Heroic Tales of Operation Trident: A Veteran’s Navy Day Remembrance | Bhubaneswar News
Kendrapada: As India marks its 53rd Navy Day, a living hero from Kendrapada shares his firsthand account of the legendary Operation Trident, which brought Pakistan to its knees during the 1971 war.
Sanatan Sahu, 75, sits in his home in Madhapur village, his eyes gleaming as he recounts the night that changed the course of naval warfare in South Asia. As a young signalman aboard INS Kiltan, Sahu was part of the daring mission that set Karachi ablaze.
“We left Bombay harbour under the cover of darkness. By 3 a.m., we were positioned near Karachi port, ready to deliver what would become one of India’s most decisive naval strikes,” said Sahu, describing the events of Dec 4, 1971.
The operation was launched in retaliation for Pakistan’s air strikes on Indian airfields in Punjab. “Karachi burned for seven days. We destroyed their minesweepers, destroyers, and ammunition cargo vessels. The fuel storage tanks went up in flames—we watched it all from our ship’s deck,” Sahu said.
Led by Commander B B Yadav, Operation Trident demonstrated India’s naval prowess and dealt a crushing blow to Pakistan’s maritime capabilities. The success of this mission is why India celebrates Navy Day on Dec 4 each year.
Sahu, who served in the Indian Navy from 1967 to 1987, considers Operation Trident the highlight of his 20-year naval career. After retiring from the Navy, he worked at Syndicate Bank until 2009 and now lives with his family in Kendrapada.
“All my children are proud of my status as a war hero,” said Sahu, who has become a role model in his community. However, he added that many of his fellow veterans’ stories remain untold, their sacrifices fading into obscurity.
The war veteran emphasizes the operation’s historical significance, noting how the liberation of Bangladesh challenged the two-nation theory that led to Pakistan’s creation in 1947. The conflict ended with Pakistan’s surrender on Dec 16, 1971, but its impact continues to shape South Asian geopolitics.
Sanatan Sahu, 75, sits in his home in Madhapur village, his eyes gleaming as he recounts the night that changed the course of naval warfare in South Asia. As a young signalman aboard INS Kiltan, Sahu was part of the daring mission that set Karachi ablaze.
“We left Bombay harbour under the cover of darkness. By 3 a.m., we were positioned near Karachi port, ready to deliver what would become one of India’s most decisive naval strikes,” said Sahu, describing the events of Dec 4, 1971.
The operation was launched in retaliation for Pakistan’s air strikes on Indian airfields in Punjab. “Karachi burned for seven days. We destroyed their minesweepers, destroyers, and ammunition cargo vessels. The fuel storage tanks went up in flames—we watched it all from our ship’s deck,” Sahu said.
Led by Commander B B Yadav, Operation Trident demonstrated India’s naval prowess and dealt a crushing blow to Pakistan’s maritime capabilities. The success of this mission is why India celebrates Navy Day on Dec 4 each year.
Sahu, who served in the Indian Navy from 1967 to 1987, considers Operation Trident the highlight of his 20-year naval career. After retiring from the Navy, he worked at Syndicate Bank until 2009 and now lives with his family in Kendrapada.
“All my children are proud of my status as a war hero,” said Sahu, who has become a role model in his community. However, he added that many of his fellow veterans’ stories remain untold, their sacrifices fading into obscurity.
The war veteran emphasizes the operation’s historical significance, noting how the liberation of Bangladesh challenged the two-nation theory that led to Pakistan’s creation in 1947. The conflict ended with Pakistan’s surrender on Dec 16, 1971, but its impact continues to shape South Asian geopolitics.
