Adhar Kumar Chatterji
Encyclopedia
Adhar Kumar Chatterji was the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy
from March 4, 1966 until February 28, 1970. He was the first Indian officer of the navy to hold the rank of Admiral
.
in 1933. The same year he saw a notice at the college about the relaxation of entry criteria for the Royal Indian Navy
. He applied and topped the entrance examination.
He qualified for anti-submarine warfare
in 1940, and served in World War II
on board various Royal Navy
and Royal Indian Navy ships in the Atlantic
and Indian Ocean
zones. He also served as an instructor for crash courses in anti-submarine warfare at Royal Navy training establishments during the war.
In August 1947, Admiral Chatterji completed the staff course in the United Kingdom and on his return, was appointed Director of Naval Planning at Naval Headquarters.
In June 1950, in the rank of Captain, he assumed command of the flagship of the Indian Navy . He was the first Indian officer to command the cruiser.
Between November 1950 and January 1953, Chatterji was the Naval Adviser to the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom. He oversaw the training of hundreds naval cadets and junior officers in the UK.
Upon his return, he was appointed the Commander-in-Charge, Bombay. The Bombay Command was the predecessor of the Western Naval Command
. He held this appointment for two years.
Following the completion of a leadership course at the Imperial Defence College, Commodore Chatterji was appointed the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff in February 1958. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in March 1959.
In May 1962, Chatterji took over as Flag Officer Commanding of the Indian Navy Fleet.
In January 1964, Chatterji was promoted to Vice Admiral and took over as the Commandant, National Defence College
.
On March 4, 1966 Chatterji was appointed the seventh Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy. He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 March 1968, the first Indian officer to hold the rank.
Admiral Chatterji retired from the Indian Navy on February 28, 1970.
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
from March 4, 1966 until February 28, 1970. He was the first Indian officer of the navy to hold the rank of Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
.
Early life
Chatterji was born in 1914. He graduated from the Presidency College, KolkataPresidency College, Kolkata
Presidency University, Kolkata, formerly Hindu College and Presidency College, is a unitary, state aided university, located in Kolkata, West Bengal. and one of the premier institutes of learning of liberal arts and sciences in India. In 2002 it was ranked number one by the weekly news magazine...
in 1933. The same year he saw a notice at the college about the relaxation of entry criteria for the Royal Indian Navy
Royal Indian Navy
The Royal Indian Navy was the naval force of British India. Along with the Presidency armies and the later British Indian Army it comprised the Armed Forces of British India....
. He applied and topped the entrance examination.
Naval career
Chatterji was one of the first Indian cadet-entry officers to join the Royal Indian Navy in 1933. After training on board TS Dufferin, he was sent to the United Kingdom. He was commissioned into the Royal Indian Navy as an officer in 1936.He qualified for anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
in 1940, and served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on board various Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and Royal Indian Navy ships in the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
zones. He also served as an instructor for crash courses in anti-submarine warfare at Royal Navy training establishments during the war.
In August 1947, Admiral Chatterji completed the staff course in the United Kingdom and on his return, was appointed Director of Naval Planning at Naval Headquarters.
In June 1950, in the rank of Captain, he assumed command of the flagship of the Indian Navy . He was the first Indian officer to command the cruiser.
Between November 1950 and January 1953, Chatterji was the Naval Adviser to the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom. He oversaw the training of hundreds naval cadets and junior officers in the UK.
Upon his return, he was appointed the Commander-in-Charge, Bombay. The Bombay Command was the predecessor of the Western Naval Command
Western Naval Command
The Western Naval Command is a formation of the Indian Navy. It has its HQ in Mumbai, Maharashtra and is commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, currently Vice Admiral D. K. Joshi...
. He held this appointment for two years.
Following the completion of a leadership course at the Imperial Defence College, Commodore Chatterji was appointed the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff in February 1958. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in March 1959.
In May 1962, Chatterji took over as Flag Officer Commanding of the Indian Navy Fleet.
In January 1964, Chatterji was promoted to Vice Admiral and took over as the Commandant, National Defence College
National Defence College, India
The National Defence College of India, located in New Delhi, is an institution of higher learning of the defence forces of India. The institution was inaugurated on 27 April 1960 and is the only military institution in the country that imparts knowledge on all aspects of national security and...
.
On March 4, 1966 Chatterji was appointed the seventh Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy. He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 1 March 1968, the first Indian officer to hold the rank.
Admiral Chatterji retired from the Indian Navy on February 28, 1970.