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{{short description|Indian navy admiral (1914–1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific prefix = [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]]
| name = A Chakraverti
| honorific suffix =
| birth_date = {{birth-date|3 February 1914}}
| death_date = {{death-date and age|16 October 1995|3 February 1914}}
| birth_place = [[Ajmere]], India
| death_place = [[Delhi, India]]
| placeofburial = Ashes scattered in Indian Ocean
| image = Ajitendu Chakraverti Profile Photo.jpg
| caption =
| nickname = Aton
| allegiance = {{flag|British Raj}} {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{navy|British Raj}} {{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg}} [[Indian Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1928–1963
| rank = [[File:British_Royal_Navy_(sleeves)_OF-7.svg|23px]] [[File:12-Indian_Navy-RADM.svg|23px]] [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]]
| commands = [[Western Fleet (India)|Indian Fleet]] [[Western Naval Command|Bombay Command]] 11th Destroyer Flotilla {{ship|INS|Rajput|D141}} HMIS Himalaya {{ship|HMIS|Rajputana|J197}}
| unit =
| battles = [[World War II]]
| relations =
| awards = [[Mentioned in dispatches]]
| laterwork =
}}
[[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] '''Ajitendu Chakraverti''' was a Flag Officer in the [[Indian Navy]]. He served as the second Indian [[Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet]], succeeding Rear Admiral [[Ram Dass Katari]]. He was the first Indian to be promoted to the high rank of [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]] in the [[Royal Indian Navy]].

==Naval career==
===Dufferin and early career===
The Indian Mercantile Marine Training Ship (IMMTS) ''[[Training Ship Chanakya|Dufferin]]'' was established in 1927 to train young men for India's marine service.{{sfn|Katari|1983}} Chakraverti was in the second batch of Indian cadet-entry officers to join the ''Dufferin'' in 1928. He completed the course earning the Viceroy's gold medal in 1930.<ref name="First Commodore">{{cite web |title=PIB (Defence Wing) |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-05-08_240.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in}}</ref>
The future [[Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of the Naval Staff]] [[Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman]] was his batchmate. They would have a healthy rivalry throughout their careers.<ref name="Adm Samson IMMTS Dufferin">{{cite web |title=BA Samson 100 - The Navy / IMMTS Dufferin |url=http://admiralbasamson.com/immts-dufferin.html |website=admiralbasamson.com}}</ref> In 1930, Chakraverti joined the [[Royal Indian Marine]] (RIM) as a cadet. He was trained in the United Kingdom for three years, among which he spent on the [[lead ship]] of [[Erebus-class monitor|her class of monitors]] {{ship|HMS|Erebus|I02}} and the [[heavy cruiser]] {{ship|HMS| Frobisher|D81}}.<ref name="Adm Samson IMMTS Dufferin" /> He was appointed a [[sub-lieutenant]] in the RIM on 1 September 1934.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34150|supp=|page=2515|date=12 April 1935}}</ref> On 2 October 1934, the RIM was renamed Royal Indian Navy (RIN). He was promoted to the rank of [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] in the RIN on 1 September 1937.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34444|supp=|page=6377|date=15 October 1937}}</ref>

===World War II===
With the outbreak of [[World War II]] in September 1939, Chakraverti underwent a specialist gunnery course in the United Kingdom. He returned to India in March 1941 and was appointed [[Second-in-command]] of the RIN Gunnery School in [[Bombay]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last= |editor-first=|title=The Navy List: April 1943 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=1943 |page=1072 |chapter=The Royal Indian Navy |isbn=}}</ref> He was promoted to the acting rank of [[Lieutenant Commander]] in October 1943 and was appointed Staff Officer Gunnery at Naval Headquarters.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last= |editor-first=|title=The Navy List: October 1943 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=1943 |page=347 |chapter=The Royal Indian Navy |isbn=}}</ref><ref name="First Commodore" /> On 5 October 1944, he was given command of the {{sclass|Bangor|minesweeper|1}} {{ship|HMIS|Rajputana|J197|6}},<ref>{{cite book |editor-last= |editor-first=|title=The Navy List: July 1945 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=1945 |pages=3447 |chapter=The Royal Indian Navy |isbn=}}</ref> and was involved in [[minesweeping]] operations off [[Burma]] and the [[Malacca Strait]] in the far-east.

