Shreesh Kumar

This is a must listen video. We are going nowhere with this attitude towards the Armed Forces of Bharat. Bleak portents for the future.

@Ahs9n_ @IndiaToday Bunyan ul .... ... ?what? Ohhhh .... Chaddi Banyan!! Haan, utna bhi bach gaya aapke paas shukr karo Bhai😆

Don’t dare us 🇵🇰⚔️ .Don’t forget Bunyan-un-Marsoos we stood like a solid wall of lead! 😎 And definitely don’t forget the 6-0 scoreline from last time. This isn’t a Bollywood movie where you write the script, direct the scenes, and capture dramatic victories in slow-mo as you want. If you dare us again, we’ll teach you the real difference between Bollywood fiction and ground reality just like we did before. This time, we Pakistanis will write the script, direct the action, and make the whole world watch your next live embarrassment on the battlefield. Reality > Reel. Bring it. 🇵🇰💪 #BunyanUnMarsoos #6-0

#EXCLUSIVE | Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has underscored the need for India to prepare for the next phase of 'Operation Sindoor', stating that the armed forces must look beyond past operations and gear up for future challenges. In an exclusive conversation with India Today near the India-China border in Uttarakhand, he said, "We must not prepare for a repetition of the previous 'Sindoor', but for the future 'Sindoor'—the challenges yet to come". Anil Chauhan calls for future-ready strategy beyond ‘Operation Sindoor’ #AnilChauhan #CDSIndia #OperationSindoor #IndianArmy

🤔 *यह सब रोहिन्गिया और बांग्लादेशी जिहादी मुस्लिम है है l गन्ने का जूस तो दिखावे के लिए बेचा जा रहा है* *गन्ने के जूस के बहाने यह दिल्ली की सुरक्षा मे बहुत बड़ी सेन्ध लगा चुके है या सेन्ध लग रही है* *हकीकत यह है यह रोहिन्गिया और बांग्लादेश जिहादी अपने आकाओं की मदद से जब बॉर्डर पार करते है तो भी पैसे का खेल होता है उसके बाद देश की राजधानी दिल्ली पहुंचने पर इनको दिल्ली मे बसाने के लिए दुबारा पैसे का खेल होता है* *इन सब जिहादी को पकड़ कर बहुत सख्ती से पूछताछ करो तो पता लग जायेगा कि किसकी जेब मे पैसा गया है* *असल मे यह जिहादी एक बार फिर दिल्ली को दहलाने की फ़िराक़ मे है l* *पिछले साल दिल्ली मे हुए धमाके को भूल मत जाना lइस विडिओ को दिल्ली की इंटेलिजेंस, विजिलेंस और इनके चीफ और देश की तमाम सिक्युरिटी एजेंसीस को जल्द भेजो* l

@AnchitGupta9 What an enjoyable read! Those were indeed the days of unfettered professionalism and uprightness. Thanks so much for sharing👍🙏

