SKAT flying over its home base in Bidar (PC: X/@Suryakiran_IAF)
New Delhi: Indian Air Force’s elite Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) will enthrall the citizens of Patna with its breathtaking aerobatics on April 23, on well-known national hero and legendary freedom fighter Veer Kunwar Singh’s birth anniversary.
The marquee event will showcase the dazzling and formidable precision flying and performance by the only team of Asia flying nine aircraft formation of Hawk Mk-132 aircraft.
On April 1, the district administration will hold a review meeting and take stock of the preparations which are going on. In the meeting, officials from the Indian Air Force, Patna Municipal Corporation, Bihar Police, and Airport Authority of India will be participating.
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The development comes after the defence minister, Rajnath Singh gave green signal for air display by the SKAT in the skies of Patna. Lok Sabha MP from Saran (Chhapra) Rajiv Pratap Rudy had requested the defence minister for the ministry’s approval.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who is also a commercial pilot and convenor of this event, said: “This would be an historic event for Bihar as the Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team is participating for the first time in the state and enthrall the audience here.”
The Saran MP also said that nine aircraft from Bihta Air Force Station would take off and display a spectacular airshow over Ganga river in Patna. This elite team, flying the striking red-and-white Hawk Mk 132 jets, will also showcase a series of jaw-dropping manoeuvres to inspire the youths to join the Air Force and also pay tribute to Babu Veer Kunwar Singh.
“For this event, we have invited the chief minister, Nitish Kumar as the chief guest and deputy chief ministers – Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha as the guest of honours. We are hoping that lakhs of people from Patna and its vicinity like Hajipur, Sonepur, Chhapra, Jehanabad, among others will come to enjoy the awe-inspiring airshow,” Rudy said.
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Established in 1996, Indian Air Force’s famed Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT), has performed over 600 displays across India and also at international air shows in countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, and the UAE.
SKAT performs in Jodhpur during Tarang Shakti 2024 (PC: X/@Suryakiran_IAF)
The air display will be open to the general public along with students from schools and colleges, civil dignitaries, NCC cadets, serving and retired defence personnel and their families.
Who was Babu Veer Kunwar Singh – The Unsung Hero of India's first Independence movement 1857?
Babu Veer Kunwar Singh was one of the most accomplished military leaders of the First War of Indian Independence 1857, who did not get his due in recorded accounts. He was single-handedly responsible for giving nightmares to the British regime in his region – Ara-Jagdishpur, a Parmar Rajput estate.
At the age of 80 and in failing health, he led a selected band of armed soldiers against the troops under the command of the British East India Company. He was the chief organiser of the fight against the British in Bihar.
His brothers – Babu Amar Singh and his commander in chief, Hare Krishna Singh assisted him during his fight with the British regime.
He gave a good fight and harried British forces for nearly a year and remained invincible until the end. He was an expert in the art of guerilla warfare. His tactics left the British puzzled.
To honour his contribution to India's freedom movement, the Republic of India issued a commemorative stamp on 23 April 1966.
The Bihar government established the Veer Kunwar Singh University, Arrah in 1992. In 2017, the Veer Kunwar Singh Setu, also known as the Arrah-Chhapra Bridge, was inaugurated to connect north and south Bihar.
In 2018, to celebrate the 160th anniversary of Kunwar Singh's death, the government of Bihar relocated a statue of him to Hardinge Park. The park was also officially renamed as “Veer Kunwar Singh Azadi Park”.
