Originally hailing from the Indian town of Pune, about 100 kilometres from the ocean, it was not exactly pre-ordained that Anil would have a maritime career.
Bucketful
“I’d never seen more than a bucketful of water!” he laughs. Nonetheless, Anil went to sea at the remarkably young age of 16.
Outrage!
“As a young man, working long hours and hard work, you were constantly hungry. But there were only three designated meals!” he exclaims with mock outrage.
Nonetheless, Anil seems to have been able to put up with the hardships and he undertook a truly mammoth-sized 36-month swing of duty.
Who recognised him?
“I left as a boy and came back as a man. I had grown up, grown out and had grown a beard. When I got back to my community, no-one recognised me except for my dog!” he laughs.
Find out more about Anil’s life at sea and his several careers in Australia’s maritime industries in the Shipping Australia magazine!