Chakraverti was promoted substantive Lieutenant Commander on 18 September 1945.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37436|supp=|page=527|date=18 January 1946}}</ref> For distinguished services during the war in the Far-East, he was [[mentioned in dispatches]] in June 1946.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37636|supp=|page=3390|date=28 June 1946}}</ref> As the senior-most Naval officer, he led the Naval contingent at the [[London Victory Celebrations of 1946]].{{sfn|Singh|1991|p=26}} In 1946, he attended the [[Royal Naval College, Greenwich]].<ref name="First Commodore" /> After completing the year-long staff course, he returned to India and was appointed [[Commanding Officer]] of the gunnery school, HMIS ''Himalaya'', in [[Karachi]]. In June 1947, he was promoted to the acting rank of [[Captain (Indian Navy)|Captain]]. He subsequently took over as the Chief of Administration (COA) at Naval HQ.<ref name="PIB Bio">{{cite web |title=FIRST INDIAN OFFICER TO COMMAND THE NAVY CHANGES IN SENIOR NAVAL APPOINTMENTS |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1958-02-03_088.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=3 February 1958}}</ref>

===Post-Independence===
After the [[partition of India]], Chakraverti continued as COA. In March 1948, the Chief of Staff at Naval HQ, Commodore [[M. H. St. L. Nott]] was killed in an air crash.<ref name="Cmde Nott">{{cite web |title=DEATH OF COMMODORE NOTT |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-04-03_190.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=3 April 1948}}</ref> Chakraverti took over as the officiating Chief of Staff and was promoted to the rank of Commodore 2nd Class in May. He thus became the first Indian officer to be promoted to a high rank.<ref name="First Commodore" />

In November 1948, Chakraverti handed over charge of Chief of Staff to Commodore H Drew and embarked for the United Kingdom. India was acquiring three [[destroyer]]s from the UK - {{ship|HMS|Rotherham|H09}}, {{ship|HMS|Redoubt|H41}} and {{ship|HMS|Raider|H15}} which were being renamed to {{ship|INS|Rajput|D141}}, {{ship|INS|Ranjit|1949}} and {{ship|INS|Rana|D115}}.{{sfn|Singh|1986}} Chakraverti was appointed Commanding Officer of the ''Rajput'' and the Captain of the 11th Destroyer Flotilla.<ref name="Capt (D)">{{cite web |title=PIB (Defence Wing) |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-11-06_337.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=6 November 1948}}</ref> The ships were commissioned with much ceremony in [[Portsmouth]].{{sfn|Singh|1991}} The flotilla underwent an intensive four-month work-up with the [[Mediterranean Fleet]] of the [[Royal Navy]]. The flotilla, under, Chakraverti, was adjudged the best and most efficient among all British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] destroyer squadrons in the [[Mediterranean]].<ref>{{cite web |title=MOUNTBATTEN AT NAVAL REUNION |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1967-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1967-03-17_098.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=17 March 1967}}</ref>

In January 1950, the flotilla arrived in Bombay and was inspected by the [[Chief_of_the_Naval_Staff_(India)#Commander-in-Chief,_Royal_Indian_Navy_(1947–1948)|Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy]] [[Vice Admiral]] [[Edward Parry (Royal Navy officer)|Sir William Edward Parry]]. The [[List of governors of Bombay|Governor of Bombay]] [[Raja Maharaj Singh]] also inspected the flotilla.<ref>{{cite web |title=RECEPTION TO INDIAN DESTROYERS |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1950-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1950-01-18_016.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=18 January 1950}}</ref> Chakraverti was promoted substantive captain on 31 December 1950.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=14 |date=20 January 1951 |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1951/O-2306-1951-0003-107771.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> In November 1951, he relinquished command, handing over charge to Captain Ram Dass Katari.<ref>{{cite web |title=CAPTAIN KATARI TO TAKE COMMAND OF DESTROYER FLOTILLA |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1951-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1951-11-26_221.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=26 November 1951}}</ref> Chakraverti was subsequently appointed to a key naval post - Captain Superintendent Indian [[Naval Dockyard (Mumbai)|Naval Dockyard]] at Bombay.<ref>{{cite web |title=OUR NAVY |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1952-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1952-01-16_014.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=26 January 1952}}</ref>

