Sourendra Nath Kohli
Encyclopedia
Sourendra Nath Kohli is a retired Indian Navy
admiral
who served as the 9th Chief of the Naval Staff from March 1, 1973 until February 29, 1976. Kohli served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) of the Western Naval Command
during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 and was responsible for the crippling attacks on the Pakistan Navy
fleet in Karachi
. His prior commands include those as the commanding officer of and .
. He graduated with a B.A. (Honours) from St. Stephen's College
in New Delhi
.
Volunteer Reserve as a cadet in May 1936, immediately after his graduation. He was commissioned as an officer in the RIN on June 25, 1938.
During World War II, Kohli served in the Persian Gulf
and in the Far Eastern theatre. He qualified as a Communication Specialist in the United Kingdom
in 1943. He served on board in 1944-45.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1946 and served at the then RIN Naval Headquarters, HMIS Dalhousie.
After independence, Kohli opted to join the Indian Navy
and was one of the key officers selected to oversee the expansion of the naval fleet. He was deputed to the United Kingdom in December 1948 in connection with acquisition of destroyers and was appointed Commanding Officer of on her purchase from the Royal Navy
in 1949.
Other appointments that Kohli held included those as the Senior Officer of the flagship of the Indian Navy, . Later, he also served as the Commanding Officer of the flagship, .
Kohli served as the superintendent of the Naval Dockyard in Bombay. He also twice served as the Director of Naval Plans. His staff appointments included those as Chief of Material and then as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
Kohli rose to Flag rank in August 1965. He was the Flag Officer Commanding of the Fleet from 1967 to 1969. Next, Kohli served as the Commandant of the National Defence College
for two years until 1971.
On 12 February 1971, Kohli was appointed the Flag Officer Commading-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) of the Western Naval Command
. During the war with Pakistan in December 1971, Kohli provided operational leadership for the devastating attacks on Karachi
harbour. He also led the defence of Indian Naval facilities on the west coast. He was also responsible for overseeing the safety of the Indian mercantile fleet during the war.
On 1 March 1973, Kohli took over as the Chief of the Naval Staff. He retired from the navay on 29 February 1976.
in January 1968. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan
for his exceptional leadership during the 1971 war.
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 9th Chief of the Naval Staff from March 1, 1973 until February 29, 1976. Kohli served 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...
during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 and was responsible for the crippling attacks on the Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
fleet in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. His prior commands include those as the commanding officer of and .
Early life
Kohli was born in 1916 in AmritsarAmritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
. He graduated with a B.A. (Honours) from St. Stephen's College
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
Naval career
Kohli 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 May 1936, immediately after his graduation. He was commissioned as an officer in the RIN on June 25, 1938.
During World War II, Kohli served in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and in the Far Eastern theatre. He qualified as a Communication 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...
in 1943. He served on board in 1944-45.
He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1946 and served at the then RIN Naval Headquarters, HMIS Dalhousie.
After independence, Kohli opted to join the Indian Navy
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...
and was one of the key officers selected to oversee the expansion of the naval fleet. He was deputed to the United Kingdom in December 1948 in connection with acquisition of destroyers and was appointed Commanding Officer of on her purchase from the 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...
in 1949.
Other appointments that Kohli held included those as the Senior Officer of the flagship of the Indian Navy, . Later, he also served as the Commanding Officer of the flagship, .
Kohli served as the superintendent of the Naval Dockyard in Bombay. He also twice served as the Director of Naval Plans. His staff appointments included those as Chief of Material and then as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff.
Kohli rose to Flag rank in August 1965. He was the Flag Officer Commanding of the Fleet from 1967 to 1969. Next, Kohli served as the Commandant of the 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...
for two years until 1971.
On 12 February 1971, Kohli was appointed the Flag Officer Commading-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...
. During the war with Pakistan in December 1971, Kohli provided operational leadership for the devastating attacks on Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
harbour. He also led the defence of Indian Naval facilities on the west coast. He was also responsible for overseeing the safety of the Indian mercantile fleet during the war.
On 1 March 1973, Kohli took over as the Chief of the Naval Staff. He retired from the navay on 29 February 1976.
Awards
Kohli 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 1968. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
for his exceptional leadership during the 1971 war.