From Korukonda to Kaliningrad: exemplary journey of a Sainik School product

Captain Sridhar Tata who will be the commissioning commanding officer of stealth frigate Tamal, to be commissioned in Russia on July 01.
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Korukonda is a small town in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. Many may not be knowing about this small town, but when it comes to the personnel from the armed forces, this is a revered name.

It houses one of the top Sainik Schools in the country, which had come into existence in 1961.

The school boasts of a proud alumni, which include officers like Lt Gen K. Surendra Nath, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ARTRAC (Army Training Command), Col. B. Santosh Babu, a recipient of Maha Vir Chakra (posthumous), and who was the Commanding officer of 16 Bihar Regiment and was martyred in the Galwan conflict with China, Malli Mastan Babu, mountaineer and world’s fastest seven summiteer and Vice Admiral Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar, former Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.

Adding to the illustrious list of distinguished alumni is Captain Sridhar Tata, who also incidentally hails from Srikakulam district of A.P.

Capt. Sridhar is the commanding officer of INS Tamal, the latest state-of-the-art stealth frigate, which will be inducted into the Indian Navy on July 1. It is reported to be the last of the imported naval vessels and was built in Kaliningrad in Russia. The ship, christened Tamal is the eighth of the Krivak class of stealth frigates inducted into the Navy in the past two decades and going by India’s home grown push of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, it could presumably, be the last of naval asset from a foreign country.

Capt. Sridhar has the unique distinction of leading a team of 250 Naval personnel in accepting and inducting the ship. He hails from a family with a rich defence background. His father, hailing from Chorlangi village of Srikakulam, and father-in-law from Vizianagaram served with distinction in the Indian Air Force for over 30 years and so have his brother and brothers’-in-law, who are holding top positions in the Armed Forces.

Captain Sridhar will be creating a history by being the first ‘Saikorian’ — as the alumni of the school call themselves — to commission as Commanding Officer, a frigate or above size warship, that too abroad.

He has a distinguished career of over 26 years in the Indian Navy and has served onboard 12 different warships, including commanding three of them, he has participated in Operation Vijay — Kargil conflict, Operation Parakram — post attack on the Parliament, Anti-Piracy operations amongst other notable missions and operations. He has been instrumental in shaping the Maritime Security of the nation as the founding member of Maritime Security Wing of National Security Council Secretariat under NSA Ajit Doval.

Capt. Sridhar will leading one of the most advanced stealth frigate that the navy posses, INS Tamal will be carrying BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the upgraded HUMGA NG Mk II sonar along with the anti-submarine weapon firing complex and a host of advanced communication and navigation equipment. The ship is also fitted with the latest Russian technology, including the upgraded Shtil vertical launched surface to air missile, an improved version of A190-01 100 MM gun, in addition to the standard 30 MM CIWS, heavyweight torpedoes, urgent attack anti-submarine rockets, and a multitude of surveillance and fire control systems.

The Saikorians are in an upbeat mood, as Capt Sridhar is one among them who makes the school proud once again.