As Manipur grapples with prolonged violence, sailors from the north-eastern state serving on board INS Imphal, India’s latest stealth destroyer, maintain dedication to duty despite concerns for their families back home. Commissioned on December 26, INS Imphal holds special significance for the five Manipuri sailors—Sunshine Meetei, Boris Laishram, Oinam Deepak Singh, SR Sheikh, and Simon Singh. Ready for deployment on the high seas, they express optimism for enduring peace in Manipur.
Sailor Sunshine Meetei, part of the navy’s anti-submarine warfare stream, emphasizes the importance of peace, stating, “We are combat ready, but what’s better than peace. Here, there, everywhere.” Despite the challenges in Manipur, Meetei remains focused on his duties.
Ethnic violence has plagued Manipur for several months, resulting in clashes between the Meiteis and the tribal Kukis. Boris Laishram, from the engineering department, acknowledges the challenges back home but expresses his commitment to mission readiness, saying, “As a sailor, I am trained to be mission ready. And I am, like the rest of us on the warship. The commissioning of INS Imphal was the finest moment of my life. And the next best thing will be Manipur turning towards normalcy.”
INS Imphal, a guided missile destroyer, holds strategic importance for the Indian Navy in confronting challenges in distant seas, including China’s power play in the Indo-Pacific. Named after a city in the north-east, the warship’s crest depicts Manipur’s iconic Kangla Fort and the mythical guardian animal Kangla-Sa, symbolizing the navy’s commitment to protect the nation while honoring Manipur’s rich cultural heritage.
The warship is equipped with advanced weaponry capable of countering aerial threats, conducting long-range surveillance, engaging surface and land targets, and attacking submarines with torpedoes and rockets.
Commanding officer Captain Kamal Kumar Choudhury emphasizes the unity of the crew, stating, “Once you are in the white uniform, your identity is by your name, rank, and service number. As far as I am concerned, I have 30 officers and 330 sailors, and all of them are from India. We don’t identify with any other affiliations.”
The warship’s logo, depicting INS Imphal rising with the sun, flanked by horses and the inscription “Invincible Imphal,” symbolizes its commitment to ruling the oceans and meeting challenges head-on.
