Rear Admiral Sadashiv Ganesh Karmarkar, MBE (17 October 1912 – 1988) was a flag officer in the Indian Navy.
During World War II, he commanded the auxiliary patrol vessel HMIS Ratnagiri, for which he was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
His course-mate, who topped the batch, was Ram Dass Katari, who became the first Indian Chief of the Naval Staff.
[7] The Commander-in-Chief, East Indies requested three anti-submarine patrol vessels for operations in the Red Sea.
Starting from 11 February to about May, Ratnagiri made multiple trips ferrying troops and supplies from Port Sudan to Mersa Taclai.
In spite of risky conditions like underwater reefs and mines, Karmarkar led Ratnagiri to land 750 Free French troops.
In September that year, Karmarkar led the Ratnagiri to evacuate Yemeni nationals from French Somaliland.
[8] For his exemplary command of the ship, Karmarkar was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1942.
[17][3] He then received orders to take command of HMIS Talwar, just before the Royal Indian Navy mutiny broke out.
Karmarkar, along with Katari and S. N. Kohli met with the future Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Mumbai and discussed about the mutiny.
[27] The squadron with Karmarkar as the flag captain called on Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Diego Suarez.
[27] Karmarkar later added about his ship, "The Delhi stood out majestically with great dignity and slick appearance.
In August 1958, the Indian fleet, commanded by Rear Admiral Ajitendu Chakraverti, conducted exercises with the Royal Navy off Cochin.
Karmarkar, as the COMCHIN, was responsible for the logistical support and providing shore facilities for smooth functioning of the exercises.
[33][34] After about three-and-a-half years building the Cochin command, Karmarkar was promoted to the acting rank of Rear admiral and appointed Flag Officer Bombay (FOB) in April 1960.
[37] The same day, the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru and the Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Katari visited her at Bombay.