S. G. Karmarkar
{{short description|Indian navy admiral}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific prefix = Rear Admiral
| name = S G Karmarkar
| honorific suffix = MBE
| birth_date = 17 October 1912{{cite web |url=https://www.unithistories.com/officers/RINR_officers.html#K |title=Karmarkar, Sadashiv Ganesh |author= |date= |website=Unithistories |publisher= |access-date=16 January 2021}}
| birth_place =
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| image =
| caption =
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|British Raj}}
{{flag|India}}
| branch = {{navy|United Kingdom}}
{{navy|British Raj}}
{{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg}} Indian Navy
| serviceyears = 1927–1964
| rank = 23px 23px Rear Admiral
| commands = Bombay Command
Cochin Command
Naval Dockyard (Mumbai)
INS Angre
{{ship|INS|Delhi|C74}}
HMIS Talwar
{{ship|HMIS|Kistna|U46}}
{{ship|HMIS|Madras|J237}}
HMIS Ratnagiri
| unit =
| battles = World War II
| relations =
| awards = 20px Member of the Order of the British Empire
| laterwork =
}}
Rear Admiral Sadashiv Ganesh Karmarkar, {{post-nominals|list=MBE}} (17 October 1912 – 1988) was a flag officer in the Indian Navy. He was the first Indian officer to command a ship of the Royal Indian Navy. During World War II, he commanded the auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS Ratnagiri, for which he was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). He later became the first Indian to command British officers, when he commanded the sloop {{ship|HMIS|Kistna|U46|6}}. He last served as the Flag Officer Bombay, from 1960 to 1964, before retiring.
Naval career
=Early career=
The Indian Mercantile Marine Training Ship Dufferin was established in 1927 to train young men for India's marine service. Karmarkar was successful in the entrance examination and joined the first batch of Indian-entry officers. His course-mate, who topped the batch, was Ram Dass Katari, who became the first Indian Chief of the Naval Staff. The batch trained on the Dufferin until 1930. Karmarkar graduated ranked 6th in overall merit.{{sfn|Katari|1983}}
=World War II=
With the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Karmarkar was commissioned as a temporary lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). He was posted to the Royal Naval base in Aden - {{HMS|Sheba}}.{{cite web |title=(1136) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1940 > December - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92835094 |website=digital.nls.uk}} On 15 June 1940, he was transferred from the RNR to the Royal Indian Naval Reserve (RINR) and his RNR commission was terminated.{{cite web |title=(1177) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1940 > October - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92820942 |website=digital.nls.uk}} The next day, on 16 June 1940, he was transferred to HMIS Dalhousie in Bombay in the rank of lieutenant.{{cite web |title=(180) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1940 > October - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92808978 |website=digital.nls.uk}}
On 21 December 1940, he was appointed commanding officer (CO) of the auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS Ratnagiri, the first Indian officer to command a ship.{{cite web |title=(1658) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1942 > April - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92987982 |website=digital.nls.uk}} The Commander-in-Chief, East Indies requested three anti-submarine patrol vessels for operations in the Red Sea. The Ratnagiri, apart from Netravati and Parvati was despatched. After arriving in the Rea Sea, she was sent to Port Sudan. From February 1941, she was tasked with troop and supplies transport. Starting from 11 February to about May, Ratnagiri made multiple trips ferrying troops and supplies from Port Sudan to Mersa Taclai. In spite of risky conditions like underwater reefs and mines, Karmarkar led Ratnagiri to land 750 Free French troops. He later led the ship to ferry Indian, British and African troops. In September that year, Karmarkar led the Ratnagiri to evacuate Yemeni nationals from French Somaliland.{{sfn|Collins|1964}} For his exemplary command of the ship, Karmarkar was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1942.{{cite web |title=The London Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35399/data.pdf |website=thegazette.co.uk |date=30 December 1941}}
