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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| name = M P Awati
| honorific_suffix = [[PVSM]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
| native_name = मनोहर प्रह्लाद अवटी
| native_name_lang = Marathi
| image = File:VAdm M P Awati.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1927|09|07}}<ref name="twdi">{{cite web|title="Vice Adm Manohar Prahlad Awati"|url=http://twdi.in/node/2211|access-date=6 November 2018|work=The War Decorated India & Trust}}</ref>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2018|11|03|1927|09|27}}
| birth_place = [[Surat]], [[India]]<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news|title=Vice Admiral M P Awati, distinguished and genial senior officer in the Indian Navy – obituary|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/01/11/vice-admiral-m-p-awati-distinguished-genial-senior-officer-indian/|access-date=29 January 2019|author=Telegraph Obituaries|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=11 January 2019 }}</ref>
| death_place = [[Phaltan]], [[Satara (city)|Satara]], [[India]]
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| nickname = Manu<ref name="cudaybhaskar" />
| birth_name =
| allegiance = {{flagu|British India}}<br>{{flagu|India}}
| branch = {{navy|British Raj}}<br>{{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of India.svg}} [[Indian Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1945 - 1983
| rank = [[File:13-Indian_Navy-VADM.svg|20px]] [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]]
| servicenumber = 00037-H<ref name="twdi" />
| unit =
| commands = {{plainlist |
* [[Western Naval Command]]
* [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]]
* [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]]
* {{ship|INS|Mysore|C60}}
* {{ship|INS|Kamorta|P77}}
* {{ship|INS|Betwa|F139}}
* {{ship|INS|Ranjit|D209}}
* {{ship|INS|Tir|K256}} <ref name="cudaybhaskar" />
}}
| battles={{Unbulleted list|
[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
}}
| awards = {{plainlist|
* [[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
* [[File:Vir_Chakra_ribbon_bar.svg|20px]] [[Vir Chakra]]
}}
}}

[[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] '''Manohar Prahlad Awati''', [[PVSM]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]] (7 September 1927 – 4 November 2018) was a Flag Officer in the [[Indian Navy]]. He last served as the [[Flag Officer Commanding|Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (FOC-in-C) [[Western Naval Command]]. During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], he was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] for his command of the {{sclass|Arnala|corvette|0}} [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] [[corvette]] {{ship|INS|Kamorta|P77}}.<ref name="twdi" /><ref name="kesnur">{{cite web|url=http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/search?q=awati|title=Manu Awati - Young Man & The Sea|author=Cmde Srikant B. Kesnur|date=4 November 2018 |access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref> The admiral was also known as the "Father of the Indian Navy's Circumnavigation Adventures".<ref name="ie">{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-navy-vice-admiral-m-p-awati-5434078/|title=Indian Navy loses one of its heroes: Vice Admiral MP Awati passes away|author=Express News Service|date=5 November 2018 |access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/father-of-navy-s-circumnavigation-1971-war-vir-chakra-awardee-vice-admiral-awati-passes-away-356092.html|title=Father Of Navy's Circumnavigation & 1971 War Vir Chakra Awardee Vice Admiral Awati Passes Away|author=Maninder Dabas|date=5 November 2018 |access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="latest">{{cite web|url=https://www.latestlaws.com/did-you-know/father-of-the-indian-navys-circumnavigational-adventures-vice-admiral-mp-awati-passes-away/|title=Father of the Indian Navy's circumnavigational adventures, Vice Admiral MP Awati, passes away|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Awati was born to a family of academics in [[Surat]]. His father Prahlad Raoji Awati was a distinguished [[zoologist]] who later became a professor of zoology at the [[The Institute of Science, Mumbai|Royal Institute of Science, Mumbai]]. He joined the Indian Mercantile Marine Training Ship (IMMTS) [[Training Ship Chanakya|Dufferin]] and graduated second in the order of merit of his course. He was offered a commission in the [[Royal Indian Navy]] (RIN) in 1945.<ref name="telegraph" /><ref name="sudarshan">{{cite web|url=https://bharatshakti.in/manohar-awati-sailor-war-hero-adventurer-leader-chroniclercrosses-the-bar/|title=Manohar Awati: Sailor, War Hero, Adventurer, Leader, Chronicler…Crosses the Bar|author=Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande|date=5 November 2018 |access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref>