Most flying logbooks are dry things. Aircraft type, sortie, timings, remarks. But every now and then, a logbook gives you something more valuable than operational detail. It gives you the man. Some time back, I gained access to the 1942-47 logbook of the late Air Vice Marshal Charandas Gurudas Devashar. In those years, he was still a very young pilot. What comes through is not just skill or service, but humour, irreverence, and the kind of understated cool that seems to belong to another age. In June 1942, flying an Audax at Ambala, he got caught in a dust storm. His remark after the episode was classic: “Got mixed up in a dust storm. Visibility very bad. (10 yards). Forcelanded. Crashed!” A few weeks later, on his birthday, he wrote: “18 years old today. Still in my teens, though.” That one line alone tells you plenty. Here was a boy in uniform, already flying military aircraft, still young enough to joke about being a teenager. The humour continues. On a dual check in Aug 1942: “Went through the drainage, cut the cable clean into two. Not much damage to a/c”. In September, after high-level bombing in a Hart: “One hit. 7 feet from the hill. A record until now” In Sep 1943 in the UK, flying a Master Mk II: “Got lost. Landed at another drome!” In March 1944, after evidently making a mess of a sortie at 53 OTU: “What a XXXX I made of myself” Two days later, on his first Spitfire sortie, the tone changes completely: “It sure feels good boy” A few weeks after that, during an exercise: “Finger trouble - Could not locate the R Sight switch”. There is something wonderfully unfiltered about all this. No grand retrospective. No heroic pose. Just the running commentary of a young pilot living it day by day. Then comes Burma, and the remarks become even more striking because the humour refuses to disappear. On 22 Sep 1944, flying a Hurricane IIc on a strike mission against Japanese hideouts: “Very Good result. Dir Strike. Killed 80+ japs”. On 28 Sep: “Blew up an ammo dump near Pyinshewala. Smoke rising upto 100 feet”. On an offensive recce over the Kaladan River in November: “Didn’t see a sausage!”. The next day, on a bomb and strafe in the Paletwa area: “Finger trouble on the part of the pongos. Smoke every where but at the pin point”. One entry after a mission simply says: “Lots of fun. Left the village burning”. Another: “A very enjoyable party”. Those lines are jarring today, but that too is part of their value. They are raw wartime remarks, not polished memory. They show how young combat pilots coped, joked, and normalised danger while flying through it. Then there are the classic fighter-pilot lines. “Mid air collision, but we both got back”. “Lost my blue silk scarf”. In May 1945, while doing aerobatics in a Spitfire Mk VIII at Ranchi: “Lost my beautiful scarf”. Later that month, in formation: “Kept a date with PCA ‘Green I’.” In Sep 1945, after reaching 100 hours on Spitfires, he notes not just the milestone but life moving on around it: “100 hours on Spits. R for Maureen is born in No 4 Sqn RIAF”. The scarf saga, it turns out, did not end there. On 9 Jan 1946 comes the resigned line: “Lost my scarf again. This is the fifth one”. On 28 Dec 1945, after “Tich had Elbow trouble. Pranged!”, one can almost hear the ready-room humour behind the words. And in Aug-Sep 1946, after flying back from Japan to India via Miho, Bofu, Iwakuni, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Saigon, Bangkok, Rangoon, Calcutta and Palam, he signs off that chapter with a line of surprising grace: “And so we say goodbye to the land of rising sun”. Even in 1947, the voice remains intact. On 16 Feb 1947, flying a Spitfire Mk XIV at Hakimpet: “Pranged. Starboard tyre burst on take-off + port on landing; Result Nose over”. Then, on 19 June 1947, flying a Tempest Mk II on live RP attacks: “DNCO. No 2 Dammit nearly wrote me off; cut my rudder. Btw 23 today!” Across five crowded years, you can actually hear the young man. The boy in these pages would go on to serve as Senior Air Staff Officer, Eastern Air Command, during the 1971 war, and later receive the PVSM. Many will also know the Devasher name today through his son, Tilak Devasher, author of Pakistan: Courting the Abyss, Pakistan: At the Helm, and Pakistan: The Balochistan Conundrum, and a former Member of the National Security Advisory Board. @tilakdevasher1 #IAFHistory @IAF_MCC

@ANI A statement without any weight or impact. Is this the best our Army can do? Shameful to say the least. We are in the dumps.

Indian Army's statement on alleged incident of assault on a serving Officer in Delhi - "The authorities in Indian Army have taken serious cognizance of the case. A Military Police team has been directed to assist the Officer. The Delhi Police has been approached for expeditious investigation and take action on priority."

@bushackni @ANI Your advice is unsolicited. You need to educate yourself first before ejaculating nonsense.

@ANI These are the duties of Police and not Army. Army should do their job more responsibly to prevent incidents like Pahalgam attacks. Intervening in such minor alcohol consumption cases is not there duty unless someone seek help due to misbehavior from the alcoholics.

@37VManhas Heartfelt condolences to the family🌷Sadgati to the departed brave soul. Nation is grateful for his sacrifice in the line of duty. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti🙏🫡🇮🇳

Sad & tragic news coming, we have lost LIEUTENANT AMIT SINGH 145 NDA MADRAS Regiment during training at Commando School in Belgaum. MATA RANI gives strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

@BombaySapperCol 🫡🌹🙏

The Sappers stand in solemn tribute to the brave pilots of the Indian Air Force who made the supreme sacrifice in the Sukhoi Su‑30MKI crash in Karbi Anglong. We honour the courage of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar. Our deepest condolences to their families—your sacrifice will forever be remembered by a grateful nation. 🇮🇳 #IndianAirForce #SaluteToHeroes #JaiHind

@BombaySapperCol Highly commendable initiative. Just what is required 👏👌👍🙏🫡🇮🇳

Our Heroes Never Walk Alone Heartfelt success at #ShauryaSamparavah in Satara! Over 1,753 veterans, Veer Naris, Veer Mata-Pita & NOKs from Satara & nearby tehsils gathered at Mahasainik Bhavan, connecting deeply with serving soldiers. Help desks from Bombay Sappers & other Records were established. Approximately 500 grievances were resolved on the spot (pensions, SPARSH, ECHS, docs, banks). Facilities of Medical/Dental camps were also extended. Veer Naris/Veer Mata & Pita were honoured during the outreach programme. Army's bond unbreakable! 🇮🇳 #VeteransFirst #IndianArmy #BombaySappers #SainikWelfare #Sarvatra