On 1 December 1942, Karmarkar was promoted to the acting rank of lieutenant commander and given command of the {{sclass|Bathurst|corvette|0}} minesweeper {{ship|HMIS|Madras|J237|6}}.{{cite web |title=(1114) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1943 > June > Volume 2 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93156334 |website=digital.nls.uk}}{{cite web |title=(229) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1942 > December - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93057010 |website=digital.nls.uk}} The Madras was part of the East Indies Fleet and he led the ship on multiple escort missions.{{cite web |title=Eastern Fleet War Diary 1943 |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-EF1943b.htm |website=www.naval-history.net}} In April 1944, Karmarkar was posted to the boys' training establishment HMIS Bahadur in Karachi.{{cite web |title=(1500) - Navy lists > Bimonthly > 1944 > June > Volume 2 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93351166 |website=digital.nls.uk}} Shortly afterward, on 30 June, he was promoted to the acting rank of commander.{{cite web |title=(1155) - Navy lists > Quarterly > 1945 > April > Volume 2 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93451434 |website=digital.nls.uk}} On 30 November 1944, Karmarkar was appointed commanding officer of the {{sclass|Black Swan|sloop|0}} sloop {{ship|HMIS|Kistna|U46|6}} and became the first Indian officer to command British officers.{{sfn|Hore|2012}} He led the Kistna as escort to convoys as part of the East Indies Fleet.{{cite web |last1=Kesnur |first1=Cmde Srikant B. |title=On Mahatma's birthday, remembering Indian Navy's pre-independence journey |url=https://thedailyguardian.com/on-mahatmas-birthday-remembering-indian-navys-pre-independence-journey/#:~:text=On%20Mahatma's%20birthday%2C%20remembering%20Indian%20Navy's%20pre%2Dindependence%20journey,-As%20we%20celebrate&text=On%2002%20Oct%202020%2C%20we,151st%20birthday%20of%20Mahatma%20Gandhi.&text=The%20RIN%20was%20the%20immediate,when%20India%20became%20a%20Republic. |website=The Daily Guardian |date=1 October 2020}}
After the war, in early 1946, the 56th Services Selection Board was set up at Lonavla to screen the RINR and Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RINVR) officers for a permanent commission in the RIN. Karmarkar was appointed a member of the board.{{sfn|Thomas|2019|p=59}}{{sfn|Katari|1983}} He then received orders to take command of {{ship|HMIS|Talwar}}, just before the Royal Indian Navy mutiny broke out. Karmarkar, along with Katari and S. N. Kohli met with the future Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Mumbai and discussed about the mutiny.{{sfn|Singh|1986}}
=Post-Independence=
In 1947, Karmarkar took command of HMIS Hamla, the training establishment in Bombay.{{cite web |title=Quarterdeck 2020 |url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/desa/sites/default/files/repository-document/Quarterdeck%202020.pdf |website=indiannavy.nic.in}} After a short stint, he moved to Naval headquarters as Director of Personnel Services (DPS). On 8 October 1949, he was promoted to the acting rank of Captain and appointed Chief of Administration (COA) at NHQ, replacing Captain B. S. Soman.{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=1584 |date=12 November 1949 |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1949/O-2356-1949-0000-109477.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}} As the COA, he double-hatted as the Chief of Materiel.{{cite web |title=FRIGATE FLOTILLA FOR THE RIN |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1949-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1949-09-29_324.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=5 October 1949}}
