Untold Story 1946 Naval Mutiny: Last War of Independence - Tapa dura

A number of books have been written on the 1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny but the true story of this historic event remains untold with few facts deliberately suppressed. The Inquiry Commission report gave graphic details of mutinous acts at all the naval stations but it awarded no punishment to the guilty. It glossed over the bad conditions of service leading to the mutiny. It recommended no action against naval administration although bad service conditions were stated to be the root cause of mutiny in the Navy. It was an irony of British Naval Justice that the men voicing these bad service conditions were punished under the Naval Discipline Act. This book attempts to bring out a concise version of the composition and administration of the Navy including its sudden expansion during the World War II. The author's long association with naval counter intelligence has helped him to discern some unknown facts of this mutiny which are reflected in this book. It gives the build up and administrative background of Royal Indian Navy and details of mutinous acts in all stations because of which India did not have to fight any more for its freedom. The book, therefore, appropriately bears the title of Untold Story 1946 Naval Mutiny: Last War of Independence.

Lt Cdr GD Sharma, VSM (Retd) started his naval career by joining the first batch of Ordnance apprenticeship, post-independence in January 1948. He underwent four-year training programme at HMIS Shivaji and went to the UK in 1952 for advanced Under Water weapons course. In 1956 he was a part of the commissioning crew of INS Mysore commissioned in England. From 1956 to 1962, he served onboard INS Mysore, and INS Kirpan as an Ordnance engineer. He was commissioned into the electrical branch on 31 March 1963 when the Ordnance branch was finally merged with electrical branch. From 1963 to 1970 he served as an Ordnance instructor in INS Valsura and the Gunnery School. From 1970 till 1987 he worked as Assistant Director, Naval Intelligence at the Naval Headquarters, including a deputation with the newly formed coast guard. He was an expert in Counter intelligence, and worked closely with Army and the Intelligence Bureau. He was commended by the Chief of Personnel, and the Chief of Naval Staff. He was subsequently awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) by the President of India, in recognition of his dedication to the service. His long stint with the naval intelligence gave him rare insights into the events of 1946 naval mutiny, and helped provide an authentic account of the mutiny. He is a prolific writer, and has contributed several articles to 'Quarter Deck' that included capturing the history of Ordnance branch of the Navy in his article 'Legend of Ordnance-A Page from History', which is now a part of the naval archives at the Naval Head Quarters (NHQ).