Laxminarayan Ramdas

Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC
Born	5 September 1933
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Navy
Years of service	1953 - 1993
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Eastern Navy Southern Naval Command INS Beas
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards	Param Vishist Seva Medal Ati Vishist Seva Medal Vir Chakra Vishisht Seva Medal Ramon Magsaysay Award
Spouse(s)	Lalita Ramdas
Relations	Admiral R D Katari (Father-in-law)

Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC served as Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, taking the reins on 30 November 1990. He was born on 5 September 1933, and commissioned in the Indian Navy on 1 September 1953. He served as Aam Aadmi Party's internal lokpal.^[1]

Adm Ramdas (3rd from right) with Former Chiefs and Admiral Robin K. Dhowan at the Conclave of Chiefs 2015.jpg

Career

Adm Ramdas was trained as a communication specialist in the Royal Naval Staff College in the United Kingdom. As a Commander, he went on to establish and head the Naval Academy in Kochi, Kerala, he distinguished himself for which he was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM). During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, whilst in command of INS Beas, Admiral Ramdas took part in the most effective naval blockade of East Pakistan which frustrated Pakistan's attempt to evacuate 93,000 of their troops who eventually surrendered to the Indian Forces.

INS Beas also captured a large number of ships carrying contraband to East Pakistan, bombarded Cox's Bazar and took part in the landing and other operations in an area infested with mines and submarines. For his resolute, bold, gallant and imaginative action in the face of great danger, he was decorated with the Vir Chakra. He later commanded a Patrol Vessel Squadron in the Indian Navy.

Admiral Ramdas served as Naval Attaché in Germany for three years. He held the appointments of Director of Personnel, Director of Naval Signals and Director of Naval Operations at the Naval HQ. Other notable appointments he held were Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations), Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DNCS) and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Southern Naval Command.

He is also a keen sports person, enjoying cricket, golf and quite naturally yachting. For his efforts in trying to demilitarise and denuclearize South Asia, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for peace in 2004. He was against establishment of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu by congress government which was being established without popular support ^[2]

Retirement

After retirement, Ramdas took up residence near the beach city of Alibag, Maharashtra. He was part of the group which filed a PIL in the Supreme Court of India against the appointment of the then Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh for the post of Chief of Army Staff.^[3]

Personal life

Adm Ramdas is married to Lalita Ramdas (née Katari), who has served as the chair of Greenpeace International.^[4] He is the son-in-law of Admiral R D Katari, the first Indian Chief of Naval Staff. Their daughter, Kavita Ramdas is the country representative of the Ford Foundation in India.

Admiral Ramdas in Delhi in November 2016

References