By Ms Marilyn Dias for BIS Mumbai

The Navy Day programme was organised by Sirs Rajshekhar Reddy and Somnath Kamble at St Joseph’s High School, Wadala, to commemorate Indian Navy Day, observed every year on December 4, in honour of Operation Trident and as a tribute to the brave sailors who guard India’s seas.

The programme began at 9 a.m. in the school hall. Present for the event were the Guest Speaker Mr Chandrakant Mhatre Chief Navy Officer, Principal Fr Solomon Rapol, Headmistress Mrs Seema D’souza, Supervisor Mrs Nagaprabha Rao, and the students of classes 5 to 9 along with their teachers.

The programme commenced with a short introduction about the significance of Navy Day, highlighting the rich history of the Indian Navy from its origins in 1612 as the East India Company’s Marine to its transformation into the Royal Indian Navy in 1934 and finally being renamed the Indian Navy after independence in 1950. The Principal, Fr Solomon Rapol, felicitated the Guest Speaker, following which Mr Chandrakant Mhatre conducted a highly interactive and informative session with the students. Through a lively question–answer format, he shared valuable insights about the various roles and duties of the Indian Navy, including protecting India’s vast maritime borders, safeguarding important sea-lanes, undertaking rescue missions, and providing humanitarian assistance during natural disasters. He also explained the importance of the Navy’s modern fleet of ships such as INS Vikrant, INS Satpura and INS Shivalik, as well as the growing strength of the submarine fleet, naval aircraft and the elite MARCOS, known worldwide for their fearlessness and specialised training.

A video showcasing the operations, discipline and teamwork within the Indian Navy further enriched the students’ understanding and kindled a sense of pride among them. Mr Mhatre also spoke about naval training at the Indian Naval Academy, emphasising leadership qualities, physical fitness, teamwork and the importance of mental strength. The students were particularly inspired by the achievements of women officers in the Navy, who today serve in aviation, navigation and even on warships.

The programme concluded with an encouraging message from the Principal, who thanked the Guest Speaker for his presence, his valuable contribution to the night school and for enlightening the students with his message on respecting women in the Army, Navy and Air Force. He also stressed the importance of discipline in achieving success. Sir Somnath Kamble then proposed the Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to everyone who contributed to the successful conduct of the event.