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50 years of takeover of Minicoy Light House
Kochi:
A naval ceremony will be held to celebrate 50 years of the takeover
of the Minicoy Light House in Lakshadweep Island from British administration
at Minicoy islands today. The 121-year-old light house, built in 1885,
stands prominently astride one of the busiest sea-lanes. It has been a
guiding beacon to all mariners who pass by. A team of midshipmen of INS
'Tir' yesterday sailed onboard the ship to Minicoy islands to participate
in the ceremony. They had facilitated the take over of the Light House
in 1956. Vice Admiral A C Bhatia, Rear Admiral P P Sivamani, Commodores'
J P Carnerio, A J Lobo and M Kondath, Commanders S K Chatterjee, L K Mathur,
H K Nag and K S Sood and Lt Cdr L Kumar are the retired officers of the
8th Course who were sailed to Minocoy. After the independence, the British
government had not given the administration of the Light House till April
1956. For this, both the Houses of British Parliament had to pass a separate
legislation. Besides this, it also needed the Queen's' ascent, former
Rear Admiral Sivamani said. The Government in 1956 had decided to take
over the Light House and the Navy was asked to provide the facilities,
he said, adding INS 'Tir' was earmarked for the take over. The naval training
ship INS 'Tir', with 18 midshipmen from the 8th Course of National Defence
Academy on board, reached Minicoy on April 1, 1956. The Union Jack was
brought down as the midshipmen fired from their Very's pistols. On April
2, 1956 a group of Naval personnel hoisted the Indian tri-colour on the
island in the North Indian Ocean. The island is an important focal point
in the busy sea-lanes between West Asia and Far East ever since Suez Canal
was opened in 1869.
-April 1, 2006
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