Wing Commander Abhinandan is the son of retired Air Marshal Simhakutty Varthaman, a highly decorated officer of Indian Air Force.
Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman returns to India two days after he was made captive by Pakistan. He left for the Wagah Border from Lahore on Friday. The Pakistani officials handed over him to the Indian officials at the Attari-Wagah Border at 5.24 PM. He had a cup of tea with Pakistani Rangers and his service pistol has been returned. His medical check has also been done.
Pakistan had bowed to India's demand seeking safe return of Indian Air Force pilot who crashed into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday after foiling Pak Air Force's attempt to target military installations. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the decision to release the IAF pilot in the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released by Islamabad tomorrow.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was in Pakistan's custody, comes from long line of faujis who have served in different ranks. He is the son of retired Air Marshal Simhakutty Varthaman, a highly decorated officer of Indian Air Force. His grandfather was also a retired Indian Air Force personnel. The pilot lives in Madambakkam in south Chennai and joined the IAF in 2004 after training at the Tambaram Air Force station.
"He was inspired by his father, and always wanted to become a pilot," said his uncle Kundanathan. Abhinandan's wife is also a retired squadron leader and they have a son.
The wing commander, whose MiG 21 Bison aircraft was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force, ejected safely but landed across the Line of Control and was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army.
Here is all you need to know about Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman:
1. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman released
)
The Pakistani officials handed over him to the Indian officials at the Attari-Wagah Border at 5.24 PM. He had a cup of tea with Pakistani Rangers and his service pistol has been returned. His medical check has also been done.
Photo Credits: PTI
2. Pilot joined IAF in 2004 after training at Tambaram air base
)
Abhinandan's roots are in Thirupanamoor village, 15km from Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu. The pilot lives in Madambakkam in south Chennai and joined the IAF in 2004 after training at the Tambaram Air Force station. His father lives in Selaiyur near Tambaram, a suburb of Chennai which has an IAF station. His relatives identified him from the video released by Pakistan.
Photo Credits: PTI
3. Abhinandan's wife is retired squadron leader from his batch
)
Abhinandan's wife, Tanvi Marwaha, is also a retired squadron leader and they have a young son. She retired as a helicopter pilot. Tanvi is believed to be his colleague in Indian Air Force from 2004 batch.
Photo Credits: Wiki pics
4. IAF Pilot Abhinandan is son of highly decorated officer of Indian Air Force
)
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is the son of retired Air Marshal Simhakutty Varthaman, a highly decorated officer of Indian Air Force. "He was inspired by his father, and always wanted to become a pilot," said his uncle Kundanathan. His grandfather is also a retired Indian Air Force personnel.
Photo Credits: Youtube/Video Grab
5. Abhinandan’s mother is a doctor who worked in troubled war-torn places
)
Abhinandan's mother Dr. Shobha is a part of ‘Doctors Without Borders’ (Médecins Sans Frontières). She has worked in Liberia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Papua New Guinea, Haiti and Laos, Dr. Shobha has healed the wounded in some of the worst conflict zones around the world.
Photo Credits: Youtube
6. Efficient Sukhoi-30 fighter pilot
)
Fifteen years into service, he is an efficient Sukhoi-30 fighter pilot Officer Abhinandan Varthaman. He was promoted to Wing Commander and was assigned to the Mi-21 Bison squadron.
Photo Credits: Twitter
7. Abhinandan's current predicament resembles plot of a Tamil movie, co-directed by his father
)
Ironically, Wing Commander Abhinandan's current predicament resembles the plot of a Tamil movie Kaatru Veliyidai — the pilot protagonist is captured by Pakistan. Retired Air Marshal Varthaman served as a consultant to director Mani Ratnam on the film.
Photo Credits: Wiki Pics
8. Pilot was taken into custody by Pakistan after his aircraft was shot down
)
The wing commander, whose MiG 21 Bison aircraft was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force, ejected safely but landed across the Line of Control and was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army.
Photo Credits: AFP
9. Pakistani PM had announced to release Indian pilot
)
"We have decided to release the captured Indian pilot tomorrow as a peace gesture," Imran Khan announced this in Pakistan Parliament. Khan, however, said our de-escalation efforts should not be seen a weak gesture. He also said that he tried to reach out to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
Photo Credits: ANI
10. IAF Pilot handed over to Indian officials at Attari-Wagah Border at 5.24 PM
)
The Pakistani officials handed over him to the Indian officials at the Attari-Wagah Border at 5.24 PM. He had a cup of tea with Pakistani Rangers and his service pistol has been returned. His medical check has also been done.
Photo Credits: DNA
