A Nation and its Navy at War

"The faint hearted do not win wars - in 1971 we 'dared' and our Navy entered the enemy's den to inflict a decisive defeat. With this our countrymen realised the importance for a 'great nation' to have a 'great Navy'. I have more than happy to see the Navy growing ever since, into an even finer fighting force.

My Congratulations to Ranjit Rai for finally bringing out this book which is very well written and which I would recommend strongly to all those in Services and Civillian walks of life to whom the call of the sea has some interest and mystery."

Admiral S.M Nanda, PVSM, AVSM

Chief of Naval Staff during 1971

The book was first published in 1987 and was also the first ever book on Indian Navy's role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war leading to liberation of Bangladesh. The book gives adequate coverage to the Pakistani account of naval war and hence is a very representative book on the event. The edition one of the book has been referenced in most of the articles on the subject and continues to be the debated. This edition has few corrections and graphics but the essence of the content has been preserved.