From NDA to Admiral

National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla (Pune), May 31, 2011: 

For a journalist he is a tough nut to crack. No amount of prodding or prompting would make him lose his cool and give you the desired quote in the moment. Man of few words Admiral Nirmal Verma, however, is also a man of set goals of modernizing the Indian Navy and welfare of his men.

A reticent armed forces officer, Verma had so far refused interview opportunity with him saying he would rather let his words speak than himself. I got a chance to meet him at the May 2011 Passing out Parade of the National Defence Academy (NDA), where he came as the reviewing officer. The cradle of the armed forces made him reminisces the three years of his life that baptized him to face all the hardships in life without batting an eyelid.

“As those cadets marched past below the quarter deck (marking the completion of the passing out parade), I remembered my days at the academy 62 years ago,” Admiral Verma said with a faint smile playing on his smile and an expression of nostalgia in his eyes. Admiral Verma was commissioned in Navy in 1970 at the age of 19 years. He goes on to say, “The academy has given me everlasting friendships, it has taught us that hardships could be faced much better when done together.”

The grueling academy training at the quaint Khadakwasla marked with greenery and hills is known for turning boys into men. The academy training is all about pushing the limits of your physical and mental endurance. At some point of time every cadet has done a return trip to Sinhagarh fort, the 25 kms long journey with a backpack also has 10 km of hill trekking. “The rigorous cross country runs and physical activities did not seem anything that point of time as all your friends were running along with you. Also if one of your friends is tired we did not think twice before picking up his backpack or lift him to reach the finishing line. Nobody was to be left behind.”

The stay at academy is marked with tradition and privileges that bound the generations of officers together. Admiral Verma belonged to the Hunter squadron of the academy; only its cadets are allowed to grow moustaches. When reminded of this and asked why he did not have one, Admiral Verma said the moustache was a late entrant in the Indian Navy, where one can either keep a beard or had to be clean shaven.

His squadron recently had a rare moment of glory in the history of soldiering- all the present three services’ chiefs belong to the Hunter Squadron. Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, Indian Army chief General VK Singh and Admiral Verma, had been together at one point in the squadron, which means Naik who was senior most of them would have given them punishments and mentored them for their service career. When asked about it the reticent officer smiled and before you knew he had skillfully dodged the query!

The Admiral said, “The hierarchy relation in academy turns into great camaraderie after passing out. All three of us are great friends now and are working towards making the jointmanship among three services strong. Whenever one of us faces problem we discuss and take a collective decision.”

Admiral Verma is a first generation armed forces officer. Coming from the heart of India and a landlocked state of Madhya Pradesh, Navy seems to be an unusual choice. “When I was 12 year old 1962 war happened and soon we fought the 1965 war with Pakistan. The whole country was gripped with patriotic fervor. Females donated their gold jewellery for national defence fund. So armed forces were a natural career choice for me.

“I also watched lot war movies on navy which inspired me to join the navy which has more romance and adventure than any other force.” His love for the navy also influenced his younger brother to join the navy. He is presently a Rear Admiral.

True to his passion his career was marked with professional milestones. He has commanded India’s lone aircraft carrier INS Viraat, missile class destroyer INS Ranvir and Naval Academy Goa.

Admiral Verma has all praise for the veteran warhorse, INS Viraat, which has become a more potent platform post its refurbishment in 2009. “Viraat is as capable an aircraft carrier as we need. With each refit it becomes stronger.” As Indian Navy is striving to become a three aircraft carrier force, the navy chief said, Viraat would keep going till the time the indigenous floating flying deck is not commissioned.

Since Admiral Verma, a communications specialist took over as the Navy chief his focus has been on augmenting the Indian Navy’s flotilla and air wing.