Since I had been in the Indian Air Force active service, I can never forget the Flying Pilot Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma. I wish him the Happy Birthday to him today 13.01.2021.
When I was in Hindon air base, we had proud moment for his selection out of 140 pilots for going to space through Russia. As there is always a stand by option, and therefore, runner up Air Commodore Ravish Malhotra who was my Commanding Officer in Air Force Station Shaharanpur (U.P) India also underwent all the rigorous training for going to space.
When the Rakesh Sharma (then Squadron leader) was in space and asked by the prime minister Smt Indira Gandhi how the India looked like from the space, the officer replied from the space,
“Sare Jahan Se Achcha!”
He spent 7 days, 21 hours and 40 minutes in space along with two Soviet astronauts, Yury Malyshev and Gennadi Strekalov. He was born on January 13, 1949 in Patiala which was my one of the units in Indian Air Force during my active service.
The cosmonaut who worked as an air force pilot in the Indian Armed Forces become first Indian to orbit in space from India on 3rd April 1984. The test pilot Sharma was conferred ‘Ashok Chakra’, the highest gallantry award from Government of India and ‘Hero of Soviet Union’
He can never be forgotten to raise the glory of nation due to his amazing all time performance. I have narrated all lovely gallantry laurels in my military biography.
