Some tales demand to be informed—not only for the heroism they embody, however for the legacy they depart behind. Once I met Sarah, she spoke with deep conviction about her father, Air Commodore Okay.C. Kuruvilla (Retd.), a person whose life was outlined by braveness, sacrifice, and an unbreakable sense of obligation. She needed the world to listen to his story, and as I listened, I knew it was one which needed to be shared.
As our very first interview highlight of 2025—and maybe the primary to characteristic somebody who has given a lot in service to his nation—this dialog is each a tribute and a reminder of the resilience that shapes historical past. A embellished Indian Air Pressure fighter pilot and Vir Chakra recipient, Air Commodore Kuruvilla holds a uncommon world file: surviving three ejections and persevering with to fly over 1,000 fight missions. Shot down throughout the 1971 Indo-Pak battle, he spent 12 months as a prisoner of battle, solely to emerge along with his spirit unshaken and his dedication to service stronger than ever.
His daring missions, strategic strikes, and unwavering resolve exemplify the best ranges of braveness. Immediately, his story continues to encourage future generations—a rare testomony to valor, sacrifice, and a lifelong dedication to his nation.
Get to know him a bit on this interview – his story, in his personal phrases.
Your strike missions throughout the 1971 Indo-Pak Struggle reveal unparalleled braveness and devotion. As you flew these important missions, what was your mindset, and what drove you to face such extraordinary dangers?
When one is confronted with fight and a life and demise scenario, it’s fascinating how your life full of childhood recollections and experiences flash by your eyes in a fraction of a second. My mindset throughout the 1971 battle missions was formed by these earliest experiences. At age 5, I used to be despatched to boarding faculty by my household and learnt from my father first hand what ‘change brings alternative’ actually meant. I dove into swimming, boxing, and rugby from an early age which constructed my bodily and psychological resilience. A pivotal lesson got here from my father at 16 when he additionally taught me to ‘acknowledge my limits’ – this proved to be invaluable knowledge for my fight missions. My mindset was considered one of willpower and psychological resilience to hold out my mission with a laser-focused evaluation of the dynamic fight scenario, whereas flying a supersonic jet & making split-second choices between life and demise because the scenario demanded. What drove me was my private dream and keenness to serve my nation, uphold the lives of my squadron mates, skilled delight in finishing up close to unimaginable missions, and the accountability to guard civilians.
The 12 months you spent as a Prisoner of Struggle after your plane was hit will need to have been an immense take a look at of resilience. What stored you robust throughout captivity, and what did you study your self throughout that point?
The 12 months in Captivity in a Pakistani Jail most definitely was a take a look at of resilience. I’m the eldest of seven siblings in my household. Once I turned 5, my dad and mom despatched me off to boarding faculty from the place I selected to enter navy coaching at 16 and selected to change into a fighter pilot of the Indian Air Pressure. Dwelling alone from such an early age and the rigorous trainings that adopted ready me for separation from all comforts and institutional dwelling.
As a fighter pilot, I understood and accepted mortality – this mindset proved essential throughout captivity. The fighter pilot coaching in calculated danger evaluation and sustaining composure beneath stress was invaluable and I had time in isolation to mirror on the early teachings from my dad and mom -my father’s knowledge about ‘recognizing limits’ helped me tempo myself by that 12 months.. What I discovered most about myself was discovering untested ranges of endurance and the way youth experiences had unknowingly ready me for such excessive adversity. The toughest challenges have been sustaining psychological self-discipline, creating routine in a hostile atmosphere, and coping with the psychological influence of time loss – I even began forgetting find out how to spell phrases.
The expertise revealed depths of resilience I by no means knew I had, together with the acceptance that I would by no means return residence.In a hostile atmosphere, it’s your psychological and emotional basis that helps you survive excessive and long-term adversity. The 12 months as a captive revealed deeper elements of my character; just like the acceptance that I’ll by no means get again….which is one thing that I had by no means identified existed in me.
You have been awarded the Vir Chakra on your gallantry and repair to the nation. What does this recognition imply to you personally, and the way do you see your legacy inspiring future generations?
The Vir Chakra Award, is a really prestigious navy ornament – awarded to me as a logo of excellence in fighter aviation, tactical and fight expertise, unwavering obligation to the nation and validation of mission-focused considering in warfare. The award holds deep private significance to me past the Nationwide honor itself. It’s the final validation of my very own core values – to dedicate my life and mission to serve my nation, whereas acknowledging the calculated braveness required in excessive circumstances.
I do know so many who’ve devoted their lives to serve and combat for our nation to guard our future generations, and but this nationwide award isn’t granted to them. I’m honoured to be a recipient of this prestigious award understanding how tough the choice course of is and subsequently the popularity from friends and youthful generations of navy officers it brings. To me, it represents the bridge between my private achievement and nationwide service as a tangible reminder of the intangible qualities it takes to serve your nation to the best diploma with braveness and dedication.
To future generations, as my journey from childhood self-discipline to navy excellence, I see the significance of constructing resilience early in life. Then with correct coaching, unwavering dedication, and “thoughts over matter”, one can overcome any excessive scenario to reside the lifetime of your goals. My mantra is – set your objectives excessive, “change brings alternative, so bounce on it and simply do it”!! For youth contemplating navy service, my private missions and outcomes have been analysed, contributed to air fight ways and methods and used as a mannequin for navy management and braveness, patriotic service and sacrifice.
