When on Wednesday, 27th February, Indian officials declared that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman had gone missing in action, the whole nation was devastated. Our Indian pilot was captured by the Pakistani army, after he crashed beyond our Line of Control.
During the aerial skirmish between Pakistan and India’s air forces, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s MIG 21 was shot down by Pakistani fighter jets. He was then arrested by Pakistani rangers.
After Pakistan released a video of our IAF pilot Abhinandan, wounded externally with a calm demeanor, the nation erupted with a single voice, bring him back. Pakistan went against the Geneva Conventions and though Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan declared that they are releasing him as “peace gesture’, we know that they are very much obliged to do so.
Amidst this escalating political and military tension between the two nations, our IAF pilot was released and the nation united to hail him back. He is a man of honor who showed exemplary courage in front of his captors as well.
So, today Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was brought from Rawalpindi to Lahore first and according to Geneva Convention was handed over to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).He was recieved at Attari-Wagah border by senior Border Security Force Officers.
Twitter erupted to welcome our hero back home, amidst patriotic slogans, appreciation and respect.He made our neighboring country bow under pressure according to Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
#1
Proud of you Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman. The entire nation appreciates your valour and grit. You held your calm in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration to our youth. Salute. Vande Mataram.
— Nirmala Sitharaman (Modi Ka Parivar) (@nsitharaman) March 1, 2019
#2
Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan!
The nation is proud of your exemplary courage.
Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians.
Vande Mataram!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2019
#3
🇮🇳 Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, your dignity, poise and bravery made us all proud. Welcome back and much love. 🇮🇳
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 1, 2019
#4
Welcome home Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman! India is proud of your courage and sense of duty, and above all your dignity. Wishing you and our entire Air Force every success in the future #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 1, 2019
#5
Welcome Home! The entire Nation is proud of Wing Commander Abhinandan.
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) March 1, 2019
#6
https://twitter.com/Nidhiiagarwall/status/1101515537329225733
#7
Welcome Back wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman Sir..
We Are Proud Of You👏👏🙌
Jai Hind. 🇮🇳🇮🇳#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan #WelcomeBackAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/QWDHdZsC9o— Being_Zeeshan 🔥🔥😎 (@Being_Zeeshan09) March 1, 2019
#8
Welcome home Wing Cmdr #AbhinandanVarthaman 🇮🇳 Saluting your bravery, humility, integrity and resolve.
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) March 1, 2019
#9
Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman, the entire country salutes your spirit and bravery. 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳#WelcomeBackAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/wXSobEm4VE
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) March 1, 2019
#10
I join the rest of the nation in welcoming #AbhinandanVarthaman back home. #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 1, 2019
#11
We admire your courage, strength and presence of mind in tough situations. You have made the whole nation proud. You are a true inspirational figure for all the Indians. 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan #AbhinandanVarthaman #FightAgainstTerrorism #JaiHind pic.twitter.com/zD3qFrxIe1
— Mahima Jain (@mahima_9625) March 1, 2019
#12
This is how real heroes look 🙏🏼 Welcome back. Jai Hind #AbhinandanVarthaman pic.twitter.com/UKV1wlMVeq
— Jayam Ravi (@actor_jayamravi) March 1, 2019
#13
Relieved and glad that Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman is back home. I welcome him on Indian soil and salute his valour. The nation is proud of its armed forces.#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) March 1, 2019
#14
Thank you God. He is back to his homeland and family. #AbhinandanVarthaman
— Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) March 1, 2019
#15
#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
Here is the man to whom the music clip definitely suits ……. Salute BRAVE MAN ✊🙌
Jai Hind 🇮🇳#WagahBorder #AbhinandanVarthaman #WingCommandarAbhinandan #Abinandhan #IndiaSalutesAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/TPXOLrOnW1— abhinath ✨ (@abhinatharora) March 1, 2019
#16
https://twitter.com/pikidibyajyoti/status/1101544159167434752
#17
It's proudest moment for all of us!!
हम तहे दिल से 'अभिनंदन' का 'अभिनंदन' करते हैं !#SaluteOurForces
— Syed Shahnawaz Hussain (मोदी का परिवार) (@ShahnawazBJP) March 1, 2019
#18
Always have been proud of INDIAN FORCES, U have made us more proud salute to you #AbhinandanVarthaman 🇮🇳🇮🇳
— Abhishek (@abhishekap14) March 1, 2019
#19
Real Hero. I bow down to you. Jai Hind 🙏🙏🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/kDgocwpclA
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 1, 2019
#20
How proud we are to have you ! Bow down to your skills and even more your grit and courage 🙏 #WelcomeBackAbhinandan . We love you and are filled with pride because of you.#WeAreSupposedToTellYouThis pic.twitter.com/IfqBFNNa3T
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 1, 2019
#21
Welcome back our hero 💪💪… #WingCommandarAbhinandan 🙏 #IndianAirfoce
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) March 1, 2019
#22
#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan You rule the skies and you rule our hearts. Your courage and dignity will inspire generations to come 🇮🇳 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/PbG385LUsE
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 1, 2019
#23
Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman, the entire country salutes your spirit and bravery. 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳#WelcomeBackAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/wXSobEm4VE
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) March 1, 2019
So, what is your message for our hero?