A hero’s journey: With grit and grace

Reading the news in recent weeks, I recalled the brave-hearted Bala Gautam, who has made Bangalore her home since 1978. I met her for the first time around 1989. I was a young engineer at HAL undergoing training at our staff college. I remember, to this day, the session she took on perception and communication, which helped me in my professional and personal life. She was an excellent trainer with an innate understanding of the subjects she taught.

. At the time, I was unaware that she was the wife of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Padmanabha Gautam, who had fought in two Indo-Pak wars and was twice decorated with Maha Vir Chakra.

. Her husband had been heroic in defending the country. Bala’s own heroic journey began when she was widowed with three small children at the age of 30.

. She was married in 1958 to Gautam, a match arranged by her family. Gautam had joined the airforce in 1953, and the new bride arrived at Agra, where he was posted.

. Their first daughter, Usha, was born when she was 18. As the young mother struggled, Gautam was helpful and supportive. He introduced her to literature, and her love for books blossomed.

. In 1961, when Bala was pregnant again, Gautam was deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Throughout the Congo operations, Flight Lieutenant Gautam is said to have displayed commendable courage flying Canberra bombers in support of the United Nations Ground troops. When the war ended, and he returned safely, it was a big relief for Bala. Soon, their second daughter, Uma, was born.

. But the shadow of war always hovers over the people who protect us. It was during the Indo-Pak War of 1965; as Bala waited anxiously at home with her two little kids, Squadron Leader Gautam commanded the Jet Bomber Conversion Unit at Agra. He was on several difficult and dangerous missions. When he returned, he was decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra for displaying exceptional courage, determination and devotion to duty.

. In 1971, another Indo-Pak war broke out. Gautam was tasked with new missions, and returned victorious and became one of the few officers to be decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra twice. The same year their third child, Nandan, was born.

. In 1972, Gautam was posted to Pune’s Air Force station as the officer-in-charge of Flying. It was the morning of November 25, 1972, when he went for a routine sortie. He had just taken off when there was an engine snag. He could have ejected from the plane. But he is said to have seen the school right in front, on the familiar route of his daily sortie.

. If he ejected, the plane would have fallen on the school. He remained in the cockpit, and as the plane passed over the school, it exploded. Through his bravery, Gautam saved hundreds of little lives on the ground.

. To this day, that school — V S Satav School in Wagholi village — pays homage to his martyrdom.

. Deeply shattered by the unimaginable tragedy, she embraced the challenge of bringing up three small kids with grit and grace. She joined Banaras Hindu University and graduated with a BA degree. She completed her MA in English as the first rank holder in 1977.

. In 1978, she moved to Bangalore; a few years later, she was recruited at the staff college of HAL as Assistant Personnel Officer. She assisted Wing Commander Rangaswamy, who was in charge of the recruitment of management trainees.

. Soon, her potential for teaching and training became evident; she was promoted to be a faculty at HAL Staff College, handling subjects like self-awareness, motivation, team-building and more, even as she raised her children to bloom into beautiful human beings. Usha and Uma chose the creative field of art. Nandan did his degree in Liberal Arts in the USA. For all three, yoga is a serious passion.

. I visited her recently, and at 83, she exuded a calm radiance. In her serene presence, I picked up a few life lessons to guide me through.

A hero’s journey: With grit and grace

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