Reflecting in your experiences and the missions you undertook, what do you consider is the true that means of braveness and repair to 1’s nation?
As a fighter pilot, I discovered that braveness is not about fearlessness, however about dealing with worry with function. Each mission I flew represented not particular person glory however nationwide obligation – the essence of ‘Service Earlier than Self.’ True braveness is about calculated risk-taking for mission success, defending fellow pilots and floor forces, and standing agency in protection of nationwide pursuits.
Most significantly, what I discovered by fight and captivity is that braveness and repair aren’t measured in medals or private achievements. They’re measured in how we encourage others to rise above themselves, how we shield our fellow servicemen, and the way we uphold the timeless values that make our navy forces the guardians of our nation’s future.
At moments just like the latest reunions and commemorations, what feelings and reflections come to thoughts as you reconnect with comrades and honor the recollections of battle heroes?
On Dec 6, 2024 we had the newest commemoration on the well-known The Wagah Border. It was these very border gates I had walked by on my return from Pakistan after serving 1 12 months as a Prisoner of Struggle. I used to be deeply moved by the inter-service recognition given to me 53 years later. It was a surreal expertise sitting there with my spouse Grace and daughter Pritha as we sat beside the border safety forces as VIP Visitors of Honor whereas 2500 members of the viewers have been handed out a 4 web page printed and laminated brochure of my life story.
The presence of Colonel Chand, an 89-year-old Military officer, who witnessed my fighter mission from the bottom had been ready all these years to inform his aspect of the story, watching me from the bottom and traveled all this fashion to discuss me – it was significantly touching and so nostalgic. The occasion stirred highly effective feelings – a mixture of delight and humility, gratitude for survival, and bittersweet recollections of wartime. It was a full circle, from 1971 to 2024, a reminder of the previous and consciousness of the current, reinforcing the worth of service, seeing youthful generations carry the torch ahead and honor the large effort for interconnected navy operations to maintain our nation.
How can we greatest honor the sacrifices of our armed forces and contribute meaningfully to our personal communities?
We greatest honor navy sacrifices by energetic remembrance – not simply collaborating in commemorative occasions, however actually understanding and sharing tales of valor and first hand accounts, recollections and experiences with youthful generations. We should additionally present our help for navy households throughout deployments, creating employment alternatives for veterans, and serving to with their transition to civilian life.
Our civilian communities, colleges, small and huge corporates may also lean on and incorporate navy values into teaching programs, supporting veteran-owned companies, and creating platforms for veterans to share their experiences. The hot button is fostering a deeper understanding between navy and civilian life whereas constructing robust, supportive networks that protect our navy heritage and uphold our legacy.
In one sentence, how would you describe the ability of service and its means to remodel communities?
The facility of service lies in its means to remodel abnormal people into extraordinary defenders of our nation, educating us that true braveness is not nearly particular person bravery, however about inspiring others to rise above themselves for the higher good of our communities and nation.
Wanting again in your journey, what impressed you to dedicate your life to service, and the way did your early experiences form this calling?
My journey of touring alone started on the age of 5 after I traveled throughout the nation from residence within the south to boarding faculty within the north. As an unaccompanied minor, I additionally had the privileged entry to Dakota cockpits with Captain Abraham, which planted early seeds of aviation fascination. Common household transfers and solo air journey at a younger age constructed resilience and independence. The turning level got here after I turned 16 and discovered that navy aviation was a attainable profession path for me. My robust boarding faculty expertise and even harder NDA (Nationwide Defence Academy) coaching ready me not just for navy operations & self-discipline, fight and self defence but additionally perseverance and publicity to skilled aviators. These aviators grew to become my a lot wanted function fashions, as I used to be so far-off from residence.
Wanting again, my dedication to service wasn’t a sudden alternative however a pure fruits of those formative experiences – every air journey, every second within the cockpit, every dialog with the pilot and flight crew, every hour within the hangars – all contributed to creating my life’s mission to change into a fighter pilot to serve my nation, a actuality.
Your dedication has impacted many lives, however what has been probably the most rewarding or humbling second for you throughout this journey?
Surprisingly, my most humbling moments weren’t the fight victories, recognition, and even the Vir Chakra. As a substitute, it was discovering how my service touched others’ lives unexpectedly. It was a hawaldar in Pakistan who saved my life, to Colonel Chand, now 89, who looked for me for 50 years to be taught if I had survived that fateful mission, discovered me and referred to as for a union and invited us again to the Wagah Border with over 2500 folks within the viewers to share his story of witnessing my mission from the bottom.
Assembly the kids of my squadron mates who grew up impressed by my instance, listening to from younger cadets how my story of resilience gave them energy – these moments proceed to indicate me that although I used to be among the many youngest officers throughout the battle, newly recruited and a low-ranked younger officer, I used to be a part of one thing a lot bigger than myself. The last word reward is understanding that my journey – from that curious boy watching Captain Abraham fly the Dakota, to the fighter pilot defending his nation – has helped protect the peace and safety that households in our nation rely on us to take care of. It’s a humbling accountability.
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