What binds the Navy?

What is it that binds the Navy as an integrated service and a formidable Arm of the Armed Forces? What is the glue which has held her so well since its inception and rise as the guardian of our Seas, our Ambassador to the world and our insurer of economic independence through the sea routes?  

Each person who joins the Navy takes oath on the ‘Constitution of India’ and affirms that he  shall protect the Nation even at the peril to his  Life! The Preamble states four fundamentals -Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. 

It is the ‘Fraternity’ which holds the Navy and plays the primary role in maintaining  its Unity and Integrity!  Fraternity flows like a pure river of compassion and brotherhood in the veins of its personnel. As in the case of the State so in the case of Navy, fraternity is both the responsibility of the Navy and the individual . And in Navy all Officers and Men realize that it would be ‘fraternity’ which would redeem them in the hour of reckoning and even in day to day routine life. Phrases such as  ‘Pull together’ and ‘ the strength of the cable is the strength of its weakest link’ are perennially ringing. We are taught and learn early that it is not the large seemingly formidable ‘Anchor’ which holds the ship but it is the cable of many fathoms holding the anchor and lying at the bottom of the water, which holds it.   

Fraternity is a progression and is built and cemented over a period. The first place is the Training establishment where we arrive from all over  India and the first visible symbol is the uniform we wear. White uniform by all personnel and other uniforms as prescribed for the occasion . We train together, run together, march together, eat together, remember our homes together get collective punishment even for fault of an individual so that we remember that we sail together and sink together. The first bond is of life long ‘course mates’ as we move to various ships .   This concept of ‘uniformity’ invokes ‘uniform perception’ and differences are reduced. 

Fraternity is instilled over a period when we do collective activities such as evolutions at sea, sports and games. Officers and sailors are in one team playing against the team of the other ship. We cheer for our teams , we are dejected in its defeat and rejoice together in victory. We dine together on many occasions and partake the same food. We have family get-togethers and picnics. And periodically after a long sailing, on ship’s anniversary, sometime on transfer and retirement of key personnel we drink together and these occasions are when one opens out. Some discontent which may be simmering is revealed and a  feedback is received – ‘Hum Nevala ‘( same food)  – ‘ Hum pyala’ ( same drink ) is an age old tradition of the Armed forces .

 The ship life opens a ‘New World’. We make ‘ship mates’  on account of the fact that we have served together on board. We move from ship to ship and make new mates. Serving on board is a matter of pride and honour and the experience and loyalty remains forever. In our conversation of Navy we always  talk about our afloat appointments as we know that Navy is Ships! All shore organizations and even Naval Headquarters serve Ships and their purpose and policies are for  Ships.  

Our Aim on board is to do good for the ship, to endeavour to contribute in seeing the ship achieves its tasks and missions. We may be of different departments but perform collectively, various slogans of the ship help us in our zeal and enthusiasm such as ‘Vijay Vijay Ranvijay’ for warship Ranvijay a destroyer and ‘ Veer Veer Ranvir’ for Ranvir and such others.  Working together for long periods at sea , imbibing the Navy culture and vocabulary strengthens our bond and the spirit of comradery. 

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