Men In Uniform Who Brief The Nation, Don’t Inform Their Family

From Punjab as we move to Purnia in Bihar. What comes to the fore is the endearing back story about Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Director General Air Operation (DGMO), the architect of the air operations in the ongoing Operation Sindoor and his father Jeevachhlal Yadav (85), back home in Purnia.  The aging octogenarian was not aware about the backstage heroics and the pyrotechnics his son had masterminded against Pakistan till his next door neighbour called out, asked him to tune into TV news channels on May 11 evening. By the time he got hold of the remote, Air Marshal Bharti was already into the media briefing in New Delhi, sharing details and evidence of the clinical precision with which the Indian Air Force (IAF) struck Pakistani air bases and other crucial targets as part of Operation Sindoor. The father was a bit disappointed that his son had not shared details with him. “He did not tell me anything when he called up and spoke to me last week. He could have at least told me that he would be on TV,” said senior Yadav. However, since that day an ebullient Yadav is glued to the TV. His son was on TV again on May 12 afternoon, as part of the media briefing. Senior Yadav watched him with glee and a sense of pride. Media reports said Air Marshal Bharti has given his parents newfound fame and respect in Purnia. Air Marshal Bharti’s father described him as brilliant since childhood and as someone who always stood first. He went to the NDA, Pune and got commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in June 1987. He topped the NDA course and was awarded the prestigious “Sword of Honour”.