This blue-eyed boy from Sainik School Chittorgarh joined us in 1976. He was from Sikar, Rajasthan and belonged to a down to earth farming family. Although very soft-spoken and an introvert, he lectured people like Kulkarni and Mukerjee to improve themselves lest they fall into a deep hole from which they would never emerge. He excelled in cross-country as if he had wings on his feet.

Santosh was commissioned into the Air Force in 49 Sqn at Jorhat flying the Dakota. In 1983 he flew a Dak into Imphal airport to pick up some terrorists captured alive by the Army to be transported to Tihar jail in Delhi. He was totally surprised that those handcuffed terrorists were handed over to him by that badmash Mukerjee, his squadron mate.

He was a health and games enthusiast, and would play 30 odd games of squash and when no more players were left to run around the runaway. Santosh loved his mithai, milk, and ghee. He also loved good food. Our AK (Charlie sqn) recalls that during a dinner at his place the dessert made by the Mrs was so delicious that Santosh commandeered the dish for himself. Apparently, Santosh also used to get a discount at the Sadar Bazaar sweet shop in Agra due to his daily purchases.

After his Jorhat tenure Santosh was posted to 16 Squadron Gorakhpur. They were flying Canberras. Said AK, as above, was also posted with him. Anumolu Mohan now recalls that Santosh never told his parents that he was commissioned into the Air Force because they wanted his feet on the ground in the Army. Wish that Santosh had listened to them.

Santosh felt a lot for his squadron and course mates. Ashok Sarda recalls that once when he was flying over Nagpur, he remembered him via a letter which felt so poignant that it probably lifted him a bit over the low in life that he was undergoing at that time.

On 19 May 1985 Santosh was on a training sortie making a simulated single-engine approach on landing when the Canberra flipped over and crashed short of the runaway. Santosh was then engaged to be married. There went one of the finest and best of 56 Lima. God takes the good guys away, and we wonder why?

🙏May his soul rest in peace🙏