Kochi, Apr 4 (UNI) In a moment marked with nostalgia and pride, a group of eight Naval veterans who participated in the 1956 takeover of the strategic Minicoy Lighthouse from the British, attended a ceremony marking the golden jubilee of the event at Lakshadweep earlier this week.
Belying their seventy-plus years, the retired officers stood erect and poised as cadets of the Training Squadron paraded a 'Colour Guard', during which the Tricolour was hoisted on the lighthouse on April two, just as was done by them 50 years back.
Speaking on the occasion, Commodore M S Pavithran, Naval Officer-in-Charge (Kerala and Lakshadweep) said RAdm P P Sivamani's article 'Jyoti,' is the only written record of the naval participation.
''These veteran sea warriors, who are now in their 70s, have faced many odds to be present here. Having made this journey, I am sure, they are fondly recollecting the proceedings of their exploits of 1956,'' he added.
The Director General of Lighthouse and Light ships of India, Manmohan Singh Suman, honoured the officers by presenting a shawl.
Later, addressing the gathering, he said the lighthouses in Lakshadweep will be revamped and upgraded for better services.
The eight veteran officers who attended the function were VAdm A C Bhatia, RAdm P P Sivamani, Commodores' J P Carnerio and M Kondath, Commanders L K Mathur, H K Nag and K S Sood and Lt Cdr L Kumar.
Captain R A Jaiswal, Commanding officer INS Tir, Cdr K A Bopanna, Commanding Officer INS Krishna, naval personnel and a host of other dignitaries and inhabitants of Minicoy attended the function, a naval spokesman here said.
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Belying their seventy-plus years, the retired officers stood erect and poised as cadets of the Training Squadron paraded a 'Colour Guard', during which the Tricolour was hoisted on the lighthouse on April two, just as was done by them 50 years back.
Speaking on the occasion, Commodore M S Pavithran, Naval Officer-in-Charge (Kerala and Lakshadweep) said RAdm P P Sivamani's article 'Jyoti,' is the only written record of the naval participation.
''These veteran sea warriors, who are now in their 70s, have faced many odds to be present here. Having made this journey, I am sure, they are fondly recollecting the proceedings of their exploits of 1956,'' he added.
The Director General of Lighthouse and Light ships of India, Manmohan Singh Suman, honoured the officers by presenting a shawl.
Later, addressing the gathering, he said the lighthouses in Lakshadweep will be revamped and upgraded for better services.
The eight veteran officers who attended the function were VAdm A C Bhatia, RAdm P P Sivamani, Commodores' J P Carnerio and M Kondath, Commanders L K Mathur, H K Nag and K S Sood and Lt Cdr L Kumar.
Captain R A Jaiswal, Commanding officer INS Tir, Cdr K A Bopanna, Commanding Officer INS Krishna, naval personnel and a host of other dignitaries and inhabitants of Minicoy attended the function, a naval spokesman here said.
MORE UNI ARC CH HT1532
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