Taking the sea ashore...
THE WEEK India|November 17, 2024
...and into space. Commander Abhilash Tomy's take on how lessons from sailing can be applied in diverse areas
MATHEW T. GEORGE
Taking the sea ashore...

THE SUREST WAY to change India in a generation is to send more youth to sea, said Commander Abhilash Tomy KC, NM, India’s first and only solo, non-stop circumnavigator. “Nothing builds character like the sea,” he said at THE WEEK Maritime Conclave 2024.

Tomy spoke about how skills acquired by sailors and techniques deployed in the maritime sector could have applications in areas far removed from the sea. Answering a question from the audience about the relevance of celestial navigation and ancient navigation, Tomy highlighted the practice of GPS disruption employed by governments and non-state actors.

Speaking to THE WEEK privately, he said: “There was this instance of a super-yacht which had deployed a GPS jammer to throw off paparazzi drones. The captain forgot to turn it off when the ship was in port in the Netherlands. This jammer hit GPS functions in the Netherlands, Belgium and some neighbouring countries. This was accidental, of course. But it is often done intentionally, too. So, knowing celestial navigation is a crucial back-up for sectors like defence as it is failure-proof, jammer-proof.”

Space is another area where sailing has something to contribute, he said. Tomy is collaborating with ISRO on the Gaganyaan mission and his inputs were specific to what the astronauts should do in case of an irregular entry on their way back. Usually, the crew module is retrieved from the sea after emergency landings.

Esta historia es de la edición November 17, 2024 de THE WEEK India.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición November 17, 2024 de THE WEEK India.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE WEEK INDIAVer todo
Efficiency and innovation
THE WEEK India

Efficiency and innovation

As health care evolves, professionals must employ innovative methods to refine their skills

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 01, 2024
Level up
THE WEEK India

Level up

Only 30 per cent of needy patients are able to undergo transplant in India; we need more dedicated transplant centres

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 01, 2024
HOPE STEMS FROM A CELL
THE WEEK India

HOPE STEMS FROM A CELL

While stem cell therapies have shown success in treating blood disorders, orthopaedic ailments, autoimmune diseases and eye issues, there is hope that they can one day treat patients with heart disease, blindness, Parkinson's, HIV, diabetes and spinal cord injuries

time-read
10+ minutos  |
December 01, 2024
Mind matters
THE WEEK India

Mind matters

Your mindset can limit or expand your physical ability

time-read
3 minutos  |
December 01, 2024
Cutting edge
THE WEEK India

Cutting edge

Would you go under the knife if a robot was the one holding it? Or would you say, \"No way, I need a human touch\"? You might have to decide soon because a robot that can imitate skilled human surgeons is already here.

time-read
1 min  |
December 01, 2024
The smallest cut
THE WEEK India

The smallest cut

Minimally invasive surgeries have a bright future, with virtual reality and 3D procedures offering greater precision and AI on the horizon

time-read
4 minutos  |
December 01, 2024
Signalling a revolution
THE WEEK India

Signalling a revolution

Canadian scientist and entrepreneur Sachdev Sidhu is focused on bringing cutting-edge antibody engineering to his country of origin

time-read
7 minutos  |
December 01, 2024
Wellness on demand
THE WEEK India

Wellness on demand

Starting as a doctor-patient chat platform, Medibuddy has evolved to be India's largest on-demand, full-stack digital health care platform

time-read
4 minutos  |
December 01, 2024
HEARING AND VISION LOSS LINKED TO HEART DISEASE AND STROKE
THE WEEK India

HEARING AND VISION LOSS LINKED TO HEART DISEASE AND STROKE

A CHINESE STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL of the American Heart Association suggests that middle aged and older adults with sensory impairments, specifically hearing and vision loss, have an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and heart attacks.

time-read
1 min  |
December 01, 2024
PETTICOAT CANCER AND THE SARI LINK
THE WEEK India

PETTICOAT CANCER AND THE SARI LINK

TYING YOUR UNDERSKIRT (petticoat) tightly around the waist when wearing a sari, can lead to \"petticoat cancer\" or \"sari cancer,\" as it was previously called. Tying the underskirt too tightly can cause constant cord friction that can lead to chronic inflammation, skin ulceration and, in rare cases, skin cancer.

time-read
1 min  |
December 01, 2024