Air chief releases IAF coffee table book

The Indian Air Force (IAF) exists to fight and win wars. It also delivers healing touch during crisis and calamity so that others live. Outlining this very essence, IAF chief, air chief marshal PV Naik released a 214-page coffee table book on the IAF, aptly titled – So That Others May Live – at a brief function in New Delhi on June 23, 2011.

The opus chronicles hitherto unseen moments of succor IAF has rendered from as early as 1939 till date. Over 250 spellbinding photographs, from early years of Second World War to the present times, unfolds some of the lesser publicized role of the IAF in missions involving humanitarian aid, disaster relief and aid to civil power. The resplendent book also offers a glimpse of the IAF’s quest to acquire dominant knowledge to look ‘other side of the hill’ into the realm of space. With assets, reach and capabilities growing, the IAF’s humanitarian and disaster relief missions to China, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Armenia, USA including UN peace keeping missions, earned goodwill for the nation. The book includes a chapter of the IAF operations across the seven seas. It encapsulates random images of some of the moments captured by few who were at the scene, not necessary for the purpose of photographing them, and that came to the forefront long after the events had passed unreported in the public domain. The anecdotal text accompanying the pictures accentuates some of the unforgettable moments such as those of Operation Black Tornado in the aftermath of 26/11, which still remain etched in the nation’s collective memory.

The book is an endeavour of the IAF’s Directorate of Media and Public Relations to depict in picture and prose, the gallant and indomitable fortitude of present day air warriors who from the days of Hawai Sepoys from the bygone era have transcended from Wapiti to the Sukhoi and beyond, accomplishing missions, both lethal and humanitarian, with professionalism.

Initial print-run of this book has been executed by digital printing using Kodak NexPress. The printing has been facilitated by Mumbai-based Print On Demand Services Pvt Ltd (PODS). Their managing director Sunil Chhugani was also present at the inauguration ceremony in New Delhi.