In 1948, the cruiser {{ship|INS|Delhi|C74|6}} was purchased from the United Kingdom. She was commissioned on 5 July 1948, with Captain H.N.S. Brown as the commanding officer and became the flagship of the Indian Navy.{{sfn|Singh|1991|p=30}} In October 1950, Karmarkar became the second Indian to command the Delhi, when he took over from Captain A. K. Chatterji.{{cite web |last1=Kesnur |first1=Cmde Srikant B. |title=Remembering the Admiral who shed his vice and built the Navy |url=https://thedailyguardian.com/remembering-the-admiral-who-shed-his-vice-and-built-the-navy/ |website=The Daily Guardian |date=15 August 2020}}{{cite web |title=NEW INDIAN NAVAL APPOINTMENTS |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1952-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1952-09-02_223.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=2 September 1952}} Under him, Delhi served as the flagship of the Rear Admiral Commanding Indian Naval Squadron (RACINS) Rear Admiral Geoffrey Barnard and had Commander B. A. Samson as the executive officer.{{cite web |title=New Chief of Personnel for Naval HQ |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1951-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1951-12-14_239.pdf}} As the Commanding Officer of the Delhi, Karmarkar received a plaque from the Government of New Zealand, in recognition of her services to New Zealand and as a goodwill gesture to India. In her earlier avatar, the Delhi was {{ship|HMNZS|Achilles|70|6}} and served in the Royal New Zealand Navy. The plaque, with the crests of both Achilles and Delhi was presented by the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in India.{{cite web |title=NEW ZEALAND'S PRESENTATION TO INS DELHI |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1951-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1951-05-15_089.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=15 May 1951}}
On 31 May 1951, the Delhi escorted by the R-class destroyers {{ship|INS|Rajput|D141|6}}, {{ship|INS|Ranjit|1949|6}} and {{ship|INS|Rana|D115|6}} and the frigates {{ship|INS|Jamuna|U21|6}}, {{ship|INS|Kaveri|U10|6}} and {{ship|INS|Sutlej|U95|6}} sailed from Bombay, on a six-week goodwill cruise to East Africa and Madagascar. The RACINS Rear Admiral Barnard flew his flag on the Karmarkar's Delhi. On the ship were also embarked, the Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy Vice Admiral Sir Edward Parry and the Air Officer Commanding Operational Command Air Commodore Arjan Singh. The C-in-C and the AOC disembarked at Cochin and the Indian Naval squadron continued on its cruise.{{cite web |title=IN SHIPS' GOODWILL CRUISE TO EAST AFRICA |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1951-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1951-05-19_091.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=19 May 1951}}
The squadron with Karmarkar as the flag captain called on Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Diego Suarez. While at Mombasa, Jomo Kenyatta, the future first prime minister and president of Kenya visited the Delhi. He stayed on board the ship for a few days, being accommodated in Karmarkar's cabin.{{sfn|Singh|1991|p=492}} While returning to India, it called on Addu Atoll in the Maldives. Karmarkar later added about his ship, "The Delhi stood out majestically with great dignity and slick appearance."{{cite web |last1=Kesnur |first1=Cmde Srikant B. |title=How Delhi and Mysore pioneered Indian Navy's blue water odyssey |url=https://thedailyguardian.com/how-delhi-and-mysore-pioneered-indian-navys-blue-water-odyssey/ |website=The Daily Guardian |date=5 July 2020}} After a two-year stint as CO of Delhi, in September 1952, Karmarkar was appointed Captain Indian Naval Barracks (CAPBRAX) and Commanding Officer of INS Angre in Bombay. He relinquished command, handing over to Captain R. S. David in January 1953. In March 1954, he succeeded Captain Ajitendu Chakraverti as Captain Superintendent Indian Naval Dockyard in Bombay.{{cite web |title=PRESS NOTE |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1953-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1953-12-05_386.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=5 December 1953}} He served as the Captain Superintendent for about two-and-a-half years, till November 1956.
