User:Mpatnaik94

Gulab Chattaram Thadani was born in Hyderabad Sind on 03 Aug 1930 in a highly respected Sindhi Bhaibund family. He did a few years of initial schooling in Hyderabad in Sindhi language. The family shifted to New Delhi in 1939/40 where his father had a prosperous business under the name of B LILARAM & Sons, Connaught Place, New Delhi.

Gulab [ or Gulu ] did his schooling in St Columba's school & passed his Senior Cambridge in December 1947. He then did a very short stint in St Stephens College, before going to Benaras Hindu University. Whilst in B H U , he applied & was selected for the Indian Navy. He joined the Indian Navy in Nov 1949, & soon after, he along with other Indian Cadets, proceded to the U K & joined the famous Royal Naval College, Dartmouth followed by sea training in H M S Devonshire & Triumph. He, then, joined the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon/Keyham for naval Eng training. He completed his Masters in Marine Eng in early 1956. He then joined the Indian High Commision for a short period. He then sailed to India as Chief Tech Officer of 4 Minesweepers acquired from the Royal Navy.

Gulab had a very interesting & successful naval carear. He spent many initial years at sea in the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, & in Naval Headquarters, New Delhi. He was sent to Russia [ then USSR ] in 1966 for training on repair & maintenance of Submarines & Petya ships then being acquired from USSR. He also completed Dockyard Defence Management Course from Vladivostock & Kronstad. On his return to India, he was involved in development of a new dockyard in Vishakhapanam.. After this, he was sent to Odessa, USSR, to commission a new ship- a Submarine Depot Ship- being acquired. This was a new experience working with the Russian officers & sailors. On return to India & on completion of normal tenure Gulab was posted to Eastern Naval Command- Vizag- as Command Engineer Officer. For his contribution in the Eastern Theatre towards the 1971 war, he was awarded Vishist Seva Medal by the President.

In 1973. Gulu was sent back to USSR as Deputy Naval Attache in the Embassy od India, Moscow. He was also accredited to the Indian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. This job offered him considerable travel to the Soviet Far East, to Poland & the three Baltic States. After 3 years tenure, he was now posted to Mumbai in H/Q Western Naval Command as Command Engineer Officer.After this tenure, he went back to the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, & ended up as the General Manager. At this stage, he was considered for promotion to the Flag Rank, & in early 1983, assumed the duties of the Director General Nava Projects, Mumbai in the rank of a Rear Admiral. In Aug, 1987, he retired on super-annuation.

Whilst as DGNP, his old Alma-Mater, St Columba's School, gave him a recognition as one of the achievers during their Diamond Jubilee celebration-since the school started in 1942.

In 1989, the Navy gave Gulu a honourary rank of Captain Commandant of the Engineering Branch in recognition of his services to the Engineering Branch. In this capacity, he visited other Naval Commands & was required to wear the Admiral's uniform. He finally said A'dieu to the Navy in early 1991.

Gulu is married to a charming & beautiful wife Pushpa, & is blessed with 2 daughters--Ayesha & Bindu & has 3 grand-children. He & Pushpa are now settled down in Mumbai, India.