Pune’s IAF officers honoured with Mention-in-Despatches — true heroes in the sky. | PuneriPages.in
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
This Independence Day was extra special for Pune. Two fighter pilots from our city — Wing Commander Gaurav Boralkar and Squadron Leader Sourabh Rajkumar Shinde — have been honoured with the prestigious ‘Mention-in-Despatches’ award. And honestly, the news fills me with so much pride, because it’s not every day that we get to celebrate heroes from our very own city.
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What is ‘Mention-in-Despatches’?
Now, if you’re like me, you might not have heard this term too often. It isn’t as commonly mentioned as Vir Chakra or Shaurya Chakra, but within the defence forces, it carries huge respect. It’s given to officers who show outstanding courage or bravery during combat situations. In simple words, it’s a way of saying, “You stood tall when it really mattered.”
The Mission That Tested Everything
The award for Boralkar and Shinde came because of what they did during Operation Sindoor, a sensitive IAF mission near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). While details are obviously limited, what we do know is that they were faced with a sudden air violation. Imagine being thousands of feet in the sky, knowing one wrong move could spark a dangerous incident.
But instead of panic, both officers showed calm decision-making, perfect flying, and the kind of composure that only comes with years of training. They not only avoided a potential disaster but also safeguarded Indian airspace. Reading about it honestly gave me goosebumps.
Pune’s Own Heroes
What makes this even closer to home is that both of them have strong roots in Pune.
- Wing Commander Gaurav Boralkar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, a place that has shaped some of India’s finest military officers.
- Squadron Leader Sourabh Rajkumar Shinde studied at Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, another institution that’s always been a symbol of service and discipline.
This just shows how Pune continues to nurture leaders who go on to serve the nation with courage and pride.
Why This Matters
For me, stories like these are a reminder that bravery isn’t always about big speeches or headlines. Sometimes it’s about staying calm in a cockpit, making split-second decisions, and quietly doing your duty while the rest of us sleep peacefully at night.
Today, Pune feels a little prouder, and India feels a lot safer — all thanks to two officers who refused to let fear dictate their actions.
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