Lucknow,

30 May (HS): Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said on Saturday that

despite being a landlocked state, Uttar Pradesh has a strong connection to the

sea, citing the region's historical maritime linkages and contributions to the

Indian Navy. Admiral Tripathi was in Lucknow for the opening of the 'Nausena

Shaurya Vatika' open-air museum, which was created to highlight the Indian

Navy's heritage, operational capabilities, and marine achievements, by Defence

Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Addressing

the audience, Admiral Tripathi congratulated Singh and Adityanath for their

vision, support, and leadership in making the Nausena Shaurya Vatika a reality.

The Navy chief explained the rationale for establishing the maritime-themed

institute in Uttar Pradesh, saying, Despite being a landlocked state, it

has never been far from the sea.

Prior

to the development of trains and highways, rivers such as the Ganga, Gomti, and

Ghaghara connected the Awadh area to Kolkata and worldwide commerce routes. Banarasi

silk reached the Roman Empire via marine commerce, while hardwood and

metallurgical resources from Uttar Pradesh aided shipbuilding, according to

Admiral Tripathi, who will retire on May 31 and be followed by Vice Admiral

Krishna Swaminathan.

The

Admiral emphasized that Uttar Pradesh continues to make major contributions to

the armed services, stating, A large number of officers, sailors, and

Agniveers in the Navy come from Uttar Pradesh. Perhaps this is why it has

the highest number of military veterans in the country, he added. He mentioned

INS Gomti, which is named after the Gomti River, in order to highlight the

state's naval past.

INS

Gomti, which was commissioned in 1988, took part in operations Cactus and

Parakram. It carried the Indian and Uttar Pradesh flags throughout the world

for decades until being retired in 2022, he added. The Navy Chief also stated

that the displays at the Vatika, which include airplanes, missiles, cannons,

and radars, will assist young people comprehend the significance of maritime

security. These exhibits not only highlight the Indian Navy's long-standing

ties with Uttar Pradesh, but also motivate young people to learn about the

country's marine security, he added.

Admiral

Tripathi emphasized the significance of maritime security for India's economic

growth, stating, It is an established fact that India's economic progress

and trade development are inextricably linked to the sea.

The

Navy keeps our sea routes secure and open, allowing India's maritime trade to

flourish uninterrupted. He also emphasized Uttar Pradesh's expanding

involvement in defense industry, citing efforts like the defence industrial

corridor and the BrahMos plant in Lucknow. According to Prime Minister Modi's

vision of a 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat,' Uttar Pradesh now delivers not just vital

people to the armed forces, but also flexible missile systems and indigenous

capabilities, he added. Admiral Tripathi described Nausena Vatika as more than

a museum, stating that it represents Uttar Pradesh's proud commitment to

building the nation's defence on a daily basis.

He

expressed confidence in its future influence, saying, I am certain that

Nausena Shaurya Vatika will emerge as a source of national pride, maritime

awareness, and patriotism in the coming years.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi