Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday commissioned India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi. During the event, the Prime Minister also unveiled the new Naval Ensign (Nishaan), doing away with the colonial past and befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage.
PM Modi received the Guard of Honour as he arrived for the Commissioning ceremony. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said, “India is witnessing the sunrise of a new future. This event being held on the INS Vikrant is a tribute to the rising spirits of India on the world horizon.”
He further added, “Vikrant is huge, massive, and vast. Vikrant is distinguished, Vikrant is also special. Vikrant is not just a warship. This is a testament to the hard work, talent, influence and commitment of India in the 21st century. If the goals are distant, the journeys are long, the ocean and the challenges are endless – then India’s answer is Vikrant. The incomparable Amrit of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is Vikrant. Vikrant is a unique reflection of India becoming self-reliant.”
PM Narendra Modi’s Address:
During his address, PM Modi remembered Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He said that Shivaji built such a navy on the strength of this sea power, which kept the enemies on their toes. The Indian Navy has got a new flag from today.
About INS Vikrant:
INS Vikrant is designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Vikrant has been built with state-of-the-art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in the maritime history of India.
The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is named after her illustrious predecessor, India’s first Aircraft Carrier which had played a vital role in the 1971 war. It has a large number of indigenous equipment and machinery, involving major industrial houses in the country as well as over 100 MSMEs. With the commissioning of Vikrant, India will have two operational Aircraft Carriers, which will bolster the maritime security of the nation.
About New Naval Ensign:
Notably, one of the design elements of the Naval flag honours Shivaji Maharaj. The new Naval flag has the national flag on the upper canton. Inside a blue octagonal, the National Emblem is placed atop an anchor. It is, superimposed on a shield with the navy’s motto. Notably, Shivaji was the founder of the Maratha kingdom who had a naval fleet.
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