Corporal Varun Kumar's Resilient Left-Hand Salute Marks Indian Air Force's 93rd Anniversary

On October 8, 2025, the Indian Air Force celebrated its 93rd anniversary at Air Force Station Hindan, where a significant moment of pride and emotion captivated the audience. The event's remarkable highlight was a left-hand salute from Corporal Varun Kumar, a gallantry award recipient who had lost his right arm in Operation Sindoor earlier that year. Standing before the Chief of the Air Staff to receive the Vayu Sena Medal for Gallantry, Varun defied his circumstances by saluting with his left hand, symbolizing resilience and an unbroken spirit.

Hailing from Punnapra in Alappuzha, Kerala, Varun Kumar grew up with a strong sense of discipline and service, values ingrained by his parents, Shashidhar and the late Ratnakumari. He joined the Indian Air Force in 2013 as a Medical Assistant, a role requiring precision and compassion. For the past two years, he was stationed at the Station Medicare Centre in Udhampur, providing emergency medical care to air warriors and support staff in a strategically crucial area.

In May 2025, during India's Operation Sindoor—a high-intensity campaign launched in response to escalating cross-border tensions—Varun was at his post in Udhampur. On May 10, a Pakistani missile struck a forward facility, resulting in the death of Sergeant Surendra Kumar Mog and severely injuring Varun. The attack shattered his right arm, and shrapnel caused further injuries.

An immediate medical evacuation saved Varun’s life, but doctors had to amputate his arm to prevent infection. His recovery involved several months at the Command Hospital in Udhampur and later at the Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) in Pune. Under military doctors and rehabilitation specialists, Varun learned to adapt his life and began using his left hand for everyday tasks.

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At ALC Pune, Varun’s determination served as a source of inspiration. Within weeks, he mastered tasks like eating and writing with his left hand. He received a cosmetic prosthetic arm before Independence Day and is preparing for a bionic prosthesis to enhance movement and control. His wife Anju and young son Vihaan remained supportive throughout his recovery. Anju remarked, “He adapted faster than we ever imagined. He always says, ‘I still have one hand to salute my country.’”

The announcement of the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for Corporal Varun Kumar by President Droupadi Murmu on August 14, 2025, was met with national celebrations. However, the story reached its emotional peak during the Air Force Day celebrations at Hindan. As Varun approached the dais, his uniform adorned with medals, he saluted Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh with his left hand. This non-regulation but profoundly symbolic gesture moved many to tears.

More than just a salute, it was a testament to the indomitable human spirit, the soldier’s bond with his service, and the belief that despite physical limitations, faith remains intact. Varun’s left-hand salute has become a symbol of courage within the Indian Air Force community. His peers at the Artificial Limb Centre recall how he inspired others, including a Subedar who lost both arms and a Sergeant who lost a leg during Operation Sindoor, to view rehabilitation as a continuation of service.

Corporal Varun Kumar’s salute is remembered not for which hand he used, but for its representation: resilience after adversity, pride in the uniform despite scars, and the unwavering belief that service to the nation transcends physical boundaries.

As the Indian Air Force embarks on its 94th year, Varun's salute at Hindan will resonate as a reminder that true courage emanates from the soul, not the body.