He Is Not My Son...He Is The Son Of This Country,

Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, the first Indian Army Commander-in-Chief.

Field Marshal K.M Cariappa’s son, Air Marshal K.C Nanda Cariappa was a Squadron Leader with No.20 Squadron during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War. He was shot down while carrying out air attacks during the 1965 war with Pakistan and he was taken as Prisoner Of War (POW). 

Pakistan's President Ayub Khan was the former colleague of General K M  Cariappa before the 1947 Partition.

Ayyub Khan, knowing the identity of this  Indian pilot, he immediately called up his former colleague, General Cariappa, offered to release his son. But the General's terse reply was:

"The POWs ( Prisoner Of War) are all my sons, look after them well. He is the Son of this country, a soldier fighting for his motherland like a true patriot. My many thanks for your kind gesture, but I request you to release all or release none. Give him no special treatment."

After the repatriation, K.C Cariappa moved to helicopter squadron and later commanded a squadron based at Pune. He retired as Air Marshal. He also wrote the biography of his father Field Marshal K.M Cariappa and is actively involved in forest conservation in and around Coorg.

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