Dehradun, Rarely do school students get a chance to meet a legend in person and interact with them can be sheer heaven. Classes 8th-12th grade of Col Brown School, Dehradun were amongst the lucky few.
Col Brown School played the perfect host for Group Captain AG Bewoor – commissioned into the Indian Air Force in October 1965 – and was awarded the prestigious Sena Medal Gallantry in 1990, for his illustrious career in the Indian Air Force.
The association of his family to Dehradun dates back to the early 20’s when his Uncle joined RIMC and his his father was an alumnus of Col Brown from 1925 to 1927.
Today GP Capt Bewoor visited his father’s Alma mater, interacting with young minds taking them gently down memory lane recollecting Operation Cactus via an hour-long video presentation. “This is a rare privilege to be invited and tell my story of Op Cactus to young boys and girls absolute rare privilege,” he said.
Capt Bewoor spoke at length to his audience in rapt attention about how, “44 Squadron With 1L-76s; 12,43 and 49 Sqns with AN -32’s, 7 SQN with Mirage -2000 and 50 Parachute Brigade, including INS Betwa and INS Godawari of the Indian Navy were stationed to intercept merchant ships escaping from Maldives and going to Sri Lanka.”
To recap, Operation Cactus was launched on 3 November 1988 to scuttle a coup in Maldives and rescue the then President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Talking to Newspost Dr. Indubala Singh, Proctor, Col Brown School said, “It is pertinent in today’s time that we have the likes of GP Capt Bewoor come and talk to students to instill them qualities that make them better human-beings. This way they also learn more about our rich history, not just from history books, but from real heroes.”
Present at the event were a host of other luminaries such as Col L.N. Khanna and Col A. Mamgain.
