/ BUSINESS STANDARD

Veteran IAF pilots relive 1971 photo, the image goes viral

Months ahead of the India-Pakistan war broke out in 1971, it was just another day at work for the five young pilots at IAF's 22 squadron in Kalaikunda as they moved around camouflaged nets and concrete blast pens in their black overalls and bikes, preserving themselves for the action. Realising the similarities in their appearances and the Jawa bikes, they decided to capture the moment in the camera. The five Gnat pilots happily posed for a photograph with one hand on the petrol tank and a cigarette casually dangling from the lips of one of them. None of them had a clue that the picture clicked nearly 50 years ago will go viral in the social media in 2019. IANS spoke to Wing Commander Sunith Soares, Air Vice Marshal A.K. Shyam, group captains P.M. Velankar and Ashok Bhagwat (all retired) -- who were traced by Jawa Motorcycles and were made to recreate the photograph with only one difference, the missing fifth man in the 1971 picture -- group captain V. Pashupati who is no more. A fifth bike was placed with only a helmet in a missing man formation, an Air Force way of honouring a fallen pilot. "It was in 1971, we knew war would come up, there was little flying and most of the day we would just sit around trying to waste time as we were preserving for the hour," recalled Sunith Soares. "There was a big shot coming to visit us so we decided to stay in our overalls which was jet black. We did not even have a squadron crest so we called ourselves Hell's Angels inspired by the US group of bikers wearing black jackets and riding Harley Davidsons, and wore the patch on the sleeve," he said explaining how they related to the gang of brave bikers who he said was "just like us". The Hells's Angels became Sabre Slayers by the time the war ended as the formation in which Soares was flying shot down three Sabre jets of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in what came to be known as one of the top five battles of modern jet era. The squadron was later officially crested as "Swifts". Air Vice Marhal Shyam recalled that he was only 21-year-old when the picture was taken. "I used to drive around in my Jawa in the squadron as did all other pilots. I bought the bike from Jamshedpur. On that day (when the picture was taken), it just occurred to us that all of us had the same bikes so we decided to take a picture. "It was spontaneous. We did not plan it," said Shyam who went on to form IAF's first aerobatic team Thunderbolt flying Hunters in Hashimara in 1981 and was later posted at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka before retiring as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of Nagpur-based maintenance command. "I bought the bike for around Rs 5,000 and after using it for 13 years I sold it in Siliguri for around the same amount," he said. "In those days, every fighter pilot aspired to have a Jawa or an Enfield. The majority had Jawa. I also bought a bike for around Rs 5,000 which stayed with me for 13 years and I took it around wherever I went," said group captain Ashok Bhagwat. P.M. Velankar, the fourth man in the picture, said that there was nothing special about the photograph as it was just another day and it was spontaneous action. "We were sitting on the bikes and somebody clicked it," he said expressing surprise about how it has gone viral. Ashish Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of Classic Legends of Jawa Motorcycles told IANS it was heartening to just listen to them sharing their experiences. The starting point for bringing them together was the old picture of them sitting on the bikes. Jawa invited them for the fundraiser event where Rs 1.49 crore collected by auctioning off 13 motorcycles was handed over to Kendriya Sainik Board and recreated the image.

