Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani: Difference between revisions

| laterwork    = Member, [[Union Public Service Commission|UPSC]] 1989-1995 <br/> Official Historian, Indian Navy 1995-2009;  <br/> Author, Transition to Triumph <br/> Author, Transition to Eminence <br/> Author, Transition to Guardianship

'''Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani''' (29 June 1931 – 1 September 2009) was a senior [[Indian Navy]] [[Flag officer|officer]]. He served as the [[Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (India)|Vice Chief of the Naval Staff]] from 1987 to 1989. Prior to that, he served as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Southern Naval Command]]. He was the Commissioning [[Commanding Officer]] of the {{ship|INS|Rajput|D51}}, the lead vessel of the [[Rajput class destroyer]]s.  He was awarded the [[Nausena Medal]] for gallantry during the [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1971]].

Gulab Hiranandani joined the [[Royal Indian Navy]] in 1949. He trained with the [[Royal Navy]], between 1949 and 1953. He underwent specialized training in Gunnery and Missiles in 1957.<ref name=nwcr-telescope>{{cite journal|url=http://www.usnwc.edu/getattachment/5f868aad-ac05-427d-95dc-3a467d0b2237/Indian-End-of-the-Telescope,-The--India-and-Its-Na|title=The Indian End of the Telescope: India and Its Navy|author=Vice Admiral Gulab Hiranandani, Indian Navy (Retired)|journal=Naval War College Review|date=Spring 2002|volume=LV|issue=2|accessdate=2012-01-19}}</ref> In 1965, he attended the Naval Staff College at [[Royal Naval College, Greenwich]].<ref name=dsa-hiranandani>{{cite web|url=http://www.dalsabzi.com/Books/Sindhi_surnames/hiranandani_pg2.htm|title=Hiranandani, Page 2|publisher=Dal Sabzi for the Aatman|accessdate=2012-01-19}}</ref> He held a Master's degree in Military Science and a doctorate in Political Science.

During the [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1971]], Hiranandani served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the [[Western Fleet (India)|Western Fleet]]. In this role, he led the detailed planning and logistics for key naval operations. He was awarded the [[Nau Sena Medal]] for his role in planning and implementing of [[Operation Trident (1971)|Operation Trident]] and [[Operation Python]].<ref name=hindu-cremated>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article14650.ece|title=Vice-Admiral Hiranandani cremated with full Naval honours|publisher=The Hindu|date=2009-09-03|accessdate=2012-01-13}}</ref>

Hiranandani served as the Deputy Director Weapons policy & tactics (1968-1970) where he was instrumental in the acquisition of the Missile boats used in Operation Python & operation Trident. He developed the tactics on how to deploy them in War. During his Tenure as Commanding officer INS TIR (1970-1971) he developed & tested methods of towing the short range missile boats from Vizag in Bombay in heavy seas during the monsoon of 1971. These techniques were then used to tow the missile boats near Karachi harbour to be used as Missile delivery Vehicles with devastating effect. He was appointed the Director of Combat Policy and Tactics (DCPT), serving from 1974 to 1977. He was a deep thinker and brilliant tactician. His work on naval strategy remains the basis for much of the tactical training and operational maneuvers of the Indian Navy. He was awarded the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] (AVSM) for this contribution. Hiranandani was promoted substantive captain on 1 January 1976.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=1059  |date=31 July 1976 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> In 1980, he commissioned {{ship|INS|Rajput|D51}}, the lead vessel of the [[Rajput class destroyer]]s as its first Commanding Officer.<ref name=dh-passesaway>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/23283/vice-admiral-g-m-hiranandani.html|title=Vice-Admiral G M Hiranandani passes away|publisher=Deccan Herald|date=2009-09-04|accessdate=2012-01-19}}</ref>  

He was appointed the Chief of Staff of the [[Western Naval Command]] in 1981, with promotion to rear admiral on 7 May 1981.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=139  |date=29 January 1983 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>  Promoted [[Vice Admiral (India)|Vice Admiral]] on 30 June 1983,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Navy Branch) |page=1306  |date=4 August 1984 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> he was appointed the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff the same year. During this time he laid the foundation for the Project 15 Class of Stealth Guided Missile destroyers. He worked in close co-ordination with the DRDO  & Bharat Electricals to indigenously design the electronics and Missile systems required for our new Warships. He is instrumental in putting together a long ship building plan which gave The Indian Navy  the capability to be self sufficient in building its own up to date warships and missiles.

In 1987, he was appointed the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS).{{cn|date=October 2020}}

 

Hiranandani retired from active service in the Indian Navy in 1989.{{cn|date=October 2020}}

In 1995, he was appointed the ''Official Historian of the Indian Navy''. He authored a trilogy on the history of the Indian Navy. ''Transition to Triumph'' covering the period between 1965 and 1975 was published in 1999.<ref name=in-t2t>{{cite book|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/t2t2e/Trans2Trimph/start.htm|title=Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy 1965-75|author=Vice Admiral G. M. Hiranandani|publisher=Indian Navy|accessdate=2012-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314072520/http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/t2t2e/Trans2Trimph/start.htm |archive-date=2007-03-14}}</ref> ''Transition to Eminence'' captures naval history between 1976 and 1990 was published in 2004.<ref name=in-t2e>{{cite book|url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/te/index.htm|title=Transition to Eminence: History of the Indian Navy 1976-90|author=Vice Admiral G. M. Hiranandani|publisher=Indian Navy|accessdate=2012-01-19}}</ref> ''Transition to Guardianship'' covers the history of the navy between 1991 and 2000 and was completed just before his death. It was released on Navy Day, 4 December 2009.{{cn|date=October 2020}}

Hiranandani was married to Susheel Hiranandani. His son is a physician and his daughter, [[Meera Sanyal]], a banker and civil society activist.<ref name=hindu-cremated/>