The hero of Bangladesh liberation
Mohan Narayan Rao Samant (popularly known as M.N.R. Samant) was born on 19 October 1930. Studied in Wilson College, Mumbai, and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1952 in the submarine branch. He successfully commissioned India’s third submarine INS Karanj in 1969 and was a well-reputed officer of Indian Navy.
In 1971, the then Naval Chief Admiral S.M. Nanda got the green signal from then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for the Indian Navy to participate in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. It was the first time since Independence that the Navy was used and it performed brilliantly.
During the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, Mohan Samant was Officer-in-charge of a covert naval unit under the Directorate of Naval Intelligence based in Calcutta. He, as Commandant of the training establishment, was tasked with training Mukti Bahini volunteers as naval commandoes in Plassey near Bhagirathi River. Between April and November 1971, this covert naval unit trained 432 Bengali youth and launched them to destroy merchant shipping which sustained the Pakistan Army in the run-up to the 1971 War.
Having rank of Commodore, Samant along with his team remained involved in training the Mukti Bahini volunteers who were transformed into high quality naval commandoes. They were trained in handling of weapons, mines, sustained period of swimming, carrying mines on their bellies and planting those on the body of the ships at night.
These naval commandoes successfully attacked and destroyed Pakistan forces’ vessels, logistic vessels, ferries, port facilities, bridges, etc., and created havoc in the logistic line of enemy forces. Damage or complete destruction was inflicted on about 60,000 tonnes of shipping during ‘Operation Jackpot’ executed by 176 soldiers under the leadership of Samant.
He accompanied the naval commandoes in operations, leading them from the front, taking personal risk in the dangerous missions. It is estimated that nearly 1,00,000 tons of Pakistani arms, ammunition, logistic supplies, etc. were disabled by these naval commandoes.
Samant played a huge role in organising the Bangladesh Navy in 1971. In a war operation, Commander Mohan Samant was the senior officer of force consisting of four craft, which carried out most daring and successful attacks on the enemy in Mongla and Khulna ports. Manoeuvring his squadron through a hazardous and unfamiliar route, he routed the enemy in Mongla inflicting heavy losses.
A bitter fight ensued at Khulna and the force was subjected to incessant air attacks. Two boats belonging to the Mukti Bahini operating with the force were sunk. In utter disregard of his personal safety, the officer not only managed to pick up a large number of the survivors but also persisted with fierce attacks on the enemy with devastating results.
Samant subsequently became the first temporary Chief of Naval Staff of the newly created Bangladesh Navy. He remained chief till early 1972 when he was succeeded by Nurul Huq.
For his exceptional courage and capability, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) by the Government of India. Later, he was promoted to Captain. For his great contribution in the Bangladesh Liberation War, Captain M.N.R Samant (MVC) was awarded with Friends of Liberation War Honour by the Government of Bangladesh on 24 March 2013.
Captain Samant collaborated on a book about the 1971 operations with Sandeep Unnithan, a journalist, titled ‘Operation X – the untold story of India’s covert naval war in East Pakistan in 1971’. It was released by Admiral V.S. Shekhawat, former Chief of the Naval Staff and a decorated 1971 war veteran. Unfortunately, Samant passed away before its release.
On 20 March 2019, this great son of India and Bangladesh breathed his last aged 89 in Mumbai. He had infused hope to all under his command and to his associates during war and later during peace. Captain Samant is survived by his wife and daughters.
Contributed by Renu Prakash from the data bank of Late Brig. Suresh Chandra Sharma.