New Delhi. 29 October 2023. Adm R Hari Kumar, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) presented the maiden ‘NIB’ (Navy’s Intellectual Beacon) to Cdr M Arun Chakravarthy during a brief Presentation Ceremony at his chamber.  Cdr M Arun Chakravarthy is the winner of Indian Navy’s Sardar KM Panikkar ‘NIB’ essay competition which has been introduced to promote reading, writing and thinking skills amongst the Naval community. VAdm K Swaminathan, Chief of Personnel and Cmde G Rambabu, Commodore (Naval Education) were also present on this occasion.

The award has been introduced in the memory of Sardar KM Panikkar, a maritime strategic thinker who brought back the maritime awakening/ consciousness in India regarding the importance of the oceans and maritime matters.