▁the ▁erst while ▁Soviet ▁Union . ▁He ▁has ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁Fle et ▁Oper ations ▁Officer ▁of ▁the ▁Western ▁Fle et . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁the ▁Command ing ▁Officer ▁of ▁ ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁IN S ▁H img iri ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 , ▁IN S ▁G anga ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁and ▁IN S ▁V ira at ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 5 . ▁He ▁took ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁S word ▁Arm ▁of ▁the ▁Indian ▁Navy ▁as ▁the ▁Flag ▁Officer ▁Command ing ▁Western ▁Fle et ▁( FO C WF ) ▁in ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁ ▁His ▁oper ational ▁experience ▁included ▁active ▁service ▁during ▁the ▁Ind o - P ak ist ani ▁War ▁of ▁ 1 9 7 1 . ▁He ▁commanded ▁IN S ▁H img iri ▁during ▁its ▁deployment ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁Operation ▁P aw an . ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁Chief ▁of ▁Staff , ▁Southern ▁Naval ▁Command ▁during ▁Operation ▁V ij ay ▁( 1 9 9 9 ). ▁ ▁Awards ▁ ▁Param ▁V ish is ht ▁Se va ▁Medal ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁ ▁A ti ▁V ish is ht ▁Se va ▁Medal ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁ ▁Later ▁career ▁Vice ▁Admir al ▁Sh ank ar ▁lives ▁in ▁the ▁Nil g ir is ▁area . ▁He ▁has ▁lect ured ▁at ▁Def ence ▁Services ▁Staff ▁College , ▁High er ▁Command ▁College ▁and ▁the ▁National ▁Mar itime ▁Foundation . ▁He ▁holds ▁the ▁Admir al ▁Kat ari ▁Chair