@sardesairajdeep In the age of cacophonic journalism Maj Maroof Raza was a sane, sound and scholarly voice. He'll be missed🙏🇮🇳

@sardesairajdeep Maj Maroof Raza the gentleman was a gem among subject matter experts. Quality journalism. Deserved so much more. Great loss to the country. May the departed noble soul attain sadgati. Farewell Sir. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti🌹🙏

Very sad news: Major Maroof Raza has passed away.. many TV viewers will remember Maroof and his distinctive style and knowledge on defence issues. . RIP

@mariajan786 Life giving sperm

What do men produce? 👇

A dispassionate view; All the disturbance and unfair taxation is caused by undeserving cases who've managed to sneak into this category, and genuine cases are being penalised. Review each and every disability case. Identify the probable undeserving ones, eg., med cat downgradation due to BP just before release and many others. Give option of foregoing disability benefits or face a review/enquiry and agree to the outcome. This will separate genuine cases from undeserving ones. Whether superannuated or boarded out, all genuine cases deserve disability pension without taxation. But undeserving culprits have to be identified and weeded out because this policy change seems to have come about due to their dishonesty.

Major General Ian Cardozo stepped on a landmine in the 1971 war… amputated his own leg with a khukri to survive — and went on to become the first war-disabled officer to command a battalion and later a brigade. Now, under the 2026 Budget, this war hero will have his disability pension taxed! From former Army Chief General VP Malik to Kargil veteran & India’s first blade runner Major DP Singh, the anger is palpable.

@GajrajCorps_IA Kudos TMR team & Gajraj Corps for collaborating on training troops in rescue and risk mitigation in challenging high altitude snow bound terrain. Tremendous value addition to troops' skill sets. Priceless impetus given by Lt Gen TK Aich (Retd) is like wind beneath the wings 🫡🇮🇳

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 Experienced mountaineers of Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR) Team conducted joint avalanche rescue drills with troops of #GajrajCorps in forward areas of Tawang (15,000 ft). The training enhanced avalanche risk mitigation, rescue techniques & survival skills under extreme high-altitude conditions. The hands-on drills boosted rapid response & life-saving skills, enabling safer & sustained operations in high-altitude conditions. अनुभवी पर्वतारोहियों की Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR) Team ने #GajrajCorps के सैनिकों के साथ तवांग के अग्रिम क्षेत्रों में (15,000 फीट की ऊँचाई पर) संयुक्त avalanche rescue drills का आयोजन किया। इस प्रशिक्षण में avalanche से होने वाले जोखिम को कम करने, बचाव तकनीकों और कठिन उच्च-ऊँचाई परिस्थितियों में जीवित रहने के कौशल पर ध्यान दिया गया। इन व्यावहारिक अभ्यासों से तेज़ प्रतिक्रिया और जीवन रक्षक कौशल में वृद्धि हुई, जिससे अत्यंत चुनौतीपूर्ण उच्च-ऊँचाई क्षेत्रों में सुरक्षित और निरंतर संचालन संभव हो सका। #AvalancheRescue #HighAltitudeTraining @adgpi @easterncomd @GajrajCorps_IA @DefenceMinIndia @MyGovArunachal @SpokespersonMoD @HQ_IDS_India @PROTEZPUR

@trishakticorps Hearty congrats to TMR and Trishakti warriors for synergistic efforts to train and equip our Braves in the mountainous high altitude for facing challenges in extremely critical crisis situations. Veteran Gen TK Aich leads the way with an ocean of experience and wisdom. Kudos🫡🇮🇳

Avalanche Rescue Training Experienced mountaineers from the Tiranga Mountain Rescue Team conducted joint avalanche rescue training and drills with the warriors of #TrishaktiCorps, focusing on #avalanche risk mitigation, rescue techniques and survival skills under extreme #mountain conditions. The intensive hands on joint training and field drills, carried out in North Sikkim at altitudes of up to 17,000 feet, strengthened troop preparedness, response mechanisms, and critical life saving expertise, enabling safer and uninterrupted operations in the challenging high altitude terrain. #IndianArmy #AvalancheRescue #HighAltitudeTraining #OperationalPreparedness #Resilience @adgpi @easterncomd @IAF_MCC @HQ_IDS_India @indiannavy @GovernorSikkim @PIBGangtok @Sikkimgovt @prodefgau @SpokespersonMoD