==Naval career==
===Early career===
He graduated from the [[Britannia Royal Naval College]] in early 1946 with prizes in seamanship and navigation. He then trained on board the {{sclass|Hawkins|cruiser|1}} {{ship|HMS|Frobisher|D81}} which was converted into a training ship after [[World War II]]. He subsequently was transferred to the {{sclass|Colossus|aircraft carrier|1}} {{ship|HMS|Triumph|R16}}.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Awati |first1=M. P. |title=1946 Anno Domini-Anno Memorabilis |journal=Quarterdeck |issue=2011}}</ref> After his training, Awati returned to India, choosing to specialise as a Signals and Communications officer. As a young [[Lieutenant (navy)|lieutenant]], he received the colours of the Indian Navy on 27 May 1950 from the then President of India, [[Rajendra Prasad]], at a ceremony where the RIN was renamed the Indian Navy.<ref name="blueprint">{{cite book|title=Blueprint to Bluewater, the Indian Navy, 1951-65|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8PLeQ8sM06kC|author=Satyindra Singh|year = 1992|isbn = 9788170621485}}</ref> He subsequently served onboard the [[Q and R-class destroyer|R-class destroyer]] {{ship|INS|Ranjit|1942}}.{{sfn|Singh|1991}}

In 1957, the {{sclass2|Crown Colony|cruiser|1}} {{ship|HMS|Nigeria|60}} was being refitted and modernised in [[Birkenhead]], [[Liverpool]] to be commissioned as {{ship|INS|Mysore|C60}}. ''Mysore'' was commissioned on 29 August 1957 by the [[List of High Commissioners of India to the United Kingdom|High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom]] [[Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit]] and the [[ship commissioning|commissioning]] [[commanding officer]] was Captain [[Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda|S. M. Nanda]].{{sfn|Nanda|2004}} Awati was appointed the ship's signal and communications officer (SCO).{{sfn|Singh|1991}} He was promoted to [[lieutenant commander]] on 16 May 1958.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=279 |date=13 December 1958 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1958/O-2065-1958-0050-93403.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

In May 1959, he was selected to attend the [[Defence Services Staff College]], [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NAVAL OFFICERS FOR STAFF COURSE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1959-05-22_260.pdf |website=indianairforce.nic.in |date=22 May 1959}}</ref> Promoted to commander on 31 December 1962,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=84 |date=9 March 1963 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1963/O-1838-1963-0010-83385.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> he went on to command the cadet training ship [[HMIS Tir|INS ''Tir'']], the destroyer [[HMS Redoubt (H41)|INS ''Ranjit'']], and the ASW frigate INS ''Kamorta''.<ref name="sudarshan" /> Awati was promoted to the substantive rank of captain on 30 June 1969.<ref name="Subs Capt">{{cite web |title=NAVAL PROMOTIONS |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1969-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-VOLK-I/PDF/DEF-1969-06-30_265.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=30 June 1969}}</ref>

===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===
{{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
{{further|Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971}}
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was sparked by the [[Bangladesh Liberation war]], a conflict between the traditionally dominant [[West Pakistan]]is and the majority [[East Pakistan]]is. In 1970, East Pakistanis demanded autonomy for the state, but the [[Government of Pakistan|Pakistani government]] failed to satisfy these demands and, in early 1971, a demand for secession took root in East Pakistan. In March, the [[Pakistan Armed Forces]] launched a fierce campaign to curb the secessionists, the latter including soldiers and police from East Pakistan. Thousands of East Pakistanis died, and nearly ten million refugees fled to [[West Bengal]], an adjacent Indian state. In April, India decided to assist in the formation of the new nation of [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="Global Security - 1971 War">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/indo-pak_1971.htm|title=Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|work=Global Security|date=27 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126094736/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/indo-pak_1971.htm|archive-date=26 November 2016}}</ref>

