4 December-Tribute to Indian Navy Day

India’s Coastline can be defined as an Engine and Wheel of country’s  economic Growth. Indian Subcontinent is surrounded by a stretch of water bodies from three sides with a coastline of 7516.6 km along the Arabian sea through the Bay of Bengal.

Guarding our huge coastlines relentlessly , Indian Navy forms an integral part of our defence triad. Every year, 4 December is commomorated as Indian Navy Day nationwide. On 4 December 1971, during Operation Trident, the Indian Navy sank four Pakistani vessels including PNS Khaibar, killing hundreds of Pakistani Navy personnel. 

The 17th-century Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is considered as the ‘Father of the Indian Navy’ who built a strong naval presence across the coast of Konkan and Goa to protect sea trade. Shivaji realised the importance of having a secure coastline and protecting the western Konkan coastline from the attacks of Siddi’s fleet.