Ed speak SIRISH CHANDRAN
IT’S HALF PAST FIVE IN THE EVENING BY THE TIME
I clear security checks and am driven through the labyrinth of the Cochin Shipyard until she finally looms into view. The jewel in the Indian Navy’s crown. The first indigenously developed aircraft carrier. 262 metres long, 18 storeys tall, and a flight deck the size of two football fields. That night as we hoisted five Mahindra SUVs on the deck, I kept pinching myself. Months of planning had been invested into the making of this story but I still couldn’t believe it was happening. That the team and I were actually on the decks of the INS Vikrant.
The next morning we stood at attention as the colours were hoisted on the stern. Drove in step with the march past. Braced ourselves as two Chetaks and a Sea King took off right in front of us, from the flight deck. Listened in awe to the inspirational stories of the officers and crew. Had goosebumps as Air Captain Rajat Kapoor, a proper Indian Top Gun with a chiselled face framed by Ray Bans, talked about how to land a fighter jet in under 90 metres on the deck.
Later a MiG 29-K was brought up on deck, 70 officers were positioned around it in a V-for-Vikrant formation and then proceeded to deliver a full-throated rendition of the carrier's war cry. My god, the hairs on the back of my neck have yet to stand down. We took a break to have lunch with the sailors below decks. Later that evening I had the privilege of tea with the commanding officer. And in between it all I got to put in the first kilometres by a civilian, in a civilian vehicle, on the flight deck of the INS Vikrant. Talk about the mother of all exclusives! This is so far off the realm of what’s possible that I hadn’t even dreamt of doing anything like it!
This is the precursor to the Indian Navy’s Sam No Varuna coastal drive – 7000km starting from Kolkata on the east coast, down to Kanyakumari and back up the west coast to end at Gujarat. And just as we closed for press, the Navy told us an additional 1500km were being added to end the drive at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. The objective is to motivate youngsters to pursue a life of adventure with the Indian Navy, and nothing could be more inspirational than being aboard the INS Vikrant. Over my 23-year career I’ve had the privilege of putting together epic stories, incredible cars in spectacular locations, but everything pales in comparison to this cover story. It’s an honour, and privilege, to bring to you the story of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, and the first ever drive on the flight deck.
Enjoy the issue and give us a shout out. Should we do more such stories? We’d love to hear from you. ⌧