Jal Cursetji
Encyclopedia
Jal Cursetji is a retired Indian Navy
admiral
who served as the 10th Chief of the Naval Staff from March 1, 1976 until February 28, 1979. Cursetji's prior commands included those as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) of the Western Naval Command
and the commanding officer of and . He also served as the Naval Attache to the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and as the Chief Hydrographer of the navy.
Volunteer Reserve as a cadet in January 1938. He was commissioned as an officer in the RIN in September 1940 as a Sub Lieutenant. He qualified as a Hydrography Specialist in the United Kingdom
.
During World War II, Cursetji served in the Atlantic
and the Indian Ocean
. In 1944, he took over as the Commanding Officer of .
After the independence of India, he opted to join the Indian Navy. He was the senior most Indian officer in the Hydrographic Survey branch, and took part in the coastal surveys of Burma, Malaya
and Indonesia
. He served as the Surveyor-in-Charge of the Marine Survey of India between 1950 and 1953. He was deputed as the Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India
in 1955.
In 1957, he took command of the 11th Destroyer Squadron. Between 1961 and 1965, Cursetji served as the Naval Attache in Washington, D.C.
and Ottawa
. Between 1966 and 1967, he was the Commanding Officer of .
He was promoted to Rear Admiral
and took over as the Chief of Personnel at Naval Headquarters in December 1967. In February 1970, he was promoted to Vice Admiral
and took over as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff. On 27 February 1973, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) of the Western Naval Command
.
Admiral Cursetji became the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy on 1 March 1976. He retired on 28 February 1979.
in January 1971. He was the first Indian Navy CNS to be awarded the Legion of Merit
in 1978.
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...
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"...
who served as the 10th Chief of the Naval Staff from March 1, 1976 until February 28, 1979. Cursetji's prior commands included those as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) 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...
and the commanding officer of and . He also served as the Naval Attache to the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and as the Chief Hydrographer of the navy.
Naval career
Cursetji joined the Royal Indian NavyRoyal 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....
Volunteer Reserve as a cadet in January 1938. He was commissioned as an officer in the RIN in September 1940 as a Sub Lieutenant. He qualified as a Hydrography Specialist in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
During World War II, Cursetji served 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 the 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...
. In 1944, he took over as the Commanding Officer of .
After the independence of India, he opted to join the Indian Navy. He was the senior most Indian officer in the Hydrographic Survey branch, and took part in the coastal surveys of Burma, Malaya
Malaya
-Geographic/former political entities:* The Malay Peninsula* Malay Archipelago, the broader macroregion.-Malaya including Singapore:* British Malaya , a loose collection of British-controlled states...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. He served as the Surveyor-in-Charge of the Marine Survey of India between 1950 and 1953. He was deputed as the Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in 1955.
In 1957, he took command of the 11th Destroyer Squadron. Between 1961 and 1965, Cursetji served as the Naval Attache in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. Between 1966 and 1967, he was the Commanding Officer of .
He was promoted to Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
and took over as the Chief of Personnel at Naval Headquarters in December 1967. In February 1970, he was promoted to Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and took over as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff. On 27 February 1973, he took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) 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...
.
Admiral Cursetji became the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy on 1 March 1976. He retired on 28 February 1979.
Awards
Cursetji was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva MedalParam Vishisht Seva Medal
Param Vishisht Seva Medal is a military award of India. It was constituted in 1960 and since then till 1980, it was awarded in recognition to peace-time service of most exceptional order.-External links:...
in January 1971. He was the first Indian Navy CNS to be awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
in 1978.