@khurpenchh Dear Sagar, we are proud of you. We pray for your well-being and positive progress in life. God bless 🙌 🙏🇮🇳

>नाम सागर बोराडे >आईआईटियन, उम्र बहुत कम >पद असिस्टेंट कमांडेंट CRPF >काम नक्सलियों के खिलाफ हिम्मत दिखाना > छत्तीसगढ़ तेलंगाना बॉर्डर पर स्थित KGH हिल्स में हाइ रिस्क एंटी नक्सल ऑपरेशन चल रहा है , >उसी ऑपरेशन में सागर CRPF की 204 कोबरा बटालियन को लीड कर रहे थे , >बटालियन का एक जवान IED ब्लास्ट में इंजर्ड हो गया , >बिना किसी चीज की परवाह किया सागर उसको बचाने के लिए कूद पड़े और सीरियस इंज्यूरीज आ गई , >उनको दिल्ली एम्स भेजा गया , अब वो सुरक्षित और स्टेबल हैं , जिस व्यक्ति के सामने पूरा जीवन पड़ा है, उसने देश के लिए और अपनी यूनिट के एक जवान की जान बचाने के लिए एक पल भी नहीं सोचा , सागर जैसे निर्भीक और निडर टीम लीडर्स जब हमारे देश के हर सेक्टर में होंगे , तो हम कभी हारेंगे नहीं । ❣️

@shaktiachhora @khurpenchh Yes, that is absolutely true. No sense in the system where the IAS/IPS lobby have cornered all important posts in govt. This warped thinking must change.

@khurpenchh After few years, he will feel disillusioned and disgusted when a much younger and junior IPS officer with no operational experience will be posted as his boss. This is the reality of democratic India where kingship was replaced by rule of IAS/ IPS babus in 1947.