In November 1956, Karmarkar was promoted to commodore appointed the next Commodore-in-Charge Cochin (COMCHIN). He took over from Commodore B. S. Soman in early 1957. In August 1958, the Indian fleet, commanded by Rear Admiral Ajitendu Chakraverti, conducted exercises with the Royal Navy off Cochin. Karmarkar, as the COMCHIN, was responsible for the logistical support and providing shore facilities for smooth functioning of the exercises.{{cite web |title=ADMIRAL CHAKRAVERTI CONDUCTS EXERCISES FROM AIR |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JULY-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1959-08-03_026.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=3 August 1959}} Under Karmarkar, the first armament depot was opened at Aluva in 1958.{{cite web |title=NAVAL ARMAMENT DEPOT AT ALWAYE |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1958-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1958-09-19_109.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=19 September 1958}} In March 1960, the Indian fleet again participated in the Commonwealth Joint exercises and training (JET) which was the largest till then, with the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Ceylon Navy, Pakistan Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy participating. This was also supported by the Cochin Command, with Karmarkar as COMCHIN.{{cite web |title=COMMONWEALTH NAVAL EXERCISES CONCLUDE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1960-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1960-03-01_179.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=1 March 1960}}{{cite web |title=COMMONWEALTH NAVAL EXERCISES |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1960-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1960-02-14_121.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=14 February 1960}}
=Flag rank=
After about three-and-a-half years building the Cochin command, Karmarkar was promoted to the acting rank of Rear admiral and appointed Flag Officer Bombay (FOB) in April 1960.{{cite web |title=SENIOR NAVAL OFFICERS" MEETING |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1960-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1960-05-03_296.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=3 May 1960}} The Bombay Command was the precursor of the current Western Naval Command. He was promoted to the substantive rank of Rear admiral on 16 June 1960.{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=312 |date=26 November 1960 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1960/O-1948-1960-0048-87707.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}
In November 1961, India's first aircraft carrier {{INS|Vikrant|1961|6}}, commanded by Captain P. S. Mahindroo, reached home waters. She was welcomed by the flagship {{ship|INS|Mysore|C60|6}} and aircraft of the Indian Air Force.{{cite web |title=FLYING WELCOME TO VIKRANT |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1961-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1961-10-26_445.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=26 October 1961}} The same day, the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru and the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Katari visited her at Bombay. As the FOB, Karmarkar was among the senior officers welcoming the ship and the Prime Minister.{{sfn|Singh|1991|p=145}}
Karmarkar had a long tenure of over four years as Flag Officer Bombay. In 1964, he relinquished command, handing over to Rear Admiral R. S. David. He was then placed on the retired list on 16 June 1964.{{cite web |title=Gazette of India |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1964/O-1798-1964-0033-81989.pdf |website=egazette.nic.in |date=15 August 1964}} He died in 1988 following an operation, and was cremated in Pune with full military honours.{{cite magazine |last=Jog |first=M.K. |date=2012 |title=Unforgettable Admiral |url=https://www.navyfoundationmumbaicharter.in/pdf/finalqd_2012.pdf |magazine=Quarterdeck 2012 |location=Noida |publisher=The Navy Foundation |access-date=16 January 2021}}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Bibliography
- {{citation|first1=Ram Dass|last1=Katari|title=A Sailor Remembers|year=1983|isbn=9780706920642|publisher=Vikas}}
- {{citation|first1=D.J.E.|last1=Collins|title=The Royal Indian Navy, 1939-45|year=1964|publisher=Combined Inter-services Historical Section, India & Pakistan; distributors: Orient Longmans, Bombay}}
- {{citation|first1=Peter|last1=Hore|title=Dreadnought to Daring: 100 Years of Comment, Controversy and Debate in The Naval Review|year=2012|publisher=Seaforth Publishing}}
- {{citation|first1=Commander Anup|last1=Thomas|title=Pride & Honour- Biography of Admiral R.L. Pereira, PVSM, AVSM|year=2019|isbn=978-8193600115|publisher=Southern Naval Command, Indian Navy}}
- {{citation|first1=Satyindra|last1=Singh|title=Under two ensigns: The Indian Navy, 1945-1950|year=1986|isbn= 978-8120400948|publisher=Oxford & IBH Pub. Co}}
- {{citation|first1=Satyindra|last1=Singh|title=Blueprint to bluewater: The Indian Navy, 1951-65|year=1991|isbn= 978-8170621485|publisher=Lancer International}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman}}
{{s-ttl|title=Flag Officer Bombay|years=1960–1964}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=R. S. David}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commodore-in-Charge Cochin|years=1956–1960}}
{{s-bef|before=Adhar Kumar Chatterji}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commanding Officer INS Delhi|years=1950–1953}}
{{s-aft|after=Adhar Kumar Chatterji}}
{{s-bef|before=Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chief of Materiel|years=1949–1950}}
{{s-aft|after=G. S. Kapoor}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karmarkar, Sadashiv Ganesh}}
Category:Indian Navy rear admirals
Category:Royal Indian Navy officers