In December 1953, he was appointed the next Commodore-in-Charge Bombay (COMBAY) in the rank of [[Commodore (India)|Commodore]]. He relinquished command of the dockyard, handing over to Captain [[S. G. Karmarkar]] in March 1954.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRESS NOTE |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1953-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1953-12-05_386.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=5 December 1953}}</ref> He then assumed office of COMBAY from Commodore R M T Taylor, the first Indian Officer to do so.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRESS NOTE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1953-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1953-12-05_386.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=5 December 1953}}</ref> This appointment was later upgraded to Rear Admiral and re-designated Flag officer Bombay in 1958, and to Vice Admiral and re-designated [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command]] in 1968.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reorganisation of Naval Commands |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1968-JAN-APR-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1968-03-02_089.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |format=2 March 1968}}</ref> Later that year, he was selected to attend the [[Imperial Defence College]] in the UK. He relinquished command to Commodore [[Adhar Kumar Chatterji]] in November.<ref>{{cite web |title=CHANGE IN BOMBAY NAVAL COMMAND |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1954%20DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1954-11-15_334.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=15 November 1954}}</ref> After the year-long course, he returned to India and took over as [[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]] on 10 March 1956 from Commodore Ram Dass Katari, who took charge as the first Indian Fleet Commander.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=236 |date=24 November 1956 |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1956/O-2164-1956-0047-98758.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FIRST INDIAN TO COMMAND NAVAL FLEET |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1955-JULY%20DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1955-12-24_265.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=24 December 1955}}</ref>

===Fleet Commander===
In February 1958, it was announced that Chakraverti was appointed the [[Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet]] (FOCIF), the second Indian officer to hold the appointment. He was promoted to the acting rank of [[Rear admiral (India)|Rear Admiral]] on 8 February and went on a five-week study tour.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=60 |date=15 March 1958 |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1958/O-2068-1958-0011-93581.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> On 2 April 1958, he assumed the office of FOCIF and was promoted substantive rear admiral, flying his flag on the newly commissioned [[flagship]], the [[cruiser]] {{ship|INS|Mysore|C60}} (formerly [[Crown Colony-class cruiser]] {{ship|HMS|Nigeria|60}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRESS NOTE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1958-02-03_089.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=2 February 1958}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=126|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1958/O-2068-1958-0022-93592.pdf |date=31 May 1958 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

Soon after taking command, he led the Indian fleet in the Joint Commonwealth Exercises off [[Ceylon]]. The fleet consisted of the flagship {{ship|INS|Mysore|C60}}, the [[light cruiser]] {{ship|INS|Delhi|C74}}, [[destroyer]]s {{ship|INS|Godavari|D92}}, {{ship|INS|Gomati|D93}}, {{ship|INS|Ganga|D94}}, [[frigate]]s {{ship|INS|Tir|K256}}, {{ship|HMIS|Kistna|U46}} and {{ship|HMIS|Cauvery|U10}} with the [[fleet tanker]] [[INS Shakti]]. The fleet exercised with the [[Royal Navy]], [[Royal Ceylon Navy]] and the [[Pakistan Navy]] starting off from [[Trincomalee]].<ref>{{cite web |title=COMMONWEALTH NAVAL EXERCISES |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1958-03-31_199.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=31 March 1958}}</ref> In June 1959, Chakraverti led the fleet on a ten-week exercise. The flagship ''Mysore'' was escorted by the ''Kaveri'' and ''Kistna''. The 14th frigate squadron comprising {{ship|INS|Brahmaputra|F31}} and {{ship|INS|Khukri|F149}} and the 11th destroyer squadron comprising {{ship|INS|Rajput|D141}}, {{ship|INS|Ranjit|1949}} and {{ship|INS|Rana|D115}} also joined them. the ships called on ports on the east coast of India and the [[Andaman Islands]].<ref>{{cite web |title=IN SHIPS LEAVE ON SUMMER EXERCISES |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1959-06-05_277.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=5 June 1959}}</ref>

