AVM Suryakant Chafekar AVSM, Shaurya chakra retired as Senior Air and Administration Staff Officer of Maintenance Command. He was commissioned in Transport stream of Indian Air Force and during his meritorious service, he has flown more than 7000 hrs on various types of aircraft.
The Air Officer is alumnus of Defence Service Staff College, Wellington. He is a qualified Flying instructor with over 3500 instructional hrs to his credit. He is an expert in Air Maintenance with specialisation in Himalayan region. He has executed trial Landings on An-32 aircraft at High Altitude Advance Landing Grounds (ALG’s) like Daulat Beg Oldie (World’s highest Airstrip at elevation of 16700 feet.), Nyoma (Elevation of 13500 feet ) and Fukche (Elevation of 14300 feet). He has vast experience in the field of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. Under his able leadership succour was provided to needy during Uttarakhand flood relief, Yemen Evacuation. He was forefront in induction of C-17 (Globemaster) and C-130 (Super Hercules) aircraft in IAF.
He commanded a transport squadron at Chandigarh and was Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Chandigarh, a premier Transport base. He was Chief Operational Officer of Agra, the largest Base in IAF. He held various Operational appointments at Air Headquarters a recognition of his operational capabilities.
The Air Officer was awarded Shaurya Chakra a gallantry award by President of India in recognition of his Professional Courage, Indefatigable Spirit, and Meticulous planning and execution of trial landing at Daulat Beg Oldie an Airstrip of immense Strategic importance close to China border, and was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for Distinguished Devotion to Duty. He contributed immensely in Kargil Operations.
Air Vice Marshal Post retirement is actively involved in training the Youths for Service Selection Board Interviews free of cost, He conducts training programmes on Personality Development, Leadership, and is a Motivator. He is a Defence analyst and regularly his articles are published in and Magazines Newspapers. He has a you tube channel. Shankh naad for social awareness. His memoir ‘Shades Of Blue' was published in Nov 2021. His memoir in Marathi “Nilayeechya Chata”was awarded the best memoir of year 2021 by Maharashtra sahitya parishad Pune.
The conversation starts with the audience and the guest sharing their own stories and their own Journeys in life. They also reveal some real-time experiences of what they have faced and what and also how normal people react to the people who are protecting the country like Army Officers. As the conversation moves the guests state that there is no definition of terrorism given by W H O that is W H O has not defined terrorism. They also Express that India is well-equipped with the defined system and is capable of facing the challenges that might come in future.