GUARDIANS OF THE SEAS: TRIUMPH OF THE INDIAN NAVY AND ITS AIR POWER IN THE 1971 WAR

by Rear Admiral Santosh Kumar Gupta, Commodore Gurnam Singh

Category Non-Fiction
Format Hardback
Imprint Rupa
Price 495

ISBN: 978-93-5702-770-0
Pages: 102 pages
Date: 5th December 2023

ABOUT THIS BOOK

The most detailed account of the indian navy’s naval air campaign in the 1971 Indo-Pak War
India had a decisive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. East Pakistan disappeared from the
world map and, in its place, Bangladesh was born as a new, independent country. Of the many
factors that contributed to this victory in the war, an important one was the active participation of
the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy, starting out as a subsidiary of the Royal British Navy, grew in
importance and power under the aegis of Lord Louis Mountbatten after Independence. With the
efforts of dynamic officers such as Admiral S.M. Nanda, it gradually grew in terms of equipment and
power. It took the years preceding 1971 for it to reach maturity and to contribute in a spectacular
manner to the war effort, such that it was instrumental in blockading both West Pakistan and East
Pakistan. This book chronicles that story.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Rear Admiral Santosh Kumar Gupta, MVC, NM, was born on 21 December 1936 in Dehradun. He
was commissioned in 1958 and joined the fighter stream of the Indian Navy prior to the commissioning
of the squadron INAS 300, the White Tigers. He commanded the White Tigers in the 1971 war while
embarked on INS Vikrant. For his display of leadership and bravery, Lt Cdr Gupta was awarded the
Maha Vir Chakra. During his service, he commanded four ships, two air squadrons and the Naval
Academy. After retirement as ACNS (Air) in December 1990, he headed Breach Candy Hospital in
Mumbai till 1998. He has now settled in Bengaluru with his family.
Commodore Gurnam Singh was born in Amritsar, Punjab, on 5 November 1941. At the time, his
father was serving in the British Indian Army and was posted at the Eastern Front. He joined the
Indian Navy in 1958 and was commissioned as an officer in 1967. He is a qualified maritime and
aircraft engineer. He was awarded the Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) for his contribution to the 1971
war. After retiring from service in 1995, he has pursued his interest in languages and has written
10 books in Punjabi.