Lt Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Indian Navy, the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe solo nonstop, has been selected for the Kirti Chakra, the nation’s second highest peacetime gallantry medal. The award has been bestowed in connection with the Independence Day, by the President of India.
Tomy of Tripunithura achieved the rare feat in his mission Sagar Parikrama II. Speaking to Express from Mumbai, Tomy said he was overwhelmed by the news. “This has been the best news for the day! I am overwhelmed with the announcement. It’s a very big thing for me, and for all those who started the project so many years ago. I am sure people will be drawn into such activities soon,” Tomy said.
It was during the mission Sagar Parikrama-II, flagged off from Mumbai that Tomy sailed around 23,100 nautical miles in a span of over 150 days from November 2012 to March 31, 2013. His global voyage on board INSV Mhadei, had thousands of followers in the social networking sites.
On completion of the voyage, Tomy became the first Indian and the second Asian to have achieved the rare feat.
Only 79 people have circumnavigated the world solo so far. Commander Dilip Donde of the Indian Navy, was the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe solo.
However, Commander Donde had four stopovers in his trip.