit the ships. We have been organizing several events over the last few months as a prelude to the big event. These involve social outreach events, medical camps and awareness campaigns. The Navy plays a very crucial role in the Indian Ocean region which is the busiest so far as cargo movement is concerned. Our role is to protect national interests and patrol the sea lanes. We also try and encourage more youngsters from Bengal to take up the Navy as a career. For this, we hold seminars and visit schools and colleges. Enthusiasm has gone up over the years. Things will get easier once our selection board at Diamond Harbour is ready,“ said Commodore Suprobho K De, naval officer-in-charge, West Bengal.
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