Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Admiral
B S Soman
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|---|---|
| Born | 13 March 1913 Gwalior, Gwalior State, British Raj |
| Died | 8 February 1995 (aged 81) Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Allegiance |  British India India |
| Service/ |
 Royal Indian Navy Indian Navy |
| Years of service | 1932–1966 |
| Rank |   Admiral |
| Commands held | Indian Fleet Bombay Command Commodore-in-Charge Cochin |
| Battles/wars | World War II Liberation of Goa Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 |
Admiral Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman (born March 30, 1913 – died February 8, 1995) was a very important leader in the Indian Navy. He served as the 5th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) from 1962 to 1966. This means he was the top commander of the entire Indian Navy during those years.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman was born in Gwalior, a historic city in India. He went to school in Gwalior and also in a place called Sangli.
In 1932, he joined the Royal Indian Marine, which was the navy of India before it became independent. He trained on a special ship called T/S Dufferin. After this, he was chosen to go to the United Kingdom for more officer training.
Soman became a sub-lieutenant in 1934. This is a junior officer rank. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1937.
During World War II, he continued to rise through the ranks. He served in different naval bases on land and also with landing craft. These are special boats used to land soldiers and equipment on beaches.
After World War II, Soman became a Commander in 1946. He was the first Indian officer to be in charge of drafting (assigning) sailors to different roles. This was a big step for Indian officers at the time.
He then became a Captain in 1947. He held important jobs at the Naval Headquarters, helping to manage personnel and administration. He also commanded a group of ships called the RIN Frigate Flotilla.
Reaching Flag Rank
In 1958, Soman was promoted to Rear Admiral. This is a very senior rank, often called "flag rank" because admirals have their own flag. He was in charge of the naval operations in Bombay (now Mumbai).
In 1960, he took command of the Indian Fleet. This meant he was in charge of all the main warships of India.
Role in Goa's Liberation
Admiral Soman played a key role during the 1961 Liberation of Goa. This was when the Indian armed forces helped to free Goa from Portuguese rule. His leadership was very important in the naval operations during this time.
On June 5, 1962, Admiral Soman became the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). This is the highest position in the Indian Navy. He took over from Vice Admiral Ram Dass Katari. He held this important position until 1966.
Life After Retirement
Admiral Soman retired from the Indian Navy on November 22, 1966. At that time, the highest rank he could hold was Vice Admiral.
Later, in 1968, the top position of CNS was upgraded to the rank of a full Admiral. To honor their service, Admiral Soman and his predecessor, Ram Dass Katari, were given the honorary rank of full Admiral in 1980 by the President of India.
Admiral Soman passed away in February 1995 at the age of 81. He is remembered as a dedicated leader who helped shape the modern Indian Navy.
