Rustom K. S. Ghandhi
Rustom K.S Ghandhi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 1, 1924 Jabalpur, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
Vice Admiral Rustom Khushro Shapoorjee Ghandhi, PVSM, Vir Chakra, I.N. Ret., son of Khushro Shapoorjee Ghandhi and Dina Cooverbai Amroliwalla, was born at Jabalpur, India. He graduated from St. Joseph's College, Nainital , India, with an Intermediate Science degree in 1941. After a year of graduate studies at Allahabad University, he subsequently joined the Royal Navy with a permanent commission as an officer cadet on January 1, 1943. He currently resides at Colaba, Mumbai, India. He was married to Khorshed "Bubbles" Kharegat (deceased 2011), daughter of Sir Pheroze and Lady Kharegat on January 1, 1949, and has three children: a son Phiroze (Sandy), and two daughters Yasmine and Delna.
Career
Rustom Ghandhi served with Lord Louis Mountbatten from 1947-1948, and was his Aide-de-camp (ADC) when Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India.
His Navy career included: [1]
1957: Commanding Officer of the INS Cauvery
1961: Commanding Officer of the INS Betwa
1963: Assignment to the USA Naval War College, Newport RI.
1965: Commanding Officer of the INS Khukri
1968: Director of Naval Operations.
1969: Commanding Officer of the INS Mysore
1972: Naval Advisor to the India High Commission in London, UK.
1974: Fleet Commander, Eastern Fleet
1975: Fleet Commander, Western Fleet
1977: Commander-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.
1979: Retired with the rank of Vice Admiral of the Indian Navy.
He was the only officer to have commanded ships in all wars fought by India:
the 1961 war to annex Goa as Captain of the INS Betwa,
the 1965 war with Pakistan as Commander of the 14th frigate squadron as Captain of the INS Khukri,
the 1971 war with Pakistan to create Bangladesh when he commanded the INS "Mysore," the flagship of the Western Naval Fleet.
He was awarded the Vir Chakra for conspicuous gallantry for his role in the 1971 war with Pakistan. He played a decisive role in the 1961 annexation of Goa , which involved [2] a 36 hour "Operation Vijay" at Mormugau harbor, and ended 451 years of Portuguese rule. During this operation, he commanded the INS Betwa, which was the senior ship.
Upon retirement from the Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Ghandhi enjoyed a short stint as technical consultant for the movie, "Sea Wolves," and played a vignette role as the Governor of Goa in it. He was appointed Chairman of the India Shipping Corporation in 1981 and served in that capacity until 1986. He was a Member of the National Commission for Minorities from 1993 to 1996.
During April 1986 to February, 1990, when Rajiv Gandhi was Premier of India, Vice Admiral Ghandhi was awarded PVSM for meritorious service of the highest order, and served as Governor of the State of Himachal Pradesh, residing with Mrs. Ghandhi at Raj Bhawan in Shimla. This residence was built in 1815, and formerly known as Barnes Court [3]. In addition to governmental duties, they made many improvements to the building, including a complete restoration of the billiard room and the Durbar Hall, as well as the construction of a gazebo on the premises.
References
- ^ Personal Communication, provided by Commodore Satish Ghormade, Director of Naval Personnel, Naval Headquarters, New Delhi., at the request of Adm. Vishnu Bhagwat, Former Chief of Naval Staff (2012).
- ^ "Jawaharlal Nehru: A Biography", Sankar Ghose. Allied, Mumbai (1993).
- ^ One Hundred and Seventy five Years of BARNES COURT". (Ed. Tulsi Raman, Raj Bhawan, Shimla, October 25, 2007). The Director, Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh, 2007