Wing Commander KK (Jumbo) Majumdar is considered the Father of the Indian Air Force
In a country where the political class often pays lip service to the memory of our war vets, there are some who genuinely walk the talk.
Air Marshal Anil Chopra, a retired fighter pilot and former Commander of the Indian Air Force's 1 Squadron has told NDTV that he is willing to pay Rs 20 lakh from his personal pension fund to bring back the Distinguished Flying Cross of Wing Commander KK (Jumbo) Majumdar, a World War 2 hero considered the Father of the Indian Air Force. Air Marshal Chopra once commanded 1 Squadron (now flying Mirage 2000 fighters), the same squadron that Jumbo Majumdar served in with distinction.
"As a retired person, from my own personal pension fund, I am ready to pay Rs 20 lakh... In case nobody pays these Rs 20 lakh, I will pay and get these medals," Air Marshal (Retired) Chopra told NDTV.
Jumbo Majumdar was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry not once but twice during the Second World War where he served both on the Burma front and over Western Europe. He was killed in 1945 at an Indian Air Force recruitment drive in what is now Faisalabad, Pakistan. Had he survived, he would have very likely become the First Chief of the Indian Air Force.
Jumbo Majumdar's Distinguished Flying Cross, log books and other personal belongings were put up for auction by his son, Sailen (Bambi) Majumdar, a former Accountant, who has lived in the UK for many decades. The auction held earlier this week in London fell through when the highest bid of 15,500 pounds (about Rs 15 lakhs) was short of the reserve price. The medals were expected to fetch between 20,000 to 30,000 pounds (around Rs 20-30 lakh). The Indian Air Force, which was made aware of the auction by NDTV, chose not to bid citing Government of India policies.
Now, however, the situation has changed. With the medals back in his possession, Jumbo's son has told NDTV that he is not closed to the idea of the medals being returned to India if someone pays for them. Mr Majumdar, who denies that he was under any financial distress, says he is not closed to any option.
Viewers have also been writing into NDTV offering to pay for the medals if they can be returned to the Indian Air Force and the IAF itself is looking closely at its next steps to bring this treasure back home where it will find pride of place at the Air Force Museum.