Navy Day and Navy Week – Musings of a Navy Veteran
NAVY DAY and NAVY WEEK 2020
We received a message on a Navy Veterans Forum that in view of the COVID Pandemic – the Navy Day and Navy Week will be observed virtually in 2020.
This must be a huge respite to Naval Officers and Sailors – who otherwise have to toil a lot during Navy Day and Navy Week for organizing various Navy Day and Navy Week Events on ground and at sea.
Here is a blog post I had written sometime ago on the occasion on Navy Day and Navy Week.
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PROLOGUE
I once saw a Naval Officer asking his young son:
“What do you want to do on your birthday…?”
The young boy told his father what he wanted to do on his birthday.
His father (a Senior Naval Officer) promised the young boy everything his son had wanted to do on his birthday.
After the young boy went away – I asked his father – the Senior Naval Officer:
“Sir – have you asked your sailors what they want to do on our ship’s anniversary…?”
The Senior Naval Officer said:
“What do you mean…? Why should I ask my sailors what they want to do on our ship’s anniversary…?”
I said to him:
“Sir – your sailors are like your children – and the ship’s anniversary is like a “birthday”.
So – just like you asked your son what he wanted to do on his birthday – shouldn’t you ask your sailors what they want to do on our ship’s anniversary…?”
In the Military – we “celebrate” many “occasions” akin to “Birthdays” – for example – Army Day, Navy Day, Air Force Day, “Raising Days”, Anniversaries etc
But – on these “birthdays” – do Officers ask their Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen how they want to “celebrate” these events…?
Do Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen really enjoy these events in the way they are “celebrated”…?
We want our children to enjoy their “birthday” celebrations – don’t we…?
In the same way – as Officers – don’t we want our men to enjoy these events which are akin to “birthdays”…?
These thoughts perambulated in my mind for many years and finally culminated in the article below.
(NB: During my time in the Navy I tried my best to practice my views to the extent feasible)
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NAVY DAY and NAVY WEEK
To the best of my knowledge – Navy Day is observed on the 4th of December every year to commemorate the daredevil attack by Indian Navy Warships on the Pakistan Navy at Karachi Port on December 4, 1971 (Operation Trident).
Since then – Navy Day was observed on the 4th of December every year – and the week in which Navy Day fell was observed as Navy Week.
Yes – the entire week comprising Navy Day was observed as Navy Week – and usually – this is the first week of December.
This year – in 2020 – Navy Day (the 4th of December) falls on a Friday – so – “Navy Week” may be observed from 30 November to 06 December 2020.
On the occasion of Navy Day and Navy Week – here is a story I had written on Navy Day and Navy Week a few years ago.
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NAVY DAY and NAVY WEEK
Navy Perspective versus Sailor’s Perspective
Musings of a Retired Navy Veteran
A Fictional Spoof By Vikram Karve
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Part 1
NAVY DAY and NAVY WEEK – The Navy Perspective
Every year – the 4th of December – is observed as NAVY DAY by the Indian Navy.
In the Indian Navy – the Navy Day celebrations actually extend across the entire week in which the Navy Day falls – and this week is called the NAVY WEEK.
The Navy Week celebrations are held mainly at Mumbai – and on a smaller scale in other Naval Stations like Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Goa etc – and in landlocked New Delhi too.
In Mumbai – the Navy Week Celebrations culminate with “Beating the Retreat” Ceremony at Gateway of India – and the grand finale is the spectacular Navy Ball at the end of the week on Saturday.
During the Navy Week the Navy tries to showcase its capabilities to the civilian public by holding a series of combat demonstrations, live displays, parade drills and events like band concerts.
Sometimes – Naval Families, Navy Veterans and prominent civilian citizens are taken out for a day at sea as guests of the Navy to observe “shop window” exercises which demonstrate salient aspects of the Navy at sea.
In a nutshell – as far as the Navy is concerned:
The Aim of Navy Day and Navy Week is to showcase the Navy to Civilian Citizens (especially Civilian VIPs/VVIPs)
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PART 2
NAVY DAY and NAVY WEEK – A Sailor’s Perspective
This happened around 45 years ago – in the 1970’s.
