The Abhinandan Saga

In times of adversity my mind traverses back to 27th of February 2019. It’s a date pinned in my radar, as the day Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthman created a history of sorts by downing an F 16 with his vintage Mig 21 Bison. To give some perspective, it’s like a Maruti 800 outpacing a Ferrari, given the technology divide.

Part of my job mandates travel across the country reviewing business, teams & Partners. I was headed for one such sojourn to Kolkata. It had been an uneventful flight, although I have had my fair share of flights brimming with excitement. From a bird hit, to a cracked cockpit glass, to flying over volcanic ash and plummeting like a rock. Not to mention the various take offs and landings at Bombay in Monsoons. Akin to roller coaster rides.

We were nearing the end of the flight, and I walked down the aisle to for a bio break. While waiting for the toilet to be vacant, the Fasten seat belt sign came on. On enquiring from the hostess, she confirmed my premise that we were due for landing and to hurry up with my business and get back to my seat. No cause of alarm.

I was patiently waiting for the Toilet to be vacant before I felt a shudder. Which soon became a violent shake down, as I was thrown off my feet landing on the floor. The aircraft was not merely plummeting but shaking vigorously like a rag doll in the hand’s of an over excited kid. My mind was still processing the change of events, that I felt a warm sensation in my pants. As I sought to check the source, was relieved to know it was merely the coffee seeping into my pants from the overturned cart.

The Air hostess handling the cart was tossed aside, banging into the rear exit. The other hostess was buckled up in her seat. As I tried to get up the G force kept me pinned to the floor. I manoeuvred myself between the two toilets with my back anchored against the door of one and my feet pushing into the other. In this melee, the occupants of the toilets tried to rush their way out, into perceived safety, only to be blocked by the full force of my body anchored in the compact space. The other hostess was goading me to get up and sit in the vacant seat beside her; but I was still losing the battle to gravity. It took all my strength to stay in the same position as the Aircraft continued its downward spiral.

As I lay sprawled, my mind went to the events of the previous day; when after having downed an F 16 Wing Commander Abhinandan had bailed out at 20,000 feet. It put things in perspective, and I smile played upon my lips. At that moment, a fellow passenger turned around from his seat to see me adorning the messy floor with a smile, and the look of befuddlement which transpired across his face made me smile even more. He was thinking I had lost my head, when apparently we were hurtling towards disaster and here I was thinking how small a discomfort I was going through vis-a-vis the brave Air warrior.

Too many times we tend to exaggerate our challenges failing to appreciate what others might be going through. The idea is not to belittle your struggles, but rather have an appropriate context of what you are going through and what all you are capable of. Too often we merely scratch the tip of our capabilities, allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by situations magnified by our self-absorption. To be true to your capabilities, the ability to dispassionately appraise yourself is critical. It allows you an honest understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, the lack of awareness of which can play havoc with you as a person & as a professional.

I finally crawled to the comfort of the vacant air hostess seat, clambering on top of it, only to realise that the seat belt was geared for the petite frame of the air-hostess. After some struggle was able to get it across myself, and as the eye of the air-hostess roved over my dishevelled state, I hurriedly explained the coffee mishap before incorrect perceptions could be formed.

As things calmed down a bit, I unfastened myself and took to comforting the lady coming out of the toilet, clearly in a state of shock.

While walking back to my seat I realised the extraordinary learning I had undertaken in the most unlikely settings.

Desist from putting undue focus on your struggles and adversities, they may pale in comparison to what others are going through, but more importantly they may limit your capability to fly, and inhibit you from becoming the true self you deserve to be.

Do not allow yourself to become a footnote in your own Autobiography.