Overview

Vice Admiral Manohar Prahlad Awati (7 September 1927 – 4 November 2018) served as a senior officer of the Indian Navy and was the former head of the Western Naval Command. Over a long career he held operational and command appointments, won distinction for wartime leadership, and after retirement remained strongly associated with seamanship training and long-distance naval sailing. He retired from active service in 1983 and was widely respected within naval circles for his combination of operational experience and commitment to training.

Awati rose through sea and shore appointments to command important units of the fleet. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 he commanded the warship INS Kamorta and received recognition for his leadership under combat conditions. His later service culminated in appointment as the head of the Western Naval Command, one of the Indian Navy's principal operational formations, where he oversaw maritime operations, training priorities and fleet readiness.

Awards and official recognition

Throughout his service he received both gallantry and distinguished service honours. Notable awards include:

  • Vir Chakra (VrC) — awarded for acts of bravery in the presence of the enemy; Awati received this decoration for his command during the 1971 conflict (Indo‑Pakistani War of 1971).
  • Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) — a high-level service decoration presented for distinguished service of the highest order.

Legacy and influence

Beyond formal commands and medals, Awati is often remembered as a strong advocate for practical seamanship, sail training and ocean voyaging within the Indian Navy. He acquired a reputation in later years as an inspirational figure behind initiatives that encouraged long-distance sailing and circumnavigation projects, earning him informal epithets linking him to the Navy's circumnavigation adventures. His influence helped sustain attention to hands-on training and the value of traditional navigation and small-ship seamanship alongside modern naval technology.

Death

Manohar P. Awati died on 4 November 2018 in Maharashtra, India, at the age of 91. Reports attributed his death to complications arising from pneumonia. His passing prompted tributes from serving and retired naval personnel who recalled his operational leadership and his long-term support for training and voyaging programmes.