Awati was in command of the 31 Patrol Vessel Squadron and its lead ship - the {{sclass|Arnala|corvette|1}} {{ship|INS|Kamorta|P77}}. He was decorated with the [[Vir Chakra]] for his command of the ''Kamorta''.{{sfn|Hiranandani|1999}} The citation for the Vir Chakra reads as follows:<ref name="twdi"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Awardees |url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/2968 |website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref>

{{Quotation|Gazette Notification: 86 Pres/72 15-7-72
Operation: 1971 Cactus Lily
Date of Award: 1971

{{center|'''CITATION'''<br>
'''CAPTAIN MANOHAR PRAHLAD AWATI'''<br>
'''00037-H'''}}
Manohar Prahlad Awati was the commanding officer of an Indian naval unit of the Eastern Fleet during the operations against Pakistan in December 1971. Throughout the period, he was called upon to operate within enemy waters where there was constant danger to his ship from enemy mines and submarines. Undeterred, he carried out continuous probes into the enemy defended harbours in Bangladesh and inflicted heavy damage on the enemy. During the blockade, he attacked and captured three enemy ships carrying contraband goods. He also gained a submarine contact and pressed home an attack with great vigour, which possibly resulted in destruction of and damage to the submarine. Throughout, Captain Awati displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.|sign=|source=}}

===Post-War career===
After the war, he was appointed the Naval Officer-in-Charge, Goa, in 1972, where he was the founding President of the Goa Yachting Association.<ref name="herald">{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Cafe/Cafe/Late-Awati-remembered/139847.html|title=Late Awati remembered|author=Team Cafe|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref> His tenure at Goa was abruptly interrupted when he was ordered to proceed to Mumbai to take over as the [[commanding officer]] of the {{ship|INS|Mysore|C60}}, which had a mutiny on board in 1973.<ref name="telegraph" /> The mutiny had occurred due to poor man-management, and Awati soon smoothed things over.<ref name="telegraph" /><ref name="cudaybhaskar" /><ref name="hiranandani">{{cite book|title=Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990|author=Vice Admiral GM Hiranandani|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/transition-eminence}}</ref> In 1975, he attended the [[Royal College of Defence Studies]] in the United Kingdom.

===Flag Rank===
After his return to India, he was promoted to the rank of [[Rear Admiral]]. Subsequently, he was appointed [[Commandant of the National Defence Academy]].<ref name="theprint">{{cite web|title=A naval visionary and father of the Indian solo circumnavigation project|url=https://theprint.in/security/a-naval-visionary-and-father-of-the-indian-solo-circumnavigation-project/145226/|author=Amrita Nayak Dutta|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="kayjay">{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/as-nda-cadet-i-was-witness-to-vice-admiral-awatis-kindness/145378/|title=As NDA cadet, I was witness to Vice Admiral Awati's kindness|author=Lt Gen KJ Singh|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref> His next posting was as the [[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]] (FOCWF). During that tenure, he set up the Maritime History Society of India, in 1978.<ref name="kesnur" /> Upon promotion to the rank of [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]], he served as the Navy's [[Chief of Personnel (India)|Chief of Personnel]] for about a year and a half (this being his only tenure in Delhi in his entire career), after which he was appointed the [[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command]].<ref name="telegraph" /><ref name="qd2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.navyfoundationmumbaicharter.in/doc/Quarterdeck2013.pdf|title=A Phaeton, a horse and an Admiral, rather a Vice Admiral|author=Vice Adm. M P Awati|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref>

