Navy sheds colonial link in new epaulettes for officers

The Indian Navy on Friday unveiled the new design of senior officers' epaulettes, a shoulder piece that signals rank, inspired by the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with the move reiterating the service's resolve to shed the "mentality of slavery" and project the country's "rich maritime heritage".

- Rahul Singh

The new epaulettes, to be worn by the navy chief, vice admirals and rear admirals from January 1, have five modifications over the previous ones.

The development comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that senior naval officers will wear epaulettes that bear the imprint of the Maratha ruler's maritime legacy.

He revealed the proposed change in his Navy Day address at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra on December 4.

In the new design, the navy has done away with the Crown-inspired red background on which the national emblem sits and replaced it with an octagon derived from the Maratha king's rajmudra or royal seal.

"The octagon represents the eight cardinal directions, indicative of an all-round long-term vision," the navy said in a statement.

Last year, Modi unveiled the navy's new ensign that also featured Shivaji's seal, which replaced the colonial St.

George's cross. The naval ensign was unveiled during the commissioning of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Kochi in September 2022.

Also, there is a twin change in the crossed sword and baton on the epaulettes.