In a message to me about the release of a book which was the outcome of the fifth research project undertaken by the National Maritime Foundation under the Admiral AK Chatterji Fellowship appropriately scheduled on the Admiral's 110th birth anniversary, 22 November 2024, his younger daughter Probhati, or Tuktuk as she is popularly known, wrote, "Daddy Lives On".
Of course he does, Tuktuk, and will continue to live as long as there is the Indian Navy (IN) for he was its architect. In 1947, at the age of 32 and newly promoted to the rank of Acting Commander, he was appointed as the first Indian Director of Naval Plans and produced a ten-year plan which envisioned a two fleet Navy, one for either coast each led by an aircraft carrier, and induction of submarines. That it took us forty years to acquire a second carrier only highlights his vision.
Plans need to be augmented and kept up-to-date with latest technologies. So when the Admiral learnt of the success of the Russian-built missile boat of the Egyptian Navy in sinking the Israeli frigate "Eilath" in 1967, he, by then Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), immediately went for the acquisition of 8 Osa class missile boats from the USSR. Fittingly, the IN named them AK boats after the Admiral's initials. The boats arrived in 1970, well in time for the 1971 War in which they were used innovatively to bring glory to the Indian Navy. Throttling of the erstwhile East Pakistan by the carrier Vikrant and havoc caused by the missile boats in on ships and installations in Karachi harbour brought Pakistan down on its knees in less than a fortnight of war.
Remarkably, Chatterji, then a Vice Admiral, became the Naval Chief at the age of 51, the Indian Navy's first full Admiral at 53 and after 4 years as CNS, retired at the age of 55. Compare this with the present retirement age of the CNS at 62. It is also interesting to note that he was given command of the cruiser Delhi, then the largest ship in the IN, as an acting Captain at the age of 35 at which naval officers are generally Lieutenant Commanders sweating to get the command of a small ship. His brilliant shiphandling with a stern-first approach in Malta harbour won him high praise from British Admirals.
I was fortunate to be chosen by the Admiral as his Flag Lieutenant (ADC) when he was Commandant, National Defence College, in 1965. Personally, I found him to be a very likeable senior officer while being a thorough professional who would suffer no fools. He was mindful of his personal image and lived by setting an example. For instance, in those days, officers were not permitted to use the staff car from home to office and back. The Admiral would drive his own white Fiat (was the number 3600!) to the College where the Flag Lieut and a driver would receive him at the porch and the latter would take over and park the car.
One thing the Admiral was very sensitive about was the spelling of his surname. He ended it with 'i' and would get very upset when people misspelt it with double 'ee' even though his two brothers, also in the Navy, spelt it that way!
In parties, the Admiral would enjoy himself and mix around freely. When the time came to leave, he would seek Mrs Chatterji and say, "Madhobi, barhi chaalo", which became popular parting words throughout the Navy..
All along, I had kept in touch with Admiral and Mrs Chatterji and the family who I knew very well. His elder daughter Purobi (Bula) and her husband Deb Mukharji of the Indian Foreign Service were married while I was in the NDC and whenever I meet them, I am quick to remind them that I had played a large part in organising their wedding ceremony. Tuktuk and her husband Shantanu Mukherjee were with us in Singapore where the latter was heading the Air India office. After retirement, all of us settled in Delhi and continued to meet.
Admiral and Mrs Chatterji called us often for a meal and in many of them, they would invite all the previous Flag Lieuts. Admiral himself loved to cook and would proudly announce his contribution to the meal, generally the sweet dish 'Sondesh'.
And so, we kept on visiting and meeting them. On one visit, the Admiral was unwell. He said he had been to a party the previous night where people forced him to drink and eat more than usual. Mrs Chatterji would have none of that and said, "Don't blame others. How can anyone stuff a drink or food in your mouth?"
Mrs Chatterji was full of stories and the best one is this. Mrs Chatterji's parents approached young Adhar's parents to fix their match and the latter asked for her horoscope. On getting their Purohit's approval, Adhar with his two brothers were sent to meet Madhobi and her parents. Adhar was instructed to dress in kurta and dhoti while the brothers were in shirts and trousers. The meeting was a brief, shy one with little talk and no introductions which were taken for granted. A few days later, Adhar was told to go to Madhobi's house and return the horoscope. This time he was casually dressed and Madhobi met him at the door, took the horoscope, thanked him and closed the door. Madhobi's parents asked her who had come. She said, "Oh, the Purohit who had come with the two Chatterji brothers brought the horoscope back but why was he not in his traditional dhoti and kurta today?"
Yes, the Admiral lives on and so does Mrs Chatterji.
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