As a midshipman, he served on the auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS Laxmi.[3] Parkash was commissioned as an acting Sub-lieutenant on 3 September 1943.[4] He then served on another auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS St. Antony.[5] Towards the end of the war, in 1945, he commanded the Basset-class trawlerHMIS Travancore.[6]
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was sparked by the Bangladesh Liberation war, a conflict between the traditionally dominant West Pakistanis and the majority East Pakistanis. In 1970, East Pakistanis demanded autonomy for the state, but the Pakistani government failed to satisfy these demands and, in early 1971, a demand for secession took root in East Pakistan. In March, the Pakistan Armed Forces launched a fierce campaign to curb the secessionists, the latter including soldiers and police from East Pakistan. Thousands of East Pakistanis died, and nearly ten million refugees fled to West Bengal, an adjacent Indian state. In April, India decided to assist in the formation of the new nation of Bangladesh.[12]
The Vikrant, commanded by Parkash formed the core of the strike force of the Eastern Fleet. Alizé and Hawker Sea Hawk aircraft from the Vikrant and the ships of the fleet bombarded Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.[14] The air strikes of INS Vikrant resulted in the sinking or rendering useless 11 merchant ships totalling 56914 tons.[15] The newly-refitted submarine of the Pakistan Navy, PNS Ghazi set out to hunt the Vikrant, but it was the professional skill and strategic manoeuvres which foiled the attempts.[1]
Captain Swaraj Parkash Commanded INS VIKRANT which was the nucleus of the Naval interdiction and strike force operating against the enemy in the Bay of Bengal. Throughout the period of those operations, the ship was operating in most hazardous waters and was the principal target both for the enemy Submarines and Aircraft. With indomitable spirit, he launched ceaseless offensive operations against the enemy. The successful air strikes from the VIKRANT had devastating effect on Ports all along the Bangladesh coast and completely denied the enemy the use of sea and island waterways. The complete supremacy of our Naval force symbolized by the VIKRANT paralyzed the enemy, shattered his morale and considerably expedited the enemy’s capitulation in the Eastern Theatre.
Captain Swaraj Parkash displayed conspicuous gallantry inspiring leadership, professional skill and devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Navy.
On 2 April 1976, he was promoted to the acting rank of Vice Admiral and was appointed Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command.[19] He relinquished command of the Eastern navy in 1977, handing over to his former Fleet Commander during the war, Rear Admiral S H Sarma. Parkash subsequently moved to Naval HQ as took over as Chief of Personnel (COP).[20]
The Indian Coast Guard came into being on 19 August 1978. The new service was to function under the overall command and control of a Director general.[23] On 1 April 1980, Parkash took over as the second Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (DGICG), succeeding Vice Admiral V. A. Kamath.[24] He served as the DGICG for two years, before retiring.[25]
Later life
Parkash retired on 31 March 1982. He died in New Delhi on 20 January 2004, at the age of 80.[26]
^November 18, india today digital; April 30, india today digital; November 20, india today digital; Ist, india today digital (18 November 2014). "S.S. Grewal appointed Cabinet Secretary". India Today.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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