In August, the fleet conducted exercises with the Royal Navy off [[Cochin]]. Chakraverti conducted these exercises from the air, flying in a [[Short Sealand]] aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |title=ADMIRAL CHAKRAVERTI CONDUCTS EXERCISES FROM AIR |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JULY-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1959-08-03_026.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=3 August 1959}}</ref> In March 1960, he led the fleet in the Joint Commonwealth exercises which was the largest till then, with the Royal Navy, [[Royal Australian Navy]], Royal Ceylon Navy, Pakistan Navy, [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] and [[Royal Malaysian Navy]] participating.<ref>{{cite web |title=COMMONWEALTH NAVAL EXERCISES CONCLUDE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1960-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1960-03-01_179.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=1 March 1960}}</ref>

===Later career and retirement===
Chakraverti relinquished command of the Indian fleet in April 1960, handing over to Rear Admiral B S Soman. In the same month, the [[National Defence College (India)|National Defence College]] was inaugurated by [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. Chakraverti was selected to be the first Naval Senior [[Directing Staff]] of the college.<ref>{{cite web |title=PM TO OPEN NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1960-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1960-04-21_273.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=21 April 1960}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SENIOR NAVAL OFFICERS' MEETING |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1960-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1960-05-03_296.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=3 May 1960}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=College |first1=National Defence |title=National Defence College |url=https://ndc.nic.in/FormerFaculty.aspx?MenuId=9fsPy+KlrLAnIwEsuaB4ZA== |website=National Defence College}}</ref> In April 1962, the [[Government of India]] chose B S Soman over Chakraverti as the next Chief of Naval Staff.<ref>{{cite web |title=NEW NAVAL CHIEF |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1962-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1962-04-21_163.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=23 April 1962}}</ref> Chakraverti retired in June 1963.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=223|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1963/O-1839-1963-0026-83449.pdf |date=29 June 1963 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Admiral (India)|Admiral]] [[Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman]]
* [[Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{citation|first1=Ram Dass|last1=Katari|title=A Sailor Remembers|year=1983|isbn=9780706920642|publisher=Vikas}}
*{{citation|first1=Satyindra|last1=Singh|title=Under two ensigns: The Indian Navy, 1945-1950|year=1986|isbn= 978-8120400948|publisher=Oxford & IBH Pub. Co}}
*{{citation|first1=Satyindra|last1=Singh|title=Blueprint to bluewater: The Indian Navy, 1951-65|year=1991|isbn= 978-8170621485|publisher=Lancer International}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Ram Dass Katari]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Commanding Indian Fleet]]|years=1958-1960}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff]]|years=1956–1958}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Adhar Kumar Chatterji]]}}
{{s-bef|before=R M T Taylor}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Western Naval Command#List of Commanders|Commodore-in-Charge Bombay]]|years=1954-1954}}
{{s-bef|before=[[M. H. St. L. Nott]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Chief of Staff to Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy]]|years=1947-1948}}
{{s-aft|after=H. Drew}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chakraverti, Ajitendu}}
[[Category:Indian Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Commanding Indian Fleet]]
[[Category:Deputy Chiefs of Naval Staff (India)]]
[[Category:Royal Indian Navy officers]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]

Ajitendu Chakraverti - Revision history

Bot at 08:03, 19 December 2022