(by Ashish Singh) In September 2017, a team of six female Indian Navy officers began circumnavigating the globe on an expedition titled Navika Sagar Parikrama. The task was not easy as this was the first attempt ever made by an Indian team made up of women only to accomplish this feat. After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi a couple of days before embarking on their journey, the six women set sail on the INSV Tarini, their small sailboat 17 meters long and 5 meters wide. Eight months later, they are about to return to India. . At the moment, they are within a few nautical miles of Goa, within walking distance of the Indian coast, after completing their journey. The story will end on Monday evening, when they touch the Indian shores, as Navika Sagar Parikrama will not only become the first female Indian team to circumnavigate the globe, but also the first female military team in the world to complete this feat, as well as being the first Asian women's team to do so.
I managed to establish contact with INSV Tarini's crew members, moments after entering Indian waters after battling huge ocean winds and huge waves. Responding to the questions, XNUMX-year-old team leader, Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi, said, “From the land commitments held by the female officers to the oceans, we have come a long way, and yet we have succeeded. It took a lot of effort and hard work to get here. The journey is definitely crazy and we hope it will give hope for the future. The importance of this trip is given by the fact that the Honorable Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense were great supporters of this trip. "
INSV Tarini being a small sailboat, talking with the other team members on board was not difficult. Excited to have completed their journey, Lt S. Vijaya Devi, who belongs to Manipur, said: “The thought of having made history makes me proud of what I do. I am grateful to the Indian Navy for giving me the opportunity to prove myself. I am really excited to reach our homeland after eight months. There is no better place to stay at home and I am happy to think that I will be together with my loved ones again ”.
These six female officers of the Indian Navy are about to complete a journey of 21.600 nautical miles (approximately 40.000 km). The expedition, which took place over six different phases, crossed four continents, three oceans, passed south of the headlands and crossed the equator twice in the past eight months - it was full of challenges. Describing one such moment, another team member, Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal, said: “Time has always been the biggest challenge. Wind is a necessary evil for us. Shortly before crossing Cape Horn, which is also known as Seafarers' Everest, we encountered a storm, which brought winds of 140 KMPH and a wave height of 10 meters. It was raining a lot. The whole team stood for 24 hours. While two of us sat by the wheel trying to drive the boat, another was on standby, while the rest tried to dry our clothes and heat some water to keep the ones warm outside. It was cold and it rained constantly. That day I saw a real team spirit, which made me proud to be part of the team “.
During these eight months, the team made five stopovers in five ports in five different countries and spoke in several foreign forums. The Indians who lived in these countries were present in large numbers to welcome them.
The Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral Sunil Lanba is proud of Navika Sagar Parikrama's team. “These officers have proved beyond doubt that they are second to none and are ready to take on any challenge anywhere. Resisting the sea in these conditions requires a lot of knowledge and experience. These young officers have been through all of this during these eight months and have faced the vagaries of nature, from cyclonic winds to great waves to zero wind conditions… We are very proud of them. I am sure they will be role models for the younger generation and will be an inspiration at the same time, ”said the head of the Indian Navy.