Former chief of naval staff and 1971 war hero Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas passed away on Friday at the military hospital in Secunderabad. He was 90.
Ramdas is survived by his wife Lalita, three daughters, their spouses and three grandchildren.
Ramdas, who was also a human rights activist, joined the military at the age of 15 and headed the navy between 1990 and 1993. He won the Magsaysay award for peace.
He commanded the INS Beas which played a pivotal role during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. His leadership and bravery in enemy waters earned him the Vir Chakra, the third-highest gallantry award. He also served as the Indian Naval Attache in Bonn (West Germany) from 1973 to 1976 and as a fleet commander of the Eastern Naval Command. He commanded both the southern and eastern Naval Commands.
After retirement, Ramdas settled on a piece of land awarded to him by the Maharashtra government at Bhaimala village in Alibag in recognition of his acts of gallantry in the 1971 war. He and his wife Lalita involved themselves in public service.
Over the years, he became an outspoken voice of conscience, advocating actively for the defence of the Constitution, especially the values of liberty, equality, fraternity and secularism. He was particularly concerned about maintaining secularism and the commitment to constitutional values among the armed forces.
He fearlessly voiced his opinions about injustice against marginalised and minority communities and wrote representations to the highest authorities condemning the communalisation and polarisation being promoted and urging them to uphold democracy and the secular fabric of India.