Probhati Mukherjee (1 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Hardcover, xiv + 137pp + 12 pages of glossy b&w plates, NOT ex-library. Clean and bright interior with unmarked text, free of inscriptions and stamps, firmly bound. In a bright untorn dust jacket. -- An anecdotal biography of Admiral Adhar Kumar Chatterji (1914-2001), the 5th Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy. The book uses personal stories and professional milestones to profile the man credited as a primary architect of the modern Indian Navy. Biographical Context: The book's title is a play on a 1968 newspaper headline marking a significant milestone in Indian military history. In March 1968, the rank of the Chief of the Naval Staff was upgraded from Vice Admiral to a full four-star Admiral. As the incumbent, Chatterji became the first Indian officer to hold this rank, prompting the humorous headline "The Admiral Sheds his Vice". Career Highlights: The biography traces his journey from joining the Royal Indian Navy in 1933 to his tenure as Chief (1966-1970). It details his roles as a specialist in anti-submarine warfare during World War II and the first Indian to command the flagship INS Delhi. Core Themes and Content: - Naval Modernisation: It outlines his efforts in moving the Indian Navy into the "submarine age" with the 1967 commissioning of INS Kalvari. - Structural Reforms: The book examines his creation of the Western and Eastern Naval Commands, a structural change that remains the foundation of the Navy's operational geography. - Personality Profile: According to family and peers cited in maritime records, Chatterji was a "thorough professional" and a "strict disciplinarian" who maintained "taut but happy" ships. He is described as an extrovert whose vision for Indian maritime growth extended well into his retirement. - Legacy: The Indian Navy continues to honour his intellectual contributions through "The Admiral A K Chatterji Fellowship," established by his family in 2011 to support maritime research.