New Delhi, February 26
It was a high tide at Noon that altered the course in the annals of the Indian Navy. Close to mid-day, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK Joshi, armed with a letter of resignation, walked down the South Block corridor into the office of the Defence Minister AK Antony.

The Chief had a brief meeting with the Defence Minister and what transpired between the two is not known. The Chief took moral responsibility for the latest accident involving INS Sindhuratna in Mumbai this morning, yet another submarine, and it was accepted.

Even though the Defence Minister himself could have taken the call, he preferred to send it to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who went by the decision. The rest, as they say, is history. By late evening, the Defence Ministry put out a terse announcement on the resignation, its acceptance and officiating charge being given to the Vice Chief R K Dhowan.

For the past few months, the Indian Navy and its Chief had been engaged in a battle of perception that indicated that all was not well in the force. There were a spate of accidents since the infamous sinking of INS Sindhurakshak on the eve of the Independence Day at Mumbai. Pressure began to mount as reports of accidents and incidents — major and minor —began to surface. The Defence Minister always maintained Admiral Joshi to be a fine gentleman and a professional.