A few weeks before Navy Week – responsibilities were allocated to various ships.
Our ship – a frontline warship – was selected to present the “Continuity Drill” display to be held at the Gateway of India in Mumbai during Navy Week.
The sailors on our ship started their drill practice one month earlier – and they practised very hard – at least twice a day – even when the ship was sailing at sea.
As Navy Day approached – the sailors rehearsed day and night for the “continuity drill” display to be held at the Gateway of India during Navy Week.
A “Continuity Drill” is a most precise and difficult parade drill since the entire parade drill sequence and movements are to be performed without any words of command.
That is why it requires rigorous practice and repeated rehearsals before it can be perfected.
The sailors were practising without break for over a month – during working hours – and also in off-working hours – including on Sundays and holidays – in order to perfect the “continuity drill”.
The sailors’ long hours of painstaking efforts paid off.
The “continuity drill” event was a great success.
The Navy “Top Brass” congratulated our Captain on the excellent performance of our ship’s sailors.
After the event – I came across one of my newly recruited sailors who had taken part in the “continuity drill” event.
I congratulated the young sailor on his performance.
Then – I asked the young sailor:
“Do you know why Navy Day and Navy Week are celebrated…?”
The sailor answered candidly:
“To “impress” the Civilians…”
I was surprised by his answer – so I exclaimed:
“What…?
Are you saying that Navy Day and Navy Week are celebrated just to impress civilians…?”
The sailor looked at me and said:
“Sir – this whole Navy Week “Tamasha” is just to “impress” Civilian VIPs.
And – Sir – they make us Sailors slog so much for this Navy Week.
We have been practising this “Continuity Drill” day and night – even our “shore leave” had been stopped because of Navy Week “Continuity Drill” practice.
I am so happy the whole Navy Day and Navy Week “Tamasha” is over…”
At first – I was surprised – and – I was taken aback by the sailor’s answer.
Then – I saw that there was wisdom in what the raw young sailor had said.
The entire Navy – all of us – were slogging away for weeks – to put up a show for civilians.
Yes – we uniformed Naval Officers and Sailors – we were desperately trying to impress civilians – especially Civilian VIPs – the same civilians who frankly did not give a tinker’s damn about us Naval Officers and Sailors – although they seemed to be enjoying the “spectacle” that we were putting up for them.
I remember a friend of mine – who was in-charge of organizing Navy Week Activities – heave a sigh of relief once it was all over.
The Naval Officer remarked in disgust:
“This Navy Week “Tamasha” must be scrapped.
We screw ourselves for many weeks – to put up a show for these Civilian VIPs – who just don’t care for us…”
Sometimes – I wonder whether it is worth in putting in so much extra effort to try and impress Civilians who don’t care two hoots about the Navy and Naval Sailors.
I wonder whether Civilians understand the sanctity of Navy Day and similar Military Occasions, Parades, Combat Demonstrations, Ceremonial Events and Displays…?
Or – whether they treat them as spectacular extravaganzas and gala exhibitions for entertainment and enjoyment…?
Be that as it may – do spare a thought for our Navy Personnel on Navy Day – and during the Navy Week.
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Dear Friends:
On the the 4th of December – on the occasion of NAVY DAY – do think of all the Navy Sailors slogging it out on Warships and Submarines guarding the Oceans, Seas and Coastlines – so that you can sleep in peace.
Rather than the Navy trying to impress Civilians – how about Civilians trying to “impress” our Naval Sailors on Navy Day and during Navy Week…?
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WISH YOU HAPPY “NAVY DAY” and “NAVY WEEK” 2020
VIKRAM KARVE
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- This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
- All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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Link to my source blog posts in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve and Writing Blog: https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/11/navy-week-sailors-perspective.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2020/11/28/navy-day-and-navy-week-navy-perspective-versus-sailors-perspective-musings-of-a-navy-veteran/
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