Bharat Rakshak

Chacko, you should do an article on Coast Guard history, expansion and future plans for FI, yours truly can definitely do the needful.

The audit watchdog's latest report, tabled in Parliament on Friday, paints a dismal picture about how coastal security is besieged with ad hoc planning and bureaucratic bottlenecks, huge manpower and equipment shortfalls and turf wars among different agencies, including Navy and Coast Guard.

Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday, Inspector General S.P. Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region (East), said that it had been planned to install 67 radar stations along east and west coast of the country. As many as 30 stations would be located in different places of eastern coast from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu to Paradip in Orissa. While 11 radar stations would be set up in Andaman & Nicobar, the Lakshaweep would have 4 stations.

Stating that “the Mumbai incident was a point of concern to everyone,” he said it was not possible to maintain physical surveillance. However, the loophole, ambiguity and other issues of coastal surveillance had to be improved. Thus, it was decided to set up a chain of radar stations along the coast for an effective and enhanced security. Tamil Nadu coast particularly along Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay would be effectively covered with a number of radar stations including one at Tuticorin considering the strategic importance of the region on many aspects.

Mr. Sharma said setting up of a radar station at Tuticorin had already been started. Some equipment had been set up. A light house was identified to position the surveillance equipment, which would have connectivity to the Coast Guard Station at Mandapam and regional headquarters at Chennai and New Delhi. He added that it will have optical camera for physical picture of the area and the movements. The highly sophisticated night vision cameras and radars could pick up objects in long ranges. The functioning of the station would be activated in a year's time.

does anyone have current ORBAT of our CG?

Indian Coast Guard plans to acquire private helicopters on lease basis to boost its capability to respond to emergency situations on the high seas.

Speaking to The Hindu at Coast Guard Station in Mandapam recently, Inspector General S.P. Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region East, said that it had been decided to acquire 12 helicopters as quickly as possible to boost the maritime security. The placing of orders for choppers was in an advanced stage. However considering the immediate requirements, it was decided that helicopters of private airliners could be hired for an interim period until the acquisition of 12 helicopters.

Mr. Sharma said it had also decided to acquire a fixed wing Multi Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMMA) for launching special operations at far away distance. He added that it had placed orders for 12 hovercrafts. The delivery of first 2 hovercrafts would take place in the middle of 2012.

Mr. Sharma said it had been decided to construct one more hover port at Mandapam.

Hi-Res picture of recently commissioned Coast Guard Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) ICGS Rani Abbakka:

PIB

"Abbakka rode the horse stately and worked deep into the night dispensing justice. She is the last known person to have Agnivana (fire arrow)."

The Arabian Sea water that splashes the shores of Ullal near Mangalore in Karnataka could tell you the story of Abbakka Rani, locally known as Abbakka Mahadevi. Such is her personality in the region that she has become a folk legend. Abbakka Rani is one of the earliest freedom fighters of India who resisted the Portuguese.

The regions where Abbakka was queen is known as Tulunadu. Rani Abbakka was queen is known as Tulunadu. Rani Abbakka, though a Queen of a little known small princely state, Ullal, was magnetic woman of indomitable courage and patriotism. While Rani Jhansi has become a symbol of courage, Abbakka, nearly 300 years her predecessor, has been largely forgotten by history. Her furious wars with Portuguese are not well recorded. But whatever is available speaks of a luminous personality of awesome valour and bravery.

Sources, such as archival records, travelogues of several Portuguese travelers and historical analysis confirm that there were three Abbakkas: mother and two daughters, who fought against the Portuguese Army between 1530 and 1599.

Though it is the second daughter who was the most courageous, the folklore treats all three Abbakkas as one great Queen and a brilliant personality Abbakka Mahadevi or Rani Abbakka. In this article also she is being treated as a single character - Abbakka Rani.

Ullal fort, the capital of Abbakka's kingdom, is located just a few kilometers away from the city of Mangalore, on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It is a historical as well as a pilgrim spot because of the beautiful Shiva Temple built by the Queen and a unique natural rock, called the Rudra Rock. The rock appears to change colours every second, as the sweater splashes on it.

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Abbakka lost the war as her husband assisted the Portuguese by revealing to them her strategies of warfare, which he was familiar with. She was arrested and jailed. However, the warrior that she was, she was, she revolted in the prison and died as a soldier - fighting.

Though Abbakka has been admired and worshipped in the local folk forms, it is very recently there there have been efforts to honour her memory.

As a result of these efforts the Karnatka Government has erected a statue of the Queen in the city of Bangalore. IGNCA is making a documentary on Abbakka Rani, incorporating the folk myth.

Shri Kailash Kr. Mishra is a Research Fellow, in Janpada Sampada and is involved in the documentary Project on Abbakka.

The author expresses his sincere thanks to Prof. Vasantha Madhava, Prof. Amrut Someshwar, Prof. B.A. Vivek Rai, Dr. Wahab Doddamane, Dr. Nandavar and Shri Bharatadri, for the inputs they gave on Abbakka Rani.