INS Vikrant model presented to Thiruvananthapuram

On a bright Monday evening in Thiruvananthapuram, a modest yet striking ceremony unfolded at Museum Junction. The Indian Navy, brimming with quiet pride, handed over a meticulously crafted 1:24 scale model of INS Vikrant – the country’s first carrier built entirely on home soil.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, dressed in formal attire, stepped forward to dedicate the model. Standing beside him was Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, the Flag Officer Commanding‑in‑Chief of the Southern Naval Command, who offered a few words about the ship’s strategic importance and the engineering marvel it represents.

The gathering wasn’t just a parade of officials. Senior members of the Kerala state government, a handful of retired naval veterans, and several dignitaries filled the front rows, nodding appreciatively as the replica was revealed. Their presence added a palpable sense of community to the event – a reminder that the carrier’s story is also the story of countless individuals who built, served on, and supported it.

The model itself is a work of art. Every deck, mast, and aircraft launch‑pad has been reproduced with painstaking attention to detail. Visitors can walk around it, tracing the same curves and contours that span nearly 260 metres on the full‑size vessel. For many, it’s the closest they’ll get to actually stepping aboard the carrier, and the display serves as an educational bridge linking the public with India’s naval aspirations.

Beyond the gleam of metal and paint, the event carried a deeper symbolism. It celebrated the indigenisation drive that has reshaped India’s defence manufacturing, and it gave the people of Kerala a tangible piece of that narrative. As the lights dimmed and the crowd dispersed, the model remained – a quiet, steadfast reminder of what collective ambition can achieve.