==Post-Retirement==
[[File:VAdm Awati.jpg|thumb|right|Awati presenting the .38 caliber [[webley revolver]] to [[Commandant of the National Defence Academy|Commandant NDA]] [[Vice Admiral (India)|VAdm]] [[G. Ashok Kumar]].]]
An avid ecologist, Awati created a scrub jungle in his native village, Vinchurni.<ref name="cudaybhaskar" /> It is said that he was once offered the job of the Ranger/Conservator of the Serengeti game reserve and the Ngorongoro forests, which he declined. He is the author of three books on nature and wildlife, ''Homo Sapiens and Panthera Leo'', ''The Vanishing Indian Tiger'' and ''Nature Clubs of India''.<ref name="kesnur" />

Awati conceptualised the "Sagar Parikrama" project launched in 2007, which entailed solo circumnavigations around the globe on Indian-built sailboats.<ref name="theprint" /><ref name="tomy">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/after-a-solo-voyage-round-the-world-heros-welcome-awaits-tomy/article4555217.ece|author=S. Anandan|title=After a solo voyage round the world, hero's welcome awaits Tomy|website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref> This led to the construction of the sail training boats [[INSV Mhadei]] and [[INSV Tarini]]. In 2010, Commander [[Dilip Donde]] of the Indian navy completed the first recorded solo circumnavigation by an Indian.<ref name="oldsalt">{{cite web|url=http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2010/05/commander-dilip-donde-first-indian-solo-circumnavigator/|title=Commander Dilip Donde – First Indian Solo Circumnavigator|author=Rick Spilman|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref> He was followed by Commander [[Abhilash Tomy]], who became the first Indian, and the second Asian, to do a non-stop solo circumnavigation under sails around the world.<ref name="tomy" /> The Sagar Parikrama project also led to the first ever all-woman circumnavigation expedition, called the [[Navika Sagar Parikrama]], which was completed in 2018 by 6 female officers of the Indian Navy.

In 2015, Awati presented to the [[National Defence Academy (India)|NDA]] a Webley Revolver of .38 calibre, which was handed over to him as a token of surrender by two senior Pakistan Navy officers during the 1971 War.<ref name="ie" />

Vice Admiral Awati died on 3 November 2018 at his home, in Vinchurni, Satara district, Maharashtra.<ref name="cudaybhaskar">{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/vice-admiral-manohar-prahlad-awati-dead-5435388/|title=Farewell, Captain|author=C. Uday Bhaskar|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{citation|first1=Satyindra|last1=Singh|title=Blueprint to bluewater: The Indian Navy, 1951-65|year=1991|isbn= 978-8170621485|publisher=Lancer International}}
*{{citation|first1=G.M.|last1=Hiranandani|title=Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975|year=1999|isbn= 978-1897829721|publisher= Spantech & Lancer}}
*{{citation|first1=S.M.|last1=Nanda|title=The man who bombed Karachi|year=2004|isbn= 978-8172235628|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[V. E. C. Barboza]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command]]|years=March 1981 - March 1983}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Swaraj Parkash]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Personnel (India)|Chief of Personnel]]|years=1979-1981}}
{{s-aft|after=S L Sethi}}
{{s-bef|before=[[M. R. Schunker]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet]]
|years=3 August 1977 - 4 March 1979}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Air Vice Marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] M B Naik}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commandant of the National Defence Academy]]
|years=8 March 1976 - 22 July 1977}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Major General (India)|Major General]] R K Jasbir Singh}}
{{s-end}}

[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Navy admirals]]
[[Category:Royal Indian Navy officers]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Personnel (India)]]
[[Category:Flag Officers Commanding Western Fleet]]
[[Category:Commandants of the National Defence Academy]]
[[Category:Graduates of Britannia Royal Naval College]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vir Chakra]]

Manohar Prahlad Awati - Revision history

Bot at 09:14, 20 December 2022