When A. Diyotes, 17, sent an SMS to the then Additional Director of fisheries G.S.Sameeran in the last quarter of 2017, seeking assistance for the family’s livelihood, he would have least imagined that the message in perfect English would make a turning point in his career.
As months passed, the boy who had been venturing into the sea for fishing with his father after passing class XII, emerged as the Sailor of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) thanks to Mr. Sameeran’s guidance and training offered by the state government to help youth in joining Indian Navy and ICG.
On Thursday, Diyotes, became the first Sailor of the fishing community from Thangachimadam in Rameswaram as he passed out from ICG station, Chilka in Odisha, completing the basic training and donning the white uniform.
“Joining ICG was my dream and I owe my success to Sameeran sir and the fisheries department,” the sailor, told The Hindu over phone from Chilka.
Mr. Sameeran, who is Director of Fisheries now, was equally happy that the boy who was assisting his father, who had a fishing vessel but became a daily wage earner overnight after the Sri Lankan Navy had confiscated his boat in 2015, pursued his dream and became a sailor.
He recalled the SMS episode when he had gone to Thangachimadam to address a function. He found the boy was talented and believed he would crack the tests to join the ICG if groomed.
He immediately put him on three-month training programme after pulling him out from fishing.
After he cracked the written examination and other tests, Diyotes got the call letter to join the training at ICGS Chilka only at the eleventh hour but officials helped him with an air ticket and ensured he was there on time.
Returning home for a vacation, the young man would join Shaurya, an advanced offshore patrol vessel for one month ship training.
Then after completing four months professional training in INS Hamla, the logistic training establishment, he would join ICG, he says.