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| [Raj Kumar Mehta underwent Course 55 at the Air Force Academy] |
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The invitee, Pran Nath Mehta, was Rakjumar’s elder brother. I recall an incident when we had once visited granduncle Pran at Dhanbad. I was only 4 years old at the time. While standing outside his bungalow, and observing his receded hairline, I innocently pointed out that he had "such a large forehead" - and inquired whether he too had been subjected to a "mundan" (a tonsuring ceremony that I'd had recently undergone at the time)- eliciting a hearty laughter on his part. I had no idea at the time that I was referring to a family trait that had created a nickname from squadron-mates for his late younger brother, of whom I would come to know only years later. |
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| RSVP card- The edits in pen were most likely made by Raj |
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| His last photo |
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| After being preserved by the family for over half a century, it was handed over to the No. 23 Squadron on September 15th, 2018 |
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Earned with his life: The Ashok Chakra Class II is the second highest award for gallantry away from the scene of battle. Now renamed Kirti Chakra, it's the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra
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| This memento was gifted to the No. 23 Squadron ("Panthers") by the family 3 years after Raj's death, I believe during the 15th anniversary of the Squadron raising. |
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| Another old picture showing close up of the memento. At the 2018 ceremony, it was a treat for the family to see that what their elders had presented to the squadron 55 years ago, had been so well-preserved. |
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Additional pics from the hand-over ceremony during the Diamond Jubilee of the No. 23 Squadron on September 15th, 2018
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[Photos & inputs courtesy Gp Capt Sundeep Mehta (retd). The photo of granduncle Pran was clicked by me as a child.]