Daya Shankar (admiral)
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Daya Shankar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 January 1912[1] |
| Died | 18 November 1993 (aged 81)[1] |
| Allegiance |  British India India |
| Branch |  Royal Indian Navy Indian Navy |
| Service years | 1930-1964 |
| Rank |  Vice Admiral |
| Unit | HMIS Hindustan HMIS Lawrence HMIS Dalhousie HMIS Pathan |
| Commands | INS Shivaji |
| Conflicts | Second World War |
| Awards | Param Vishisht Seva Medal Distinguished Service Cross |
Vice Admiral Daya Shankar PVSM, DSC (2 January 1912 – 18 November 1993) was an Indian Navy admiral, naval engineer and the first Indian Armed Forces officer to hold the appointment of Chief of Materiel and of Controller General Defence Production.[1]
Among the first Indians to be selected for the Royal Indian Marine in 1930,[2] Shankar was appointed an engineer sub-lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal Indian Navy on 23 April 1935,[3] and was confirmed in his appointment on 23 October 1936.[4] He was promoted to engineer lieutenant on 23 April 1938.[5]
World War II
On 2 August 1939, Shankar was assigned to HMIS Dalhousie, the RIN depot ship and training barracks based at Bombay, as well as to the P-class sloop HMIS Pathan.[6] He was assigned to the sloop HMIS Lawrence on 21 November 1940. Other junior officers then assigned to her were future admiral and Indian Navy Chief of the Naval Staff Sourendra Nath Kohli.[7]
On 10 March 1942, Shankar was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for "courage, enterprise and devotion to duty in operations in the Persian Gulf." He was one of only three Indian officers to be so decorated during the war.[8] On 3 December, he was assigned to the sloop HMIS Hindustan,[9] and was promoted acting engineer lieutenant-commander on 30 September 1943.[10] He was promoted substantive engineer lieutenant-commander on 23 April 1946.[11]