Jal Cursetji facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Admiral
Jal Cursetji
PVSM
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| Born | 20 May 1919 Jabalpur, Jubbulpore Division, Central Provinces and Berar, British Raj (now Madhya Pradesh, India) |
| Died | 29 January 1991 (aged 71) Bombay, Maharashtra, India (now Mumbai) |
| Allegiance |  British India (1938–1947) India (1947–1979) |
| Service/ |
 Royal Indian Navy (1938–1947) Indian Navy (1947–1979) |
| Years of service | 1938–1979 |
| Rank |   Admiral |
| Commands held | Western Naval Command INS Vikrant (1961) 11th Destroyer squadron INS Rajput (D141) INS Investigator HMIS Bombay (J249) |
| Battles/wars | World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Awards |  Param Vishisht Seva Medal Legion of Merit |
Admiral Jal Cursetji (born May 20, 1919 – died January 29, 1991) was a very important officer in the Indian Navy. He was the ninth Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), which is the top job in the Indian Navy. He held this position from March 1, 1976, to February 28, 1979. He was special because he was the first hydrographer (someone who maps oceans and coasts) to become the Navy Chief.
Jal Cursetji was born in Jabalpur, India. He joined the Navy in 1935. He trained on many ships and became an expert in mapping the seas. After India became independent, he helped set up India's own office for mapping the seas. He also commanded important ships, including India's first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he was a senior leader. Later, as Navy Chief, he helped the Navy take over sea patrol duties and set up the Indian Coast Guard. He received important awards like the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Legion of Merit.
Contents
Jal Cursetji was born in 1919 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. His family was Parsi. He went to school in Jabalpur. In 1935, he passed a tough exam to join the Indian Mercantile Marine Training Ship Dufferin.
After two years, he took another exam to join the Navy. He was one of only two students who passed and joined the Royal Navy (the British Navy). The other student was Nilakanta Krishnan, who also became a famous Admiral.
Cursetji traveled to the United Kingdom to continue his training. He served on different ships, including HMS Erebus (I02) and HMS Vindictive (1918). In 1938, he became a midshipman and joined HMS Foxhound (H69).
Serving in World War II
In 1939, World War II started, and Cursetji was serving on the Foxhound. Later, he moved to HMS Suffolk (55). This ship was part of the Northern Patrol, which guarded the seas.
During the Norwegian Campaign in April 1940, his ship helped occupy the Faroe Islands. It also sank a German oil tanker. Later, the Suffolk was badly damaged by German bombers and had to return for repairs. Cursetji then moved to HMS Repulse (1916).
In 1940, he became an acting sub-lieutenant in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN). He became a full lieutenant in 1941. He became a specialist in hydrography, which is the science of mapping water areas. He then served on HMIS Clive (L79) and HMIS Bombay (J249). In 1944, he took command of the Bombay.
After India's Independence
When India became independent in 1947, Cursetji chose to join the new Indian Navy. He was the most senior Indian officer in the Hydrographic Survey branch. He helped map the coasts of Burma, Malaya, and Indonesia.
In 1949, he went to the UK to plan how to set up a hydrographic office in India. He returned in 1950 and gave his report. The Marine Survey of India (MSI), which had been mapping since 1874, was then led by him.
From 1950 to 1953, Cursetji was the Surveyor-in-Charge of the MSI. After that, he commanded the survey ship INS Investigator. In 1954, the MSI moved to Dehradun and was renamed the Naval Hydrographic Office. In 1955, he became the Chief Hydrographer of the Navy. He was the first Indian to hold this important position.
Leading Ships and Important Roles
In 1957, Cursetji became the Captain of the 11th Destroyer Squadron. He also commanded INS Rajput (D141), the main ship of the squadron.
In 1961, he became the first Naval attaché at the Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. This meant he represented the Indian Navy in the United States. He also advised the Indian High Commissioner in Canada. He stayed in this role for about four years.
After returning to India, he became the fourth commanding officer of INS Vikrant. This was India's main warship and the only aircraft carrier in Asia at that time. In 1967, he led large naval exercises in the Arabian Sea. The then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, even came to watch.
Becoming a Flag Officer
In 1967, Cursetji was promoted to Rear Admiral. He became the Chief of Personnel (COP) at Naval Headquarters. This role involves managing all the Navy's staff.
In 1970, he became the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. He was promoted to Vice Admiral. He held this position during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. For his excellent service, he received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 1971. In 1972, he led a team to the Soviet Union to get new ships and aircraft for the Navy.
In 1973, he took command of the Western Naval Command, a very important naval area.
In January 1976, the Indian government announced that Admiral Cursetji would be the next Chief of the Naval Staff. He took over this top role on March 1, 1976.
As Navy Chief, he worked with the Chief of the Air Staff to transfer sea patrol duties from the Indian Air Force to the Indian Navy. This meant the Navy got special aircraft for watching over the seas. In 1976, he started a new naval air squadron in Goa. The naval area in Goa was also upgraded to a full command.
A major achievement during his time was the creation of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on August 19, 1978. This new service helps protect India's coasts and seas.
In October 1978, he received the Legion of Merit from the United States Department of the Navy. He was the first person from the Indian Navy to get this award. Later that year, he started the building of India's first locally designed warship, INS Godavari (F20).
Admiral Cursetji retired on February 28, 1979, after serving for three years as the Navy Chief.
Family Life and Legacy
Admiral Jal Cursetji married Navaz Dallas in 1955. They had two daughters, Meher and Rashida. He passed away in Mumbai in January 1991.
To honor his memory, a special award called the Admiral Jal Cursetji rolling trophy is given to the best survey ship in the Navy. In 2019, the Western Naval Command held an event to celebrate 100 years since his birth.
Images for kids
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Sub-lieutenant insignia
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Lieutenant insignia
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Lieutenant-Commander insignia
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Indian Navy Lieutenant Commander insignia
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Indian Navy Commander insignia
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Indian Navy Captain insignia
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Indian Navy Rear Admiral insignia
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Indian Navy Vice Admiral insignia
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Indian Navy Admiral insignia
