Ram Dass Katari and post-independence Indian naval presence

Ram Dass Katari's post-independence voyages included meeting a woman of Indian origin who had never visited India. She came out to the ship in a sari while her husband rowed, carrying her visitors' book, and exchanged gifts with visiting ships. The anecdote illustrates a cruising captain's diplomatic work through personal contact. The discussion connects these visits with the Indian Navy's assumption of Indian Ocean presence duties previously performed by the Royal Navy. Established practices of naval representation continued under an independent Indian flag.