(Updating earlier story)
Anantnag (NVI) As India received the first 5 Rafale fighter planes from France, an Air Commodore in the Indian Air Force hailing from this district of Kashmir came to limelight.
Air Commodore Hilal Ahmed Rather is the Defence Attache in the Indian Embassy in Paris and played a key role in ensuring timely delivery of the jets, along with the special fitments required, according to people in the know.
While he hit the headlines as his name was associated with the Rafale delivery, back home in his native place Bakshiabad area in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, people are not celebrating, fearing reprisal from terrorists.
Born and brought up in a rich family, 52-year-old Hilal is described as hardworking since childhood by his neighbours and relatives.
A next-door neighbour said Hilal is the son of a retired police officer Muhammad Abdullah Rather. He is the youngest son of his parents among five children,” he said, wishing not to be named. “Hilal did his schooling from Hanfia School Anantnag and later joined Sainik School Nagrota Jammu after which he joined National Defence Academy (NDA),” he said.
A close relative of Hilal said the first he passed out from Air Force Academy as the best pilot and won many awards and honours in the field. “He got distinction in Air War College United States,” he said. “In 1988, he was commissioned in IAF and in the year 2004, he became wing Commander followed by group captain in 2010. In 2016, he became air Commodore.”
Hilal’s cousin brother, while speaking to NVI said that Hilal has also received Vayu Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal. “Hilal was a very hardworking chap from childhood. He would study like anything and had a sharp brain. Today he has made his family and all his relatives proud,” he said while requesting not to be named.
Ghulam Mohiuddin Bhat, an elderly neighbour of Hilal at Bakshibabad said dreams come true when people follow them. “It’s indeed a moment of pride for Hilal’s parents. Flying Rafale is not a joke. He received a good education from childhood and worked hard, set his goal and today, he fulfilled his mission,” he said. Asked why there are no celebrations at Hilal’s native house and the village, Bhat said “certain circumstances” don’t allow them to celebrate.
“Anantnag in south Kashmir district and the entire south Kashmir district is sensitive given the strife it has witnessed over the years. There is hardly anyone who would speak about Hilal. All fear for their lives,” he added.
At his ancestral house, Hilal’s elder brother lives along with his family. Over the years, Hilal lost his father and mother and has visited the village only a couple of times to participate in the last rites of his parents.
Meanwhile, social media is also flooded with wishes for Hilal. “Proud moment, for the people of J&K. First pilot to fly Rafale is Wing Commander Hilal Ahmed Rather of Sainik School and is from Anantnag, Kashmir. Presently he is Indian Defence Attaché in Paris France. He won the Sword of honour in NDA when he passed out and is the finest fighter,” one of Hilal’s friends tweeted.
Another friend wrote: “Hilal has an impeccable record of 3,000 accident-free flying hours in mirage-2000 MIG-21 and Kiran aircraft and will be associated with Rafale in India forever.”
Pertinently, the five Rafale Jets are the first batch of the 36 supersonic combat aircraft ordered from France that were brought to India today. So far, 12 IAF fighter pilots have completed training on the Rafale fighter Jets in France and few more are being trained to fly the jet.
-ARK
