A woman of courage and spirit, 63-year-old Surgeon Rear Admiral Nirmala Kannan, CMO of the Southern Naval Command, celebrates life and lives it up. The bright stripes that sit pretty and proud on her uniform are proof of her mettle and life in the service of the nation.
Proud to have put in years of service in the navy, the petite lady in her white uniform embraces the responsibilities that come with the job. “Responsibilities have increased, but I just see them as an exciting challenge. The service has taught me to handle situations well,” she says retracing the beginning of her journey with the Indian Navy.
“My father was in the Army and it allowed my two sisters and me to travel across the country.” And it was no surprise when the tomboy of the lot, Nirmala opted for the services. “In those days it was predominantly a man’s world,” recalls Nirmala.
A product of St. Joseph’s, Coonoor, Nirmala loves recounting the fun-filled days of college. “That’s where I learnt to be rough and tough,” she says, fondly remembering the month-long holiday trips to Kollengode from Coonoor that had them exploring the artifacts in their ancestral home. The sisters even unleashed their creativity by writing a play which they then enacted. “That was an era of slim-fit trousers and floral designed sneakers,” Nirmala recalls how she painted flowers on her shoes to make them look trendy.
Gifted with a lovely voice, Nirmala’s talent caught her mother’s notice when she was four. “My mother used to make me sit on the table with a guitar and it was endless sessions of singing with her.” Puppet On The String was her favourite number, which she sang for her mother. “Later, I would get hot Mysore bondas as a treat for singing,” she shares.
After a stint in Carmel College, Bengaluru, when it was time to choose a profession, her sister Nirupama went in for foreign service and younger sister Asha chose to be a doctor. But Nirmala opted for the navy.
Very soon, she found the love of her life, “I’d rather say he found me,” says Nirmala, with a twinkle in her kohl-lined eyes. “All three of us were given the freedom to choose the men in our lives,” she says giving credit to her parents for their broad-mindedness. She reminisces about how she met her husband Vice Admiral B. Kannan through common friends. Soon after, she flew down to Trivandrum to meet his folks. “In three weeks’ time we were married,” she says, adding that there was no scope for an elaborate bridal trousseau as she mostly moved around in a uniform.
Name any adventure sport and that’s enough to get her excited. A few years back she discovered the joy of white water rafting with her fellow officers at Rishikesh. Recently, on a trip to Pattaya, she went parasailing.
A golf enthusiast, her day starts with an hour in the gym. Nirmala’s acting skill is also popular among her fellow mates. “Life is short and sweet. I believe in enjoying it to the hilt,” Nirmala signs off.