‘India is equipped to withstand foreign threat’

Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of ENC, an alumnus of Naval Academy, Kochi, and National Defence Academy, Pune, was inducted into the executive branch of the Indian Navy as a surface warfare officer on July 1, 1979. A graduate of 1992 batch of the Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, UK, he has held important afloat, staff and training appointments.He had commissioned the missile corvette INS Kora and had also commanded the stealth frigate INS Tabar. He had been training commander of INS Dronacharya at Kochi and director of Naval Intelligence in the rank of captain at the Ministry of Defence. Bisht had also been the director general of Indian Coast Guard. He took over command of ENC on February 29. Vice Admiral Bisht tells Sulogna Mehta of TOI about Indian Navy’s take on various aspects of joint naval exercises and foreign collaboration dealing with threats from neighbours, upcoming naval expeditions and challenges faced by ENC.
We have heard that Russia and Reliance Industries have shown interest in setting up ship-building manufacturing and other facilities in Vizag. What’s the Navy's take on this?
I have heard this in passing and not received any concrete news about their interest. But I feel being self-reliant and indigenously manufacturing is the best. Though we are manufacturing ammunitions, missiles and rocket launchers, we are still importing certain weapons. Effort should be on ‘Make in India’, which is the best rather than depending on foreign nations.
To counter the Chinese in the Eastern Sea Board, what is the Indian Navy’s stand on a maritime quadrilateral as suggested by foreign delegates visiting India from US, Japan and Australia?
Maritime quadrilateral or maritime cooperation on sea and joint naval exercises is just one part of it. It has to be extended to socio-cultural bonhomie within the nations. Engagement with Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries is very important and ships are deployed accordingly. ENC is very serious about it and benign naval operations and surveillance missions will continue in 2017 too.
As China forays into the IOR, India’s Look East Act East Policy is important. How far is ENC braced up for Chinese activities? Also, what about threats from Pakistan?
Since India and China are both fastest growing economies, both have certain common interest in sea links protection. Threat is a combination of intention and capability. We both have the capacities and intention is economic development. As for Pakistan, which doesn’t come under ENC’s domain, but as an independent observer I can say that they are grappling with their own issues. It’s not so easy for them to undertake full-fledged hostile attacks. Economic development is the common issue for all now. However, with one of the largest fleets in the world, India is equipped and capable enough to withstand any threat from them.
How are the preparations of the Indian Navy’s Everest Expedition going on?
There is a plan to scale the Mount Everest in 2017 by navy men from the different commands situated in Visakhapatnam, Mumbai and Kochi. It’s being organised by the headquarters in Delhi. Some women officers are also joining. However, the team has not yet been finalised. Pre-Everest expeditions have been continuing since last year during which our people have been summiting different peaks including Mt Saser Kangri, Mt Kun and Mt Kamet. Though lower in height than Mt Everest, these peaks are extremely challenging and provide a tough training for those aiming to summit the world’s highest peak Mt Everest. Those who successfully scale these lower peaks, will make it to the final expedition team.
What other expeditions are on the cards?
Another interesting expedition would be that of circumnavigation by the sailing boat Mhadei’s sister ship Tarini with an all-women crew. Already, training is going on and the women are going on successful sailing expeditions and competitions or participating in races for instance from Cape Town to Rio on board Mhadei. We are looking forward to their sagar parikrama or circumnavigation round the globe on that sailing vessel in the near future. Trained by Commander Dilip Donde, the six women crew includes naval ATC officer Lt P Swathi from Vizag too.
When will women officials be deployed in the sea as their male counterparts?
This is a subject very close to our heart and we are looking forward to deploy them into the sea on board ships in the future. Already, women are an integral part of the Indian Navy and are doing very well. Most of them are working with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) or as sensor operators. However, to send them to the sea, certain women-friendly environment has to be created so that they don’t feel aloof or uncomfortable when they are at sea for long time deployment.
What are the hardships or challenges faced by ENC?
Operating in the maritime domain is a challenging task as the crew members face vagaries of weather and rough sea life, which causes damage to the equipment as well besides sea sickness especially among the newly joined seamen. Pollution from the open coal dumps in the dockyard is also another major problem in Vizag as along with the wind, all the coal dust blow into our ships.
Where are we deficient as a naval force?
We don’t lack anything as such. But we need to keep upgrading ourselves through training and up- gradation of technologies, which should be a continuous and ongoing process. Learning, new ideas and incorporation of advanced technologies should continue and we should not sit satisfied at what we have already achieved.