Laxminarayan Ramdas

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, as part of the newly formed Eastern Fleet, 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 which had been mined. He was awarded the Vir Chakra, the third-highest gallantry award.

The citation for the Vir Chakra reads as follows:[10][11]

Gazette Notification: 86 Pres/72 15-7-72

Date of Award: 1971

CITATION

COMMANDER LAXMINARAYAN RAMDAS, VSM

00132-Z

During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Commander Laxminarayan Ramdas was the commanding officer of an Indian naval unit of Eastern Fleet. Throughout the period of operations, he was called upon to operate within enemy waters, where there was constant danger to his ship from enemy mines and submarines. Undeterred, he carried out continuous probes into the enemy defended harbours in Bangladesh and inflicted heavy damage on the enemy. During one of the sorties, an enemy submarine was sighted close to his ship. He attacked the submarine repeatedly, which was presumably destroyed.

Throughout, Commander Laxrminarayan Ramdas displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.

After the war, Ramdas commanded a Patrol Vessel Squadron in the Indian Navy. He later served as Naval Attaché in Germany for three years, and was promoted captain on 1 July 1976.[12] He also held the appointments of Director of Personnel, Director of Naval Signals and Director of Naval Operations at Naval HQ.

Ramdas was promoted acting Rear Admiral 7 April 1981 (substantive from 1 June 1981) and took over as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) at NHQ.[13][14] On 29 June 1983, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF). He took command of the Eastern Fleet from Rear Admiral IJS Khurana.

Ramdas was promoted Vice Admiral on 1 April 1985 and appointed Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition (CWP&A).[15] On 20 February 1986, he took over as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DNCS). After an eighteen-month stint as DCNS, Ramdas was appointed Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command. He took command from Vice Admiral Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani at Kochi. In February 1989, he moved to Vizag as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command. On 26 January 1989, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.[16] He was at the helm of the Eastern Naval Command for about twenty months.[17]

Ramdas was appointed the next Chief of the Naval Staff, succeeding Admiral Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni. He took over as CNS on 30 November 1990.[18] On 30 June 1993, with General Sunith Francis Rodrigues supperannuating, he took over as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.[19]