@Tiwari_1oct @SupriyaShrinate 🤣🤣🤣

नरेंद्र मोदी पिछले 11 साल में झुनझुना बजाने के अलावा तो कुछ कर नहीं पाये, बस कांग्रेस की स्कीम का नाम बदलते रहे अब मोदी ने महात्मा गांधी रूरल एम्प्लॉयमेंट गारंटी एक्ट (MGNREGA) का नाम बदल कर विकसित भारत गारंटी फॉर रोज़गार एंड आजीविका मिशन ग्रामीण (VB G RAM G) रख दिया है महात्मा गांधी को इनके गोडसे ने मारा और उनके नाम को हटाने का पाप यह पापी कर रहे हैं पर यह सिर्फ नाम बदलने का मुद्दा ही नहीं है, असल में मोदी सरकार ने काम के अधिकार की गारंटी देने वाले इस कानून को बदल कर राज्यों और मजदूरों दोनों के खिलाफ है. इसमें केंद्र सरकार का कंट्रोल बढ़ाया जा रहा है, राज्यों को खर्च करने के लिए मजबूर किया जा रहा है, मज़दूरों के अधिकारों को कम करके उसपर शर्त लगाने का पाप किया जा रहा है वो MGNREGA जो ग्रामीण भारत के लिए संजीवनी साबित हुआ, जिसने गांव देहात में लोगों को काम का अधिकार दिया, जिसने ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था मज़बूत की - उसे पूरी तरह से तबाह किया जा रहा है ▪️MGNREGA unskilled मज़दूरों के लिए स्कीम थी, जिसका बजट केंद्र सरकार देती थी 👉लेकिन अब बजट का 60:40 भार केंद्र और राज्य सरकारों को उठाना पड़ेगा 👉मतलब राज्य सरकारों को 40% खर्च वहन करना पड़ेगा 👉यह राज्यों के राजस्व पर हमला है. इसका दुरुपयोग मोदी जैसे लोग विपक्ष की राज्य सरकारों के ख़िलाफ़ भयंकर रूप से करेंगे 👉इस न्यू इंडिया में राज्य भुगतान करेंगे और मोदी फोटो खिंचवाएँगे ▪️MGNREGA मांग पर आधारित एक स्कीम थी, अब शर्तें लागू 👉 MGNREGA मांग पर आधारित एक स्कीम थी, अगर कोई मजदूर काम मांगता था, तो केंद्र को उसे काम देकर उसका भुगतान करना पड़ता था 👉नई स्कीम में डिमांड के आधार पर काम नहीं मिलेगा. अब काम केंद्र के पूर्व-निर्धारित मानक और बजट आवंटन के आधार पर ही मिलेगा. फंड खत्म, तो अधिकार खत्म. 👉रोजगार की लीगल गारंटी स्कीम को बदल कर अब केंद्र द्वारा संचालित प्रचार योजना में बदल दिया गया है, जिसमें खर्च राज्य करेंगे! ▪️ ग्राम सभाओं और पंचायतों को दरकिनार किया जाएगा 👉MGNREGA में काम ग्राम सभाओं और पंचायतों के ज़रिए होता था जो स्थानीय जरूरतों के आधार पर काम की योजना बनाती थीं. इससे लोकतंत्र की पहली कड़ी पंचायतों को और भी मज़बूती मिलती थी 👉अब नई स्कीम में GIS Tools, PM Gati Shakti और केंद्र के डिजिटल नेटवर्क अनिवार्य हैं. स्थानीय प्राथमिकताएं अब विकसित भारत नेशनल रूरल इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर स्टैक से फिल्टर होंगीं. इसमें बायोमेट्रिक्स, जियो-टैगिंग, डैशबोर्ड्स और AI ऑडिट ज़रूरी है 👉साफ़ है, वह लाखों ग्रामीण मजदूरों जो इतनी तकनीक नहीं समझते हैं वो काम से वंचित रह जाएँगे ▪️60 दिन के काम का अनिवार्य निलंबन 👉नई स्कीम में मौसम के नाम पर हर साल 60 दिनों तक काम निलंबित करना भी अनिवार्य है 👉यह रोजगार की गारंटी है या मज़दूरी पर नियंत्रण? मतलब यह योजना अब मजदूरों को कानूनी रूप से कह रही है: काम मत करो, कमाओ मत, इंतजार करो 👉सरकारी काम को रोककर मजदूरों को निजी खेतों में मजदूरी के लिए धकेलना कल्याण नहीं बल्कि सरकार द्वारा मजदूरों की सप्लाई है जो उनसे उनकी आय, उनकी इच्छा और सम्मान सब छीनती है 🔺🔺असल में इस नई स्कीम का मतलब केंद्र सरकार का कंट्रोल, राज्यों को खर्च करने के लिए मजबूर करना, मज़दूरों के अधिकारों को कम करके उसपर शर्त लगा देना है 👉👉👉👉हर बार की तरह इस बार भी मोदी की यह काली करतूत असल में ग़रीब विरोधी, भूमिहीन किसान विरोधी, मज़दूर विरोधी और इस देश के संघीय ढांचे की घोर विरोधी है

@AnchitGupta9 @arunp2810 @vayusena Extremely proud of our air warriors. What daring and courage to put down the enemy! Respect and Salute 🫡

Remembering this legendary tenure today. By 3 Dec 1972, when Wg Cdr Cecil Vivian Parker handed over No 20 Sqn, his Hunters had already carved history: 17 aircraft and 18 pilots at Pathankot, and a 1971 campaign that made the Lightnings the most decorated squadron in the IAF. The opening phase: 4–5 December The Hunters began with extreme-range counter-air strikes flown clean, carrying only cannons. Peshawar was hit in the opening hours, a classic long-range Hunter raid. Kohat was attacked next; when his wingman was delayed, Sqn Ldr Jal Mistry flew the deep strike alone and returned safely. Chaklala followed, where Lt Arun Prakash, IN, destroyed a C-130 Hercules on the ground. Murid was attacked by Rozario, Balasubramanian, Kailey and Deoskar, destroying at least one camouflaged fighter on the ground. By the end of Day 1, the Lightnings had struck four different airfields and destroyed multiple aircraft on the ground. On 5 Dec, the squadron returned to Chaklala and Mianwali, destroying another C-130. At the same time, Mistry undertook the hazardous solo mission to Sakesar Radar, successfully rocket-attacked the site but was intercepted and shot down by a Mirage III. Economic and interdiction targets: 6–9 December From 6 December, Parker pushed the unit against deeper, higher-value targets. Attock Oil Refinery was set ablaze in a three-Hunter strike led by Parker. The flames burned for days and were visible to night-flying Indian bombers. Mangla Hydel Power Station was attacked twice on 7 December under Sqn Ldr R N Bharadwaj, heavily damaging the power plant. Kohat and Murid were struck again, with Bharadwaj, Karumbaya and Deoskar destroying a transport aircraft and two MiG-19s on the ground. Interdiction strikes were flown against rail lines near Lahore. Chamb Sector and air combat: 10 December Responding to Army requests in Chamb, 20 Squadron shifted briefly to close air support. In one engagement, Karumbaya was bounced by a Sabre and badly hit. Bharadwaj immediately engaged the attacker, shot the Sabre down inside Indian territory, and then escorted Karumbaya’s damaged Hunter all the way home. Ground fire also hit two Lightnings; Rozario belly-landed a heavily damaged Hunter at Pathankot and walked away unhurt. By 11 December, after a week of continuous operations, the squadron was pulled back to Hindon for rest. The war, in numbers Across eight days of combat flying, No. 20 Squadron mounted 121 sorties and delivered: more than 15,000 rounds of cannon fire, 17,000 pounds of bombs, over 1,700 litres of napalm, 548 rockets. In this short period the Lightnings destroyed 13 Pakistani aircraft on the ground and shot down two F-86 Sabres in the air. Awards Maha Vir Chakra - Wg Cdr C V Parker, Sqn Ldr R N Bharadwaj Vir Chakra - Jal M Mistry, Arun L Deoskar, B C Karumbaya, S Balasubramanian, Lt Arun Prakash (IN) Vayu Sena Medal - C S Dhillon, A A D Rozario Mention in Despatches - V K Heble, R DeMonte, A K Sharma Plus ten commendations from the CAS/AOC-in-C. #IAFHistory @IAF_MCC

