Sunday, May 15, 2016

Capt. Mahendra Nath Mulla

This is a repeat of a post I wrote on May 15, 2010.


Today is Navy Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla’s birthday. He was born on May 15, 1926 in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. If he was alive today, he would be celebrating his 90th birthday.

He was commissioned in the Indian Navy in 1948. During the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War (or as someone might call “Bangladesh Liberation War”) he was Commander of INS Khukri. The ship had 18 officers and 176 sailors. His responsibility was to locate and destroy a Pakistani submarine in the Arabian Sea. On the December 9, 1971 night, INS Khukri was hit by torpedoes fired by a Pakistani submarine and sank.
 
Captain Mulla was calm and quiet. He asked his crew to abandon the ship. He organized the evacuation of the ship’s crew in an orderly manner. There was no confusion and no panic due to the Captain's calm transmitting itself to his men. All the crew members were evacuated from the ship.
 
Finally his turn to leave the ship. There is an old tradition. Captains don’t abandon their ships. The ship was about to fully go under the water. The evacuated crew begged and cried for him to abandon the ship. He smiled at them. But refused to abandon his ship. He waved at them. Lighted a cigarette. Took a chair and sat on the ship’s bridge. Within a few minutes, Captain Mulla was gone under the water along with his ship, INS Khukri.
 
His action and behavior and the example he set have been in keeping with highest tradition of the Indian Military. He was awarded Maha Vir Chakra posthumously for displaying conspicuous gallantry and dedication to duty.
 
Let us remember Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla today.
 
I personally think Capt. Mulla should have been awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

22 comments:

  1. Wow, a great man. He truly led by example. I wonder where such leaders are nowadays.

    Destination Infinity
    PS: Is there any tradition that captains should not leave their ships even after everyone is saved?

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    1. Thanks for your comments Rajesh. He was truly a great man. Ship captains have the responsibility to save their ships and the people on it. If they cannot save either one of them, they will die. Captains do not abandon their ships and just walk away.

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  2. This somehow reminds of a poem that I had read and loved in my college days: Cassabianca.
    There on that burning deck they saw a boy standing alone. He was Cassabianca, the 12 year old son of one of the ship's officers. There he stood, alone at his post. He was surrounded by flames and facing the astonished English foe. Soon afterwards the fire reached the powder magazine deep down in the hold. The boy perished when the whole ship erupted in a massive explosion
    The account of that boy who stood on that burning deck was told and retold. Eventually it passed on into legend. The story remains a classic example of devotion and faithful service. And the poem continues to serve as a source of inspiration and wonder for many throughout Christendom. That boy who stayed at his post on that burning deck has not been forgotten. And the story of his heroic stand is remembered right up to the present day.
    The captain of a ship or a plane or for that matter any leader is not supposed to leave without rescuing others under his care, and that is what this captain d.id

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    1. Thanks for your comments Rama. I do remember the story of Cassabiance. Really an inspiration.

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  3. Wonderful post and great tribute to this good man!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Linda. And, welcome to my blog. I am glad you liked this post.

      Linda, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.

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  4. I do recall this post of yours. Yes, he should've been awarded Param Vir Chakra.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Insignia. You have a good memory. I agree with you 100%.

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  5. Great Personality... Thanks a lot to let me know about such a great person of our country...

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    1. Thanks for your comments Vineeta. I am glad you liked this post.

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  6. Thanks for making us aware of this great man.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Ash. I am glad you liked this post.

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  7. Yes, he should have been awarded the Param Veer Chakra. This is an inspiring story. His family must be passing on this story to their children for generations. Great!

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sandhya. I agree with you. He should have been awarded the Param Veer Chakra.

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  8. A deed indeed great by a real patriot.Tributes to such personalities are really inspiring.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sarala. I am glad you liked this post.

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  9. What an inspiring man! had he been alive perhaps he would have been a good leader of our nation. Thanks for sharing Capt Mulla's story. I was not aware of him.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Asha. indeed, he was very much an inspiring Captain.

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  10. very inspiring.but sad too..why have such traditions, i he was alive, he could contribute more to the country.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Renu. Long time No see. He was indeed a great man. Many occupations have different traditions. Some are even funny. In USA, if you buy a dozen donuts from a bakery, the baker will give you 13 docnuts. It is called Baker's Dozen.

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  11. Hats off to Capt Mulla. He was so committed and brave. The tradition of a captain not abandoning his ship exists still??

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  12. Such a great man! Got goosebumps reading about Capt. Mulla. Thanks for this article, SG.

    I think, such greatness is a loss for the country. May be he had inspired some people by setting an example. I wish he didn't do so. If every patriot acts in a similar way, we will be left wth fools and anti-national people to construct (distruct?) our nation!

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