INS Khukri Memorial, Diu

INS Khukri is the only warship that has been lost by the Indian Navy. The sinking of Khukri took place on 9th December 1971 by the Pakistan Navy Daphné-class submarine Hangor. She was sunk off 40 nautical miles from the coast of Diu, Gujarat, India. The memorial was inaugurated on 15th December, 1999 in the memory of the officers and the sailors who chose to go down with the warship when it was hit by three torpedoes.

INS Khukri memorial was built on the hillock at Chakratirth beach. A glass structure houses a scaled replica of the warship and the names of all the brave souls who lost their lives in this event. It has an amphitheater adjoining the memorial. The hillock also has a few temples on the site. It has a breathtaking view of the sea.

A newly designed landscape of this hill was inaugurated on 26th December, 2020 by the President Ram Nath Kovind. The new design kept the glass structure, amphitheater and the temples intact with a few modifications like paving. It also includes large tensile structures to hold public gatherings and a visitor’s center, that displays the history of INS Khukri.

There is more than one way to reach the Khukri replica kept in the glass. The journey to the top of the hill, prepares you for the grief, that is about to take over. It also gives an occasional salve of faith, in terms of the temples. The surrounding greenery that is cascading on the hill makes the trip bearable. The other end of the hill, which sides towards the sea, is the amphitheater. It is an urban social space that gives opportunity for people to gather and participate in newer activities.

The sinking of Khukri was heartbreaking and saddening. 18 officers and 176 sailors were lost in the sinking. The captain, Mahendra Nath Mulla, was among the casualties the only Indian captain to go down with the vessel and was later honored with the Maha Vir Chakra. Today, the memorial stands with its head held high to reminisce the valor of the lost soldiers and gives a chance for people to communicate and form a stronger bond amongst themselves.