AGRA: As soon the government announced Air Marshal
Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria as next
IAF chief, there was jubilation in his ancestral village Korath of
Agra district. Sweets were exchanged and greetings were shared between local villagers and Bhadauria’s distant relatives.
Bhadauria’s septuagenarian aunt Prabha Devi said, “As a small boy, Rakesh once told his grandfather Shobran Singh that one day he will become pilot after he saw an airplane.
Today he made all of us proud and is set to lead country’s air force.”
Sandeep Bhadauria (45), the younger cousin of
Air Marshal Bhadauria, said, “Our family has history of defence back ground, bravery and leadership runs in our blood. Our grandfather Shobran Singh was in British army and served in World War II. Rakesh’s father Suraj Pal Singh Bhadauria retired as
master warrant officer in air force, while my father Arvind Kumar Singh retired as Subedar from army and uncle Santosh Singh also served in air force. My two brothers Avnish and Bipin Bhadauria are currently serving in army.”
“In fact Rakesh daughter Sonali is also pilot in IAF, while his Saurab is a commercial pilot. It has been more than a decade since Rakesh and his family paid visit to Korath village. As a boy, Rakesh and his younger brother Rajeev Bhadauria used to visit village during school break in summer vacations,” said Sandeep Bhadauria.
He said, “Since Rakesh’s father Suraj Pal Singh has turned over 90 he too find it difficult to visit the village. Currently, he is living in Vayunagar of Gwalior.”
Pradeep Singh, gram pradhan pati of Korath said, “We are immensely proud on Rakesh achievements. Now people will identify Korath, as ‘air chief’s village’.”
Korath is more than 90 km away from Agra in Jaithpura Kala block of Bah tehsil in Agra district.