INDIA. Mumbai: On Wednesday, at a Naval Uprising Commemorative Event hosted by the Western Naval Command in Cooperage, South Mumbai, wreaths were laid and memories of the pre-Independence Naval Uprising were resurrected.
The event was held at the Naval Uprising Memorial as part of the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” (75th Anniversary of Independence), which drew a big crowd of veterans, schoolchildren, and others.
A Prabhat Pheri (a short morning awareness march) from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) complex at Nariman Point to Marine Drive was held on the occasion, with the Navy Band performing patriotic tunes. It included cadets from the Sea Cadet Corps, schoolchildren, and members of the public.
In a sombre naval ceremony, Maharashtra Minister for Tourism and Environment Aaditya Thackeray, who was also the Chief Guest at the main event, placed the wreath, which was followed by serving personnel, veterans, and invited guests.
Following that, an event was scheduled on the lawns of the Sailors Home, adjacent to the Memorial, to discuss and reflect about the commitment of Navy ratings to the Independence effort.
Even as a significant number of Mumbaikars rushed to offer floral tributes and light candles, the Naval Band performed at Marine Drive in the evening.
The Naval Uprising began onboard HMIS Talwar in Mumbai on February 18, 1946, and was directed against the then-British government in India.
From that initial flashpoint, it quickly spread across India, gaining backing from Karachi to Kolkata, and eventually involving over 20,000 sailors in 78 ships and shore facilities.
Civilians across the country have also shown their support for the campaign. Thousands of Mumbai residents came to the streets to support the rebellion, which rattled the British government’s foundations in India and is now seen as a significant event in the liberation fight.
On December 4, 2001, the Western Naval Command erected a memorial at Cooperage in Colaba, South Mumbai, to commemorate the Uprising.
Also Read: Unnayan Foundation Felicitates Widows of the Indian Armed Forces Personnel
