Back home from hell and high waters

As parents, well-wishers and relatives, along with a heavy entourage of mediapersons, waited eagerly outside the airport’s terminal building for the released sailors, there was chaotic jubilation the moment the five stepped out. Emotions ran high and one could notice relief on the faces of their worried parents, friends and relatives as sailors Naveed Burondkar, Isidore Fernandes, Santosh Patil, Allister Fernandes and Omprakash Shukla hugged them emotionally.

“We’re extremely grateful to everyone who’ve not just helped us in this fight but have been emotionally involved with us for the past two months,” said an elated Murad Burondkar as he took his son, Naveed (21), the youngest crew member, to a nearby hotel. The general secretary of the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), Abdul Ghani Serang, also received the sailors.

However, on hearing the ordeal of these young sailors — for Naveed, it was his first voyage— it clearly comes across that such an experience was something they could have done without. “We were on gunpoint 24 hours a day and were not allowed a minute’s free movement,” said Allister, who was a cook onboard the chemical tanker. According to Fernandes, all 22 members were living on the bridge of the ship in extremely unhealthy conditions. “We had to also take permission for showers and other things and only two members were allowed to go at a particular time,” added Fernandes.

The sailors revealed that the Somalian pirates were heavy drug addicts who would consume drugs all night and sleep throughout the day. “At any point of time there were 25-35 sailors on board and they would take away our things,” said Isidore. “They wore our clothes and took away our mobile phones,” he added.

Naveed said the pirates’ behaviour was inhuman and all they were bothered about was money. “There was no violence, but they threatened to kill us in the first three to four days,” said Naveed. Reportedly, there was no communication between the sailors and the pirates because they did not understand each other’s language. “We used to observe their body language and guess what they said but the pirates’ negotiator would update our captain on the progress in the negotiation with the Japanese owner,” said Naveed. Crew members were allowed to speak to family on Sundays for exactly three minutes, the sailors said.

“But none of us lost hope,” said Allister. “We had faith in our government and the people back home,” he added. The five also expressed gratitude towards Seema Goyal, Captain Prabhat Goyal’s wife, for spearheading the entire movement. “There were occasions when at night a particular crew member would get up and cry. But, all of us managed fine throughout the ordeal,” said Allister. In an appeal to the media, general secretary of NUSI asked the media not to project the pirates in a “romantic” way. “When we talk of pirates, please beware that they are nothing short of being maritime terrorists and not the pirates we see in the movies,” said Serang.

Om Prakash Shukla (35) another crew member, was eager to reach his family in Uttar Pradesh as soon as possible. Though he has been away from home for long spells, the 62 days of captivity has changed the way he perceived life.

Shukla, who is a fitter by profession, hails from small-town Dathya in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh. “I just want to go home and meet my family,” he said, at his uncle Dr Nagendra Mishra’s residence at Kalyan.

Back home waiting for Shukla are his parents, wife and four children. “Pirates armed with rifles guarded us and though we were fed, the uncertainty of again seeing your family was unbearable,” said Shukla.

Shukla has been fitter on the sea for the last 15 years and with Fleet Management for the last eight years.

(with inputs from N Ganesh)