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Lt Cdr Saahil Ahluwalia will lead the Navy contingent at Republic Day, 34 years after his father, Cmde (Retired) Ravi Ahluwalia. Saahil is the Gunnery Officer on INS Mysore.
As a Gunner, Lt Cmdr Saahil Ahluwalia has now been given the opportunity to lead the Indian Navy contingent at Kartavya Path. (Image: Indian Navy)
It’s going to be a special moment for Lt Cdr Saahil Ahluwalia, Contingent Commander of the Navy this year at the Republic Day 2025 parade, as 34 years ago his father was Contingent Commander of the Navy. Retired Cmde Ravi Ahluwalia will go with his family to see his son leading the contingent at Kartavya Path. The entire family has been ecstatic and is eagerly waiting for the moment. Lt Cdr Saahil Ahluwalia is a second-generation Naval officer, having joined the INA in December 2012. He was adjudged the best sportsperson of the course at the academy.
He was commissioned in November 2016 and has served on frontline warships Teg, Kolkata, Tabar and Kirch, where he was deployed for anti-piracy patrol, operations deployments and Samudra Setu (Covid). During various overseas deployments on board naval ships, he has visited about 27 countries and exercised with numerous foreign navies.
A gunnery and missile warfare specialist, he is presently posted on board INS Mysore as Gunnery Officer.
He was selected twice as Guard Officer to the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, The President of India. As a gunner, he has now been given the opportunity to lead the Indian Navy contingent at Kartavya Path in New Delhi.
Speaking to News 18, Lt Cdr Sahil Ahluwalia said, “It would be a moment of immense pride and honour for me as a second-generation naval officer to follow in my father’s footsteps. It is the culmination of months of relentless hard work, discipline, and teamwork, with every member of the contingent striving for perfection both on the parade ground and behind the scenes. We are very confident that we will win the best marching contingent trophy this year.“
Speaking to News18, retired Cmde Ravi Ahluwalia (Retired) said, “I am very happy to see that my son will do the same which I did 34 years ago. The hard work put in by the complete contingent will be visible on the Kartavya Path. My best wishes to all these young boys and girls who have chosen the noble profession of the Navy to serve the country.”
