Baby, who was born on a rescue ship during a tsunami, aspires to enlist in the Navy: ‘I want to give back’
Baby, who was born on a rescue ship during a tsunami, aspires to enlist in the Navy: ‘I want to give back’
“On Board INS Gharial, on route Hut Bay to Port Blair”. The date of birth is December 29, 2004.” says the birth certificate of B. Glory.
On December 26, 2004, B Balram and B Laxmi, witnessed the devastating tsunami destroy their home and village in Hut Bay Island (Little Andaman). Clinging to her husband, Laxmi, who was nine months pregnant at the time, managed to scramble up a nearby hill that remained untouched by the rising waters.
“We stayed there for three days, without food or water or anything warm. On the fourth day, INS Gharial came like an angel from above and rescued us both, my mother and sister, along with many others who had also sought shelter there. Somehow, we managed to get on the lifeboat that took us to the ship that was in anchorage a little distance away,” informs the couple.
Laxmi, only 23 at the time, felt the onset of labor pains as she stepped onto the ship. Balram immediately informed the first senior officer he encountered about his wife’s situation. “He reassured me that everything would be alright now that we were in their care,” Balram recounted.
As the vessel made its way to Port Blair, Laxmi’s contractions grew stronger. With the help of an untrained but determined crew, the ship’s doctor successfully delivered her daughter, B Glory, at 7 pm on December 29, 2004.
When the ship arrived at Port Blair the following day, Glory and her mother were taken to a hospital, while Balram was provided with nearby lodging.
The family was deeply appreciative of the miraculous birth, and for the Indian Navy, it represented a groundbreaking emergency delivery aboard a warship. To commemorate this event, the Navy announced its intention to “adopt” Glory and support her education. Additionally, when Balram could no longer sustain himself through fishing, the Navy assisted him in securing employment in his village.
“We had picked up 645 people from the overloaded jetty of Hut Bay on December 29, the priority was to accommodate women and children first. Laxmi was among 4-5 women who were pregnant. We sailed out at 2 pm. By evening, it was clear that Laxmi would deliver. We had just one doctor on board and he was a little apprehensive, having never delivered a baby before, but it was a normal and smooth delivery by God’s grace,” says Commodore A Venugopal, now retired.
Glory has reached the age of 20. Two years back, she relocated to Port Blair to pursue her degree in computer science at JNRM College. Following her graduation, her ambition is to become an officer in the Indian Navy.
“Once I graduate, I will appear for the SSB (Services Selection Board) exam and, God willing, join the Indian Navy. It’s the only way I know to repay the debt. Right from childhood, I was aware of how blessed I was to have survived those circumstances and be a part of the Indian Navy throughout my growing up years. They have called me so often for functions, felicitated me, given me a platform to speak, wished me every year on my birthday, have had their personnel checking in on us to see if we need anything and, of course, supported me completely in my education, paying all my fees,” says Glory.
