Katari moved from deputy commander-in-chief to flag officer commanding the Indian Fleet, receiving acting rear-admiral rank only when he took the latter post in 1956. He became a vice admiral and Chief of Naval Staff in April 1958, then also chaired the Chiefs of Staff Committee from May 1961 until retirement in June 1962. Holding both senior posts while remaining a vice admiral exposes the inherited rank conventions surrounding command in the new navy. The dual appointment made admiral rank appear justified, although the honorary promotion came only in 1980. After retirement he chaired the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation and served as ambassador to Burma from June 1964 to February 1969.
Chapter · 13:38-15:57
First Indian Chief of Naval Staff and the rank politics around command
Katari's route to Chief of Naval Staff exposes the inherited rank conventions surrounding senior command in the new Indian Navy.