Anonymous user
27 Feb 2021
Lucky to have served with, and under, one of these officers in the picture (Veteran Group Capt Ashok Bhagwat), he had been my Commanding Officer too in a fighter Squadron. A Test Pilot and a strongly sentimental, avid and hard core Jawa lover, goes BIG LIFE in his teens and 20s with the memories of his bike. Since the raising of funds was for a cause as noble, I am sure all riders from the armed forces still holding this legend would do this for all the Sainiks and for the love of Jawa. My second memory dates back to the months prior to the 71 War when I was still in school. Our neighbourhood had many armed forces officers and one of them had two sons, the elder one was working in the civil sector who owned a Jawa, the sound of which I would wait in the evenings to hear when he would return, while the younger one left even stronger memories and emotions - 2nd Lt Arun Khetrapal, Param Veer Chakra. I never owned one, but lucky to ride the old Jawa, new Jawa, Roadking and Oilking.
Anonymous user
16 Apr 2022
I recently received a bike a no one is cooperative in the showroom I had a very bad experience there is lot of issues no one is supporting. Whoever wants test drive contact me it has been 1 month I purchased this bike if you guys want I'll bring my bike till your house see the problem I'm facing. Contact number- 9167872092
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1 OR 2+450-450-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1 OR 3+450-450-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1 OR 2+870-870-1=0+0+0+1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1 OR 3+870-870-1=0+0+0+1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1' OR 2+881-881-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1' OR 3+881-881-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1' OR 2+76-76-1=0+0+0+1 or 'AQLOwRE4'='
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1' OR 3+76-76-1=0+0+0+1 or 'AQLOwRE4'='
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1" OR 2+628-628-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1" OR 3+628-628-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
if(now()=sysdate(),sleep(15),0)
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
0'XOR(if(now()=sysdate(),sleep(15),0))XOR'Z
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
0"XOR(if(now()=sysdate(),sleep(15),0))XOR"Z
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
(select(0)from(select(sleep(15)))v)/*'+(select(0)from(select(sleep(15)))v)+'"+(select(0)from(select(sleep(15)))v)+"*/
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1); waitfor delay '0:0:15' --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1 waitfor delay '0:0:15' --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
ARoLyDz4'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-5 OR 517=(SELECT 517 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-5) OR 997=(SELECT 997 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1)) OR 515=(SELECT 515 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
6TYmiDD3' OR 874=(SELECT 874 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
RDhvaHXv') OR 675=(SELECT 675 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
TYHlCUT5')) OR 36=(SELECT 36 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1*DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE(CHR(99)||CHR(99)||CHR(99),15)
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1'||DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE(CHR(98)||CHR(98)||CHR(98),15)||'
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1 OR 2+14-14-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1 OR 3+14-14-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1 OR 2+342-342-1=0+0+0+1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1 OR 3+342-342-1=0+0+0+1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1' OR 2+158-158-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1' OR 3+158-158-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1' OR 2+625-625-1=0+0+0+1 or 'rLBtWSd1'='
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1' OR 3+625-625-1=0+0+0+1 or 'rLBtWSd1'='
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1" OR 2+54-54-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1" OR 3+54-54-1=0+0+0+1 --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
if(now()=sysdate(),sleep(15),0)
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
0'XOR(if(now()=sysdate(),sleep(15),0))XOR'Z
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
0"XOR(if(now()=sysdate(),sleep(15),0))XOR"Z
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
(select(0)from(select(sleep(15)))v)/*'+(select(0)from(select(sleep(15)))v)+'"+(select(0)from(select(sleep(15)))v)+"*/
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1); waitfor delay '0:0:15' --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1 waitfor delay '0:0:15' --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
QsecTGWq'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-5 OR 372=(SELECT 372 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-5) OR 666=(SELECT 666 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
-1)) OR 591=(SELECT 591 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
mwESFG0V' OR 781=(SELECT 781 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
ZvVTbbLq') OR 973=(SELECT 973 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
gUZ5ZT03')) OR 662=(SELECT 662 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1*DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE(CHR(99)||CHR(99)||CHR(99),15)
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1'||DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE(CHR(98)||CHR(98)||CHR(98),15)||'
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
30 Aug 2022
1
Anonymous user
22 Sep 2022
Anonymous user
17 Oct 2023
Anonymous user
17 Oct 2023
Anonymous user
17 Oct 2023
https://targetsite?s='>XSS
Looks like you’d love to take it for a spin
Public Notice

It has come to our notice that many fraudulent websites are operating by offering Jawa dealerships & products in lieu of money. Some of these websites are registered in the domain name *.com* and *.in* and the *dealer* or *dealership*, such as -
http://www.jawamotorcycledealership.com/
http://jawadealership.com/
http://jawadealer.in/
http://jawadealership.in/
http://jawamotorsltd.com/

It is therefore advised NOT to visit the above mentioned fraudulent websites or make any payment related to Jawa dealerships & products. For allocating a new dealership, we will never ask you for a up-front payment. To apply for a dealership or book your Jawa motorcycle, please visit the official website of Jawa Motorcycles (Classic Legends Private Limited) i.e. https://www.jawamotorcycles.com.

Note - Classic Legends Private Limited does not take any responsibility for the payment made to such fraudulent websites (including people) and shall in no event be held liable for the same.

Ride Safe!
Classic Legends Private Limited