These six naval officers made country proud by setting the record to complete the first ever circumnavigation by an all-women Indian crew. The six members of the INSV Tarini Crew, who displayed incredible endurance and skill to sail across the world have been bestowed with the Tenzing Norgay Award

An unstoppable team of six women naval officers, who conquered the toughest waters around the world in seven months, were conferred the with the Tenzing Norgay Awards by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The award is the highest national recognition for outstanding achievements in the field of adventure on land, sea, and air.

With the army historically being a male-dominated institution, these six women officers decided to break the glass-ceiling and push the limits to become a force to reckon with. The six members of the INSV Tarini Crew, who displayed incredible endurance and skill to sail across the world have been bestowed with this award. 

INSV Tarini is the sailboat that was used by the members of the Indian naval crew, that made the country proud. They also set a record by becoming the first-ever all-women crew to complete circumnavigation.

WHO IS TEAM TARINI?

The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini was skippered by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, and the crew comprised Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta. The female-crew circumnavigated the globe and managed the whole operation in their first ever global journey.

WHAT IS NAVIKA SAGAR PARIKRAMA?

Navika Sagar Parikrama was the name of the expedition to circumnavigate the globe on INSV Tarini by these Indian women naval officers. During their 254 day long voyage, the vessel covered over 22,000 Nautical miles, visiting five countries – Australia, New Zealand, Falkland Islands (UK), South Africa and Mauritius, before returning home to Goa.

GALLANTRY AWARD

Earlier this year, the Indian Navy awarded these six women officers with Nao Sena medals, a gallantry award that recognises individual acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage.

PM'S PRAISE FOR TEAM TARINI

During his fifth independence speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lavished praise on the 'daughters of the country'', for making the country proud. He said: "We are celebrating this day when our six daughters of Uttrakhand, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and many other states have made us proud. These six daughters of India undertook the Navika Sagar Parikrama and in 254 days, they circumnavigated the globe in the INVS Tarini. While sailing over various seas and oceans, they covered 22,000 nautical miles, which is a first of it’s kind feat,”