Journalists come across
unusual opportunities now and then. It
is not always that they have to cover press conferences, political intrigues,
legislature sessions, boardroom battles, court cases, agitations, scams,
natural calamities, sports events and other routine developments. That way, quite a few special opportunities
have knocked at my door.
OCCASIONS RARE AND UNIQUE
(By Subbaram Danda)
I have cruised in a
couple of submarines. I have reported
naval exercises from aboard aircraft carriers.
I have had a ride in a military tank.
I have witnessed launch of satellites.
I have also covered international film festivals. The list goes on.
What I cherish most was
my experience in the battle-fit submarines.
My first date with an Indian submarine was in December 1979. The sleek naval craft was INS Kalwari,
India’s first submarine named after a dreadful shark. Acquired from the Soviet Union and
commissioned into Indian Navy, it had come to Madras (the original name of
Chennai) to participate in Navy Day celebrations. I was in a press party that was taken to the
harbour to be briefed about the activities planned for the special day.
We were thrilled when
we were told that the defence authorities had given permission to let us have a
look inside the submarine and also experience a deep-sea cruise aboard it.
As we stepped into it
and made our way through claustrophobic passages, past a baffling range of
equipment, we were explained how a submarine worked, its role in warfare and
importantly how torpedoes were handled.
In the meantime it sailed out slowly and picked up speed.
“Dive, dive, dive” – a
strident order on the public address system by the captain caught our
attention. Instantly, the submarine
started to descend into the sea. In
about 20 seconds it was fully under water. After a while it reached a depth of about
100 feet. Shortly thereafter it attained
a state of “ultra quiet” remaining totally silent, an exercise very crucial
during periods of action. We returned
after cruising for about 25 kilometres off the coast.
INS Kalwari had
participated in the 1971 operation against Pakistan.
The visit also had a
somewhat unpleasant touch. I had taken
with me my junior colleague Subha Srinivasan but she was denied entry because
women were not allowed inside a submarine.
The reason cited was that the feminine biological conditions would not
be conducive to deep-sea voyage.
This Kalwari was
decommissioned in course of time and its name was given to a brand new modern
submarine built totally in India and inducted into service last year.
Another experience I
distinctly remember was going on board Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant in July
1977 to report naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal. It was India’s first aircraft carrier
acquired from the United Kingdom. INS
Kamorta, an anti-submarine frigate, acted as a patrol vessel.
It was overwhelming to
see how an aircraft took off from the flat top of the carrier with just a very
short “runway.” It had to attain the
necessary speed in time to be able to leave the “ground” and tear into the sky
at the appropriate moment. Smart
human-machine interaction was very essential.
More astounding was the return of the aircraft. On nearing the carrier at slow speed, the
pilot lowered a heavy hook suspended by a rope from his plane. It caught one of a few metallic cables
running across the flat top of the carrier and stopped. The operation rocked the mighty carrier. What a way to land! If the
hooking had failed, we were told, the pilot would have had to swing up
instantly and try another landing.
Any mistake, however
small it could be, while taking off or landing, would see the aircraft plunge
into the sea. So great emphasis was laid
on training the pilot and keeping the specially designed flying machine in
excellent condition.
I also sent a
photo-feature on these exercises to INDIA TODAY. The magazine carried it with my pen-name
“Hubschrauber.” It means helicopter in
German, which I had learnt.
This aircraft carrier
was also subsequently decommissioned. Its name was given to a new one,
currently in an advanced stage of construction in an Indian shipyard.
A ride in an army tank
for a civilian can only be in a dream but a journalist sometimes gets such an
opportunity. In November 1979, Avadi Tank Factory in Madras rolled out an
updated version of the famous “Vijayanta” tank.
A press party was taken to the site and briefed about its features. We also witnessed the tank go through and
pass tests of fording, gradient passing and hurdle crossing.
Most fascinating was a
ride inside the armoured tank for every one of us for about ten minutes. Covered on all sides, we could sense its
movement over uneven terrain negotiating turns and twists. Its speed was amazing. The manoeuvrability of its guns even at night
with the aid of special goggles was awesome.
I had taken with me another junior colleague of mine K.S. Latha and she
too had a ride in another tank.
The talk in army
circles at that time was that a tank in a fierce battle would in all
probability become a coffin for its rider.
I wonder whether it is still so with a lot of technological
advancements.
Sriharikota is a small
island off the coast of Andhra Pradesh in the Bay of Bengal about 100 kms north
of Chennai. On it stands a rocket
launching station operated by the Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO). Named Satish Dhawan Space Centre
(SDSC) after ISRO’s former chairman, it has made India proud in the galaxy of space-exploring
nations by setting several blazing records. Rockets carrying a variety of satellites have lifted
off from there to place them in orbit around the earth not only for India but
also for several others, including developed nations.
The jewel in the crown
of SDSC is the launch of Chandrayan 1, India’s first and most acclaimed mission
to Moon, nearly ten years ago. Another
major achievement is the take off of Mangalyan 1, also known as Mars Orbiter
Mission, in 2013. It is India’s maiden and
highly successful inter-planetary probe to orbit Mars and study its features.
Whenever there is a
major launch, the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India would
take a press party to the site to enable newsmen to report firsthand from the site. I had opportunities to witness some satellite
launches.
Witnessing a lift off
from a reasonably close range was an experience filled with moments of anticipation,
excitement and joy. Though no one was
allowed near the launch pad, actual take off of the sleek rocket carrying the
satellite could be seen from a short distance.
Inside the control centre, as the countdown progressed, anxiety and
tension could be seen writ large on the faces of a large number of scientists
sitting in front of computer monitors.
Each one had a specific role to play.
Dignitaries were seated in a separate enclosure. Once the launch was successful, their joy
knew no bounds. They shook hands and
hugged each other. Then the top officials
met the press to explain the significance of the launch and the future
projects.
A few decades ago,
international film festivals were a craze among Indian cine buffs. However, it
faded away with the advent of the internet and the social media.
I had occasions to
cover the festivals. One such was
“Filmotsav 78,” the first-ever international fete held in South India at
Madras, inaugurated by then Union Information Minister L.K.Advani. I was accredited to it. Apart from controversies it kicked up, it
offered a few movies that people craved for. “The Other Side of Midnight” and
“The Sun Above and the Mud Below” had gate-crashing crowds.
I also had
opportunities to visit a variety of industrial units in the public as well as
the private sectors, luxury liners, military establishments and sensitive
undertakings like an atomic power plant on invitation or on our own initiative,
in different parts of the country.
Foreign jaunts also came in my way.
Finally, I would like
to say that journalism is a wonderfully different kind of profession replete with
its own thrills and frills. What is of
utmost importance is that it should be pursued on right lines with extreme care
and caution.
(RECOLLECTIONS will
continue.)
April 01, 2018
