After four and a half centuries of Portuguese colonisation of Goa, the ship bearing the name of its conqueror — Affonso de Albuquerque — surrendered to India’s Navy in 1961. That moment encapsulates everything.
In this second sit-down session with Commodore Srikant B. Kesnur, Rahul Dewan picks up India’s maritime story from the formation of the Royal Indian Navy in 1934 — deliberately kept small by the British to a coastal force — through its explosive 15-fold expansion in World War II, the 1946 Naval Mutiny that shook the foundations of colonial rule, and the decisive Goa Liberation Operation of 1961 where Indian warships blockaded NATO-member Portugal and forced a white flag.
The conversation covers the 1971 war’s naval dimension — missile boats sinking Pakistani vessels and setting Karachi’s refinery ablaze for ten days — and reaches the present, where 63 of 65 ships on order or under construction are being built in India. The nuclear submarine programme, indigenous aircraft carriers, and the strategic indigenisation drive are examined honestly: submarines remain a gap, but the trajectory is unmistakable. India’s Navy is no longer a delayed echo of its British predecessor.
About The Speakers:
Commodore (Dr) Srikant B. Kesnur, VSM (Retd) is a distinguished Indian Navy veteran with 36 years of exemplary service. He commanded two ships and held diverse appointments in maritime operations, training, diplomacy, and strategic communication. An accomplished scholar with a Ph.D. and five postgraduate degrees, he served as Lead Writer/Chief Editor for numerous naval publications.
His distinguished service earned him the Vishisht Seva Medal, CNS Commendation, and Lentaigne Medal. Post-retirement, he remains active as an educator, writer on maritime issues, and motivational speaker, sharing his expertise with military and civilian professionals. He exemplifies operational excellence combined with academic rigor and thought leadership.
Rahul Dewan is a tech entrepreneur, angel investor, blogger, social activist, and Yoga & Meditation practitioner. In 2016, he founded SangamTalks – the largest YouTube channel for documentation of ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’ (IKS) and untold Indian History. Having exited his software services business (600 people) successfully, he now dedicates his full time to Dharmic causes. He is currently on a mission to raise 1000 Crores for Hindu civilizational causes, and to campaign for making Hinduism Missionary again.
