M’luru: Commodore Jerome Castelino among three Armed Forces veterans honoured on the Vijaya Di

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, Dec 17, 2014: Three Armed Forces Veterans Veterans-Commodore Jerome Castelino (VSM), retired from Indian Navy,  Sri Sadashiv Prabhu, Additional Deputy Commissioner, DK who had formerly served in the Indian Air Force prior to taking up Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) and Brig. Vinod Adappa, Sena Medal, 10 Sikh Regiment (retired) were honoured on the occasion of the 43rd Vijaya Diwas (Victory Day) observed on Tuesday, 16 December 2014 from 6 pm to 9 pm at Kadri Park, Kadri Hills, Mangaluru. The function commemorating the victory of India over Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) was jointly organized by DK District Ex-Servicemen’s Association, Mangaluru, Lions Club International District 317D and Shasthavu Sri Bhoothanatheshwara Temple Trust.

 

The Viajaya Diwas function was attended by guests of honour, Sri Amrit Paul, IPS-Inspector General of Police, Western range, Mangaluru, Sri Vishal Hegde-Pro Vice Chancellor, Nitte University, Lion HS Manjunath Murthy, MJF-District Governor, Lions District 317D, Lion Kavitha S Shastry, MJF-First Vice District Governor, Lions District 317D, Lion M. Arun Shetty-Second Vice District Governor, Lions District 317D and others.

 

Following the welcome address by Col. NS Bhandary-President of DK District Ex-Servicemen’s Association, Mangaluru, the programme was officially inaugurated by the dignitaries on the dais by lighting the lamp. Lion HS Manjunath Murthy delivered introductory speech in which he narrated the background of organizing the function to commemorate the victory of India over Pakistan in the Indo-Pak War of 1971.

 

The programme of felicitation of the three Armed Forces Veterans was conducted by Brig. I N Rai who also read citations of the respective veteran.

 

Sri Amrit Paul, IGP in his speech narrated the background of the 1971 Indo-Pak War which led to the independence of East Pakistan under the new name of Bangladesh.

 

Brig. Vinod Adappa who had joined the armed forces in 1981 recounted his while commanding troops in Siachin Glacier, in border areas and anti-insurgency operations in Kshmir.

 

Following the audio-visual presentation of the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Brig. IN Rai graphically explained with details his participation in a battle on the western front against Pakistani forces on 11 December 1971. Speaking further he said that  the country that does not honour the martyrs does not deserve a mention in the pages of history books.

 

Sri Vishal Hegde in his brief address said that such commemoration of  functions should have been held in colleges much earlier so that the youth would have understood the significance of India’s victory in 1971 War and would have motivated youngster to join the armed forces.

 

Students of Sanathana Natyalaya, Vidynatha English medium School, Derlakatte and Centre for Integrated learning, Mangaluru presented cultural programmes based on patriotic themes.

 

The entire programme was anchored by Ms. Akshatha Shetty and Ravindranath Shetty. Sri R.K. Shetty proposed the vote of thanks.

 

About Commodore Jerome Castelino:

Born in 1934 in Moodubelle village of Udupi District, Commodore Jerome Castelino joined Indian Navy as an ordinary sailor in 1953 and retired  in the rank of Commodore in 1988 after putting in 35 years of service. During this period, he served in all categories of warships including India’s first Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant and largest Destroyer INS Mysore.

 

Commodore Jerome Castelino had an opportunity to participate actively in Goa Liberation War (1961), Indo-Pak War (1965) and Bangladesh Liberation War (1971). During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Commodore Jerome Castelino serving onboard Destroyer INS Godavari, on the morning of 4 December 1971 apprehended Pakistani merchant ship named ‘Pasni’ with 52 crewmen and large amount of contraband goods.

 

Commodore Jerome Castelino was the member of the Finance Committee of the Asiad Games in 1982. Having specialized in adolescent psychology from the Academy of Psychology of the Ministry of Defence, New Delhi, Commodore Jerome Castelino was appointed as the President of the Service Selection Board and Senior Naval Officer in Bengaluru in 1984.  Having joined as a sailor, Commodore Jerome Castelino is the first sailor in the Indian Navy to attain the rank of Commodore, which has been brought out in the Naval History. For the distinguished and meritorious service of Commodore Jerome Castelino in the Indian navy, he was awarded the Vishist Seva Medal (VSM) on 26 January 1984 by the then President of India Gyani Zail Singh.

 

After his retirement in 1988, Commodore Jerome Castelino served as Geenral manager in Applied Electronics Limited, Mumbai for six years. Thereafter, in 1994, he came down to his native place and settled down in Moodubelle. In his native village he was instrumental in starting the Lions Club in 1997 and was able to construct the Lions Seva Bhavan.

 

On 16 December 2011, to commemorate the fifties anniversary of the Goa Liberation War and fortieth anniversary of the Bangaldesh Liberation War, Commodore Jerome Castelino constructed a war memorial in his courtyard in memory of the martyrs in these two wars. On this occasion, 35 war veterans from Udupi District were honoured.

 

For his dedicated and committed service in Lionism, Commodore Jerome Cstelino was conferred with Melvyn John Fellowship(MJF) in 2008 and Certificate of Supreme Excellence by International President of Lions Clubs International, Illinois (USA).

 

Commodore Jerome Castelino was the Vice President of the Sainik Board of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts from 2005 to 2013. Recently, he served as senior General Manager of Bharati Shipyard, Mangaluru. Currently, he is the Dean of St. Lawrence Degree College, Moodubelle.

 

Married to Rose Celine from Mangaluru, his two elder sons with post-graduate engineering degrees have been serving in USA and only daughter is serving as Deputy General Manager in a reputed bank in Mumbai.