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The Admiral J G Nadkarni Chat

People say you and your successors, L Ramdas and V S Shekhawat, are equally responsible for the deterioration in the Indian navy. None of you stood up to your political masters and demanded what was the navy's right. Shekhawat did, in the week before he retired...

How would you rate your old mater, Vishnu Bhagwat, as naval chief? Does he have it in him to improve the standards of the Indian navy?

Sir, Do you think that like some western countries we should also make a year or two compulsory in armed forces.

Sir, Do you think that like some western countries we should also make a year or two compulsory in armed forces.

What should be the ideal composition of the Indian navy in 2000? Why are we so obsessed with aircraft carriers? Are they really necessary? Should we not have an effective fleet of smaller warships?

Sir, back to aircraft carriers. Vikrant is to be decommissioned soon, and Viraat too is aging. Is not risky for India to be dependent on one old a/c carrier? And when is it buying the next one or building it?

What should be the ideal composition of the Indian navy in 2000? Why are we so obsessed with aircraft carriers? Are they really necessary? Should we not have an effective fleet of smaller warships?

Podgy, in your opinion, is the US navy the best in the world, and whatlessons can we learn from it?

Sir, in 1971 the US Seventh Fleet came up the Bay of Bengal. How well would the Indian navy have fared if the Seventh Fleet had become hostile?

J Taylor: In Shaw's Pygmallion when DooLittle is asked whether he has no morals says " Can't afford them governor" I'm afraid the days when we wanted or could afford "The best" are long gone . The cost of arms has escalated so much that soon we will be priced out of the market . A frigate which used to cost about 20 Crores 25 years ago is about 800 Crores today . We now have to do with what is affordable and sometimes even go for second hand stuff . In anycase as long as it gives us an edge over our potential enemies that is good enough. I am not an expert but I understand that SU-30 is a very fine aircraft however Rs150 Crore per aircraft appears a little high . I hoppe it is worth it. As far as Gorshkov is concerned it is 10 years old and provided the price is right would be a good buy.

Clausewitz: The Indian Navy could certainly not have been able to withstand an aerial onslaught from the Seventh Fleet but it is possible that our submarines might have been able to acquire a target or two and even this would have given us a moral victory . The Indian Navy has never claimed that it is he equal of the US navy which is far more powerful. But then so were the US armed forces compared to Vietnam, and you know what happened there.

Podgy, thanks. I have always held you in high regard. I believe you are the finest officers to have served the Indian navy. A personal question: W@hat is your finest memory of your long career in the navy?

What should be the ideal composition of the Indian navy in 2000? Why are we so obsessed with aircraft carriers? Are they really necessary? Should we not have an effective fleet of smaller warships?

Ashish Patel: That is a good question . But not for the reason you think . India today has an army of 1.2 million . Very few countries in the world , especiallly poor countries like India can afford such a large armed force. Even the United States has an army of only 600,000. The only way countries like Russia , China and Vietnam can afford large armies is by some form of conscription . Today nearly 60% of the army's budget goes on pay and allowances leaving little money for modern arms and equipment . The only way of cutting down the huge pay bill is by some form of complusory conscription .

People say you and your successors, L Ramdas and V S Shekhawat, are equally responsible for the deterioration in the Indian navy. None of you stood up to your political masters and demanded what was the navy's right. Shekhawat did, in the week before he retired...

People say you and your successors, L Ramdas and V S Shekhawat, are equally responsible for the deterioration in the Indian navy. None of you stood up to your political masters and demanded what was the navy's right. Shekhawat did, in the week before he retired...

Sir, Do you see the role of the armed forces in india like in pakistan

Bidyut Datta: Statistics will show that the Indian navy reached its peak in 1989 , when I was chief and when more than 100 ships, including 2 air craft carriers and over 17 frigates stood in line at the presidents review . The Indian navy made the Time magazine cover . More than 15 frigates and corvetteses were ordered on Indian shipyards during my tenure . And above all we had the nuclear submarine Chakra during my tenure the acquistion of which was finalised by me during my tenure as vice-chief . So there.

I am grateful for your clarifying the situation.I meant no offence. Why has the Indian navy always a poor cousin of the army and air force? Has it got to do with its strength?

Ashish Patel: If by that you mean whether there is a likelyhood of Indian army taking over I think it is highly unlikely . 50 Year of democratic rule has finally created one of India's unseen but finest achievement, a apolitical armed force who have democracy in their blood . In this respect it is inconcievable that the Indian Army can even dream of taking over the country , just like it is jinconcievable of the US army or the British army taking over their countries.

Admiralsaab, what is your position on the chief of defence staff issue? Do you believe India needs a chief of defence staff rather than the existing chairman of the defence chiefs?

I have always held you in high regard. I believe you are the finest officers to have served the Indian navy. A personal question: What is your finest memory of your long career in the navy?

I need to get back to work. It was good speaking with you. Good night and God be with you.

What should be the ideal composition of the Indian navy in 2000? Why are we so obsessed with aircraft carriers? Are they really necessary? Should we not have an effective fleet of smaller warships?

What do you do these days? How come you are not an ambassador or governor? Is it because like the other chiefs, you have never bothered to polish apples?

What do you do these days? How come you are not an ambassador or governor? Is it because like the other chiefs, you have never bothered to polish apples?

sir, Do you think that the government should consult ex-chiefs of the forces before making important decisions like budget, weapons etc...

Bidyut Datta: This is unfortunately a legacy of the British rule whereas the British created a powerful Indian army (More then 2 million in WW11)they understood the importance of the sea and ensured that the Indian navy remained a small coastal force . The Royal navy oversaw the Seaward defense of India . The 20-1 ratio between the Indian Navy and the Indian Army has remained more or less the same eversince. In most developed countries the ratio is normally 1-1 . The Indian Navy's share of the budget was 3% at the time of Independence which rose to 13% (the highest so far) in 1989 during my tenure and has now come down to 11.5% . To become a great navy the Indian Navy should atleast get about 20% this however appears unlikely at present .

Podgy, I must be going! I hope you will be a regular on the Net. Take care and keep the flag flying high!

J Taylor:The standard answer should be that I never wanted any of these assignments . But to be frank I must confess that I was never asked . At present I'm editing a monthly magazine on Maritime affairs called Maritime International , this is a one man show and therefore it takes all my time . However it gives me great joy to produce the magazine . And people tell me its quite good my dream is to put it one day on the Internet.

Ashish Patel: Not necessarily. However they should have a council of experts with all discplines such as the armed forces , foriegn affairs , internal security agencies and other experts present who would render advice on defense matters . And that is exactly what the National Security Council is meant to do. Unfortunately our bueraucrats who have the ear of the politicans would never allow such a agency to come into existence . Thus we remain the only major country not to have a National Security Council.

I shall be signing off now . I thoroughly enjoyed this chat and would like to compliment the participants for their level of knowledge and insight and the high level of questions . Hope to have a chat again soon.

Sir, Considering the fact that there is acute shortage of finanaces in forces, dont you think that government should consider attracting thousands of engineers, technicians who have excelled themselves in western countries. If i am right some indian managed companies even writes the software for US army. Maybe this will help us keep up with the technological advances in the world.

Thank you sir for answering all the questions.

Admiral, About shortfall in officers in the Services, I feel it is failure of Govt./MoD to attract young citizens. Here in the UK, on National Television, news media, the MoD keeps on advertising for newer skills. In India, I never came across such ads except in Employement news & on a few tatty/rusty hoardings in a corner(usually covered by a tree) of govt. buildings. With such apathy, how do you think MoD will attract new talents ?