@ByRakeshSimha Extremely proud of our Flyboy Bravehearts 🙏🫡🇮🇳

IAF TRAINING DOCTRINE THAT WINS WARS ▶️ The Indian Air Force is one of the few air forces in the world that conduct intense, year-round training. Benjamin Lambeth of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace says the IAF trains for a "high intensity, high stakes" conflict. Keeping in mind the possibility of a two-front war, the IAF puts its pilots and aircraft through the wringer. ▶️ Mock air combat can involve hundreds of aircraft flying thousands of kilometres. During one war game, Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs flew 1,800-km bombing missions from Assam to the western front, with mid-air refuelling. In fact, IAF pilots are known to lead missions over 10 hours in their Sukhois. ▶️ Exercises like Operation Gagan Shakti, which in 2018 involved over 1,150 aircraft and generated 11,000 sorties in just 13 days, put enormous strain on airframes, pilots and ground crew. ▶️ Former IAF chief NAK Browne stated over a decade ago that he would rather lose aircraft and even pilots in training than in war. ▶️ The doctrine has paid dividends — such as during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, when the IAF's superior preparation overwhelmed the Pakistan Air Force in a matter of days. ▶️ During the middle of the war, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi addressed an outdoor gathering of 1 million people, indicating the IAF's mastery of the airspace in the subcontinent. ▶️ In the 1971 War, the IAF was able to conduct a wide range of missions – troop support; air combat; deep penetration strikes; para-dropping behind enemy lines; feints to draw enemy fighters away from the actual target; and reconnaissance. ▶️ In contrast, the Pakistan Air Force, which was primarily focussed on air combat, was blown out of the subcontinent’s skies within the first week of the war. Those PAF aircraft that survived took refuge at Iranian air bases or in concrete bunkers, refusing to offer a fight. Repeated attempts by IAF pilots to draw out the PAF by exposing themselves as easy targets over Pakistani airbases didn't work as the depleted and stunned PAF stayed on the ground in its pens. ▶️ Similarly, China's PLA Air Force has nearly 2,000 planes, but only a fraction of the peace-time accident rate as India's. According to Foreign Policy magazine, this suggests Chinese pilots are not spending sufficient time in the air or training under pressure. “(Chinese) pilots are neither trusted nor properly trained. Drills are regimented, centrally controlled, and divorced from realistic combat conditions.” ▶️ A PLA Air Force fighter pilot would most likely be reprimanded if he deviated from the flight plan set by his commanders. Losing a plane would be cause enough for a court martial. ▶️ Thankfully, the IAF does not believe in having robots but values superior training and innovativeness. IAF pilots have truly internalised what Sergei Dolgushin, a Russian Air Force ace with 24 victories in WWII, said is a prerequisite to be a successful fighter pilot: “A love of hunting, a great desire to be the top dog." ▶️ Tejas pilot Wing Commander Namansh Syal belonged to that breed. Veer Bhogya Vasundhara - the Brave Shall Inherit the Earth. (Slogan of Rajputana Rifles and 45th Cavalry).