On the 78th Independence Day, Pragya Bajpai shared a Naval Officer’s adventurous journey across oceans, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of exploring limitless seas, exclusively for Different Truths.

The taste of freedom is universally like a breath of fresh air after being confined in a closed room for too long but what if the confinement comes out of choice, what if the breath of fresh air is replaced with crisp, salty ocean breeze, what if the sense of freedom is prolonged, as long as 151 days. It must be invigorating, liberating, and exhilarating experience that is soul-purifying evoking a sense of vitality and buoyancy. The taste of freedom could be sweet, like the first bite of a ripe fruit picked straight from the tree; savoury, like a home-cooked meal shared with loved ones around a table or it could be bittersweet like the memories of past struggles and sacrifices that have led to this moment of liberation, like a flavour that lingers on the palate, reminding us of the preciousness of autonomy and the value of self-determination or taste could be unique and satisfying in its essence of empowerment and fulfillment—to each their own.

The odyssey shared by Commander Abhilash Tomy on “Mental Stamina and a Will to Win” at the National Defence Academy, Pune on January 13, 2016, was captivating and inspiring. He was the first Indian to undertake a solo circumnavigation under sail who spent 151 days traversing the world’s oceans in 2012, covering an astounding 23,000 nautical miles. His presentation offered a profound new perspective on freedom. The freedom of exploring the ocean is a gateway to endless possibilities and discoveries; and most importantly, the discovery of ‘self’. Venturing into the vast and mysterious depths of the ocean is no mean feat. He said, ‘less is more’ and added that the ocean, with its boundless expanse and borderless horizons, proffered a glimpse into a world teeming with life and secrets waiting to be uncovered in a realm where the spirit of adventure and curiosity reign supreme.

The freedom to follow our passion, goals and aspirations not only expands our knowledge and understanding of the world but also ignites a sense of wonder and appreciation for the marvels around us. He was driven by the idea of personal, creative and spiritual freedom that lies at the core of human existence embodying the idea of choice, daredevilry and ability to exercise his free will. The expedition not just transcended boundaries but also empowered him to shape his destiny. The confinement far and beyond the compelling confinement of everyday life changed the landscape of his growth and transformation profoundly.

I was left in awe when he mentioned the name of The godfather of this idea, was the late Vice Admiral Avati, PVSM, VrC, who was awarded VrC during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. The most enthusiastic globetrotter on this planet I knew personally. The adventure he took up was certainly not child’s play. I experienced a roller coaster of emotions while hearing it from the horse’s mouth. The commander embarked on his journey with uncertainty, excitement and thrill in Mumbai from the Gateway of India on 1^st Nov 2012 with just two beautiful and powerful words “All Yours,” said his Godfather. He completed the historical voyage on March 31, 2013, and defined different indices of excellence. He faced innumerable challenges head-on and had gone through various slings and arrows, as it was a strictly “unassisted and non-stop” expedition sans colours of life with no human being around and nothing except the aquatic life in sight. The sight animated Ernest Hemingway’s marine setting of his novella, Old Man and the Sea.

The multitasking daredevil was a sea rover-cum-cook-cum-mechanic-cum-washer all by himself with a few birds, fishes and insects to entertain from time to time. I recollect his words “The ship was my responsibility, and I was hers” and for all those days they were each other’s companion through all the wax and wane. They suffered and they celebrated together, they together created an epic; on the Christmas eve he joyfully raised a toast with his favourite music and all the elements of the earth available around him. Further while moving from west to east around International Date Line, he was the first person to welcome the New Year 2013 as well as the last person to bid adieu to 2012- the taste of both welcoming and bidding farewell together must have been a thrilling experience! 

The mystery and majesty of nature served as a powerful motivator during his voyage, sparking his imagination at a deeper level. The ever-changing seasons and elements offered a rich tapestry of reflections and complex emotions. Literally, with the earth, winds, waves and the enormous sea to guide them, he kept moving towards his destination, Mumbai, with all his will and relentless strength. He adorned visceral and memorable experiences with pride and sported knowledge like protective armour at work. The next glorious milestone in line that was recorded in his camera was his celebration of Republic Day. He felt exceptionally proud to have unfurled the Tiranga that fluttered amid the sea, thousands of miles away from his motherland. Well, it made us proud too while watching the video clip of the same.

Furthermore, he shared his shortest love story, which lasted only ten minutes on the sea, something that made us laugh, love and cherish. After 87 days of absolutely no communication, he came across another ship in his vicinity, he tried to connect with it through the satellite device, and to his amazement, it was a lady’s voice. Breaking silence after 87 days was heavenly under the sun and moon! He demanded to see the lady’s face before crossing the ship but to his disappointment, she declined, saying that she could not show her face to a man who hadn’t seen a lady for so long. 

It was devastating when due to reverse osmosis, the diesel leaked in the ship and contaminated the drinking water, and he ran short of water; he did all his chores with sea water for quite some time until he restored ten litres of water through harvesting rainwater displaying his perseverance. He had almost thought of taking help, but his mental strength refused to give up making his resilience win. We got goosebumps while listening to the minutest details of his hardest times. By the end of his adventure, he was surprised at the Gateway of India when he was received and honoured by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee and with that, a challenging journey magnificently came to a full circle. 

The most inspiring part was that there wasn’t even an iota of regret or pain in his heart-rending and soul-jerking narration of exploring his strength. He oozed with overwhelming optimism and proudly remarked, “It was a history created out of geography.” Undoubtedly, it did wonders on the psyche of my son and everyone else sitting in the audience. Everyone is proudly and wholeheartedly accorded a standing ovation. He signed off with a relevant message and a beautiful quote, Earth gives enough to satisfy a man’s need but not a man’s greed. He demonstrated how one could truly enjoy a life devoid of luxury and free will.

Certainly, this man of few words has his most desired adventure streak and high ideals left an indelible mark on our minds. Salutations to Commander Tomy for his achievement and to Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar (retd), the then Commandant, of the National Defence Academy, under whose aegis such an insightful and discerning talk was conducted.

Jai Hind!

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Dr Pragya Bajpai

Dr Pragya Bajpai, Ph.D. is a poet, editor, and academic serving at the National Defence Academy, Pune. She is a postgraduate from Lucknow University and has received her PhD in English Literature from Banaras Hindu University, India. She has authored two collections of poems titled A Potpourri of Proverbs (2021) and Conversation on Cue (2023), co-authored with Shefali Nautiyal. She has edited five anthologies celebrating the armed forces.

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