When you opt for flying as a career, you already have a stake in the risk package. Destiny plays truant in large number of cases— though majority of flyers sail through life— of active flying. This is generally true in civil flying. Military aviation is a different cup of tea.

Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis, Chief of Air Staff in a recent seminar on 'Aerospace Technologies' (Aero India 2001) talked about the mind-boggling possibilities in an application of airpower in 21st century. He had stated, "The question that must be asked today by Air Force Commanders, by strategists and policy makers engaged in shaping the destiny of nations is not what Air Power can do but what they want Air Power to do for the possibilities of Air Power are immense- limited only by the depth of our vision, the strength of our beliefs and the boldness of our ingenuity."

No wonder, to make sure that the IAF continues to be a deterrent to all those who cast an evil eye on the country's sovereignty and integrity many a young man die in prime years of their lives.

Pilot Officer Sanjay Shivraj was one such young lad. He was born on the Air Force Day i.e. on October 8 in 1965 at Ahmedabad at the time of Indo-Pak war and his father, a senior army officer, was deployed in forward areas of Rajasthan border. As a young promising child, Sanjay grew up at various places including Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Jammu and Delhi.

After graduating from Delhi University and after rigorous training at Air Force Academies, he qualified as a fighter pilot in July 1986. He got his wings in December 1987 amidst celebrations with his parents and other family members. His family was extremely happy that the youngster enjoyed unique bonding with the Indian Air Force-his birth anniversary coincided with the IAF's anniversary.

On a fateful moment on the morning of May 11,1989 while working at the Air Force Base at Kalaikunda, Sanjay as a member of 'Formation Flying' manoeuvres, participated in the exercise. The formation consisted of 5 GNAT aircraft and was led by an experienced Squadron Leader. All the boys were flying solo.

When the formation was on the manoeuvres, negotiating a left turn, Sanjay was spotted in the aircraft, but when it levelled up in the next moment the team leader was aghast — something was missing. Sanjay was not there. He had crashed! It was a hero's death in peace time.

Though the pilot is no more amongst us, his shadow keeps accompanying the near and dear ones who find his photograph splashed in leading newspapers on the Air Force Day, year after year.