Mumbai- On the occasion of the 134th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during Dalit History Month, a remarkable and heartfelt tribute unfolded aboard IndiGo flight 6E5181 from Mumbai to Indore. Inspired by the enthusiasm of a 70 year old retired customs officer Madan Pawar, Captain Namrata and Co-Pilot Alok honored Baba Saheb by displaying his iconic quote: “I am Indian firstly and lastly.”
Echoing this sentiment, IndiGo expressed its own greeting: “We are Indian firstly and lastly.” This poignant moment, captured onboard, went viral across social media platforms in India and beyond, inspiring Ambedkarite communities and the wider public.
On this flight, Madan Pawar, a resident of Peth, Walwa taluka, and a retired customs officer, was traveling, dressed in the uniform of the Samta Sainik Dal, to pay homage at Baba Saheb’s birthplace in Mhow.
In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Pawar said, “I was previously a customs officer, but now I am an active member of the Samta Sainik Dal, working to advance Baba Saheb’s mission. On April 14, I went to Baba Saheb’s birthplace only to pay my respects and returned to Mumbai the same day.”
Pawar shared that people usually don’t travel in uniforms on flights, which is why many, out of curiosity, spoke to him and inquired about the Samta Sainik Dal uniform.
Pawar said that during the flight, he requested the air hostess to meet with the captain so he could share Baba Saheb’s message on the occasion of his birth anniversary. When this information reached Captain Namrata and Co-Pilot Alok, both came out of the cockpit and warmly welcomed him.
Captain Namrata said, “Having a passenger associated with Dr. Ambedkar’s mission on our flight is a moment of pride for us. We honor Baba Saheb wholeheartedly.”
On this occasion, Madan Pawar presented a portrait of Baba Saheb and a greeting card with his quote, “I am Indian, Firstly and Lastly,” to Captain Namrata and Co-Pilot Alok. Both accepted it with respect. Namrata said, “This greeting is priceless to us. We will treasure it.” Pawar told Captain Namrata, “Seeing a woman like you as a flight captain feels like the ‘equality’ underlined by Baba Saheb in the Constitution is being realized.”
After landing at Indore airport, the IndiGo cabin crew inquired curiously about his uniform. Pawar mentioned that on that day in Mumbai, he also met Baba Saheb’s grandson, Prakash Ambedkar, who was delighted to see the Samta Sainik Dal uniform.
Pawar shared that his daughter lives in Australia, his son works in a private company in Gujarat's Baroda, and his daughter-in-law and granddaughter live with him and his wife in Mumbai.
The gesture by the cabin crew and entire team of IndiGo flight 6E5181 of paying an onboard tribute to Baba Saheb, set an exemplary standard for social awareness and constitutional values. This initiative is being widely appreciated across the country.
Notably, a similar emotional moment occurred on December 6, 2024, during Mahaparinirvan Diwas, when Air India flight AI 616 paid tribute to Baba Saheb Ambedkar, deeply moving a passenger.
For Swapnil Ramteke, a resident of Nagpur (Deekshabhoomi, where Baba Saheb embraced Buddhism in 1956), this moment was very special.
He had gone to Chandigarh for office work and was aboard an Air India flight to Mumbai late in the evening, missing the memories of Deekshabhoomi on Mahaparinirvan Diwas.
Suddenly, an announcement was made on the flight:
“An announcement: We pay humble tribute to Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution and the first Law Minister of independent India, on his 69th death anniversary.”
Sitting in the back seat of the flight, Swapnil recorded a video of the announcement and shared it on social media.
His post was quickly appreciated by Ambedkarites, and many expressed their admiration for Air India’s gesture.
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