AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 143 of 170 On 14 December 1971, Srinagar airfield was attacked by a wave of six PAF F-86 jets. Flying Officer Sekhon was on readiness duty at that time. Soon the enemy aircraft started hovering over the airfield. Straffing of various targets on the ground followed. Attempting to take-off with enemy aircraft overhead was inviting mortal danger. However, Flying Officer Sekhon, unmindful of his safety, flew his Gnat to engage the two attacking Sabres. In the air battle that ensued, he secured a direct hit on one Sabre and set another ablaze. The latter was seen heading away towards Rajauri, trailing smoke and flame. At this juncture four more Pakistani Sabres came on the scene and surrounded his aircraft. He chose to give a fight again. In the dog fight that ensued at tree-top level, he held on against the numerically superior enemy for some time. Eventually, his aircraft was hit and he was killed. But Flying Officer Sekhon had achieved his objective. The enemy aircraft fled from the scene of the battle, without pressing home, the intended attack on Srinagar airfield and its surrounding areas. The bravery, flying skill and determination displayed by Flying Officer Sekhon, earned him the highest wartime gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra. http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/india/medals/PVC/PVC12.html The Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana commissioned the 10 feet high bronze statue to honour Flying Officer Sekhon’s supreme sacrifice during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. A Gnat fighter jet and statue of Flying Officer N.J.S Sekhon, Delhi Festivals Deepawali In a few days from now, one of the more popular festivals of India – Deepavali - will be celebrated. An article written by Swami Dikshananda Saraswati, of the Arya Samaj, Delhi, India, on 17-10-1978, on this festival, which is very relevant, is given below: Om asato ma sadgamaya, Jamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrityor m a amritam gamaya. Lead us from falsehood to truth; from Darkness to light; from Death to immortality and from Lethargy to Activity. The essential principle of Vedic culture is eternal, universal and is applicable to the past, present and the future. The alternate for the Vedic culture is Human culture or Universal culture. Where the aspects of human personality are fourfold: there are four goals of life (dharma, artha, kama and moksha); four Yogas (karma yoga, bhakti yoga, raja-yoga and gnana yoga); four Vedas (Rig Veda, Sam Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda); four ashramas (Brahmacharyashrama, Grahasthashrama, Vanprasthashrama and Sanyasashrama;