The whole nation had celebrated the come back of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as the heroic Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot crossed over the Indian border just after 9 pm on Friday night. Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistani officials after his fighter jet, a MIG-21 Bison, was shot down during aerial combat between India and Pakistan on Wednesday morning.
On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan made the announcement that Abhinandan would be handed over to India as a “peace gesture” and the moment finally came on a rainy night on Friday after hours of waiting. The Wagah-Attari border was full of people who had gathered since morning to welcome the country’s hero from Pakistan, even as according to protocol, the Wing Commander was kept away from the public glare.
ALSO READ: Cricketing Fraternity Welcomes Abhinandan Varthaman Back To India
Indian sports personalities, Bollywood actors and veteran politicians celebrated his return on social media throughout the day. It was indeed a historic moment when he exited the Pakistani side and walked back to India and was immediately embraced by the Indian army and IAF.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also paid a glorious tribute to Abhinandan, just minutes after he crossed the border.
Talking to Twitter, BCCI posted an Indian jersey with Wing Commander Abhinandan written on the back, they posted, “#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan You rule the skies and you rule our hearts. Your courage and dignity will inspire generations to come”.
#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
Legendary Indian cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar also took to Twitter to express his pride and love for Wing Commander Abhinandan and bowed down to his courage. He tweeted, “A hero is more than just four letters. Through his courage, selflessness and perseverance, OUR HERO teaches us to have faith in ourselves”.
A hero is more than just four letters. Through his courage, selflessness and perseverance, OUR HERO teaches us to have faith in ourselves.#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 1, 2019
Even, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “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!”
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
Other cricket stars like Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin etc kept on flooding twitter with congratulatory messages throughout the day.
Real Hero. I bow down to you. Jai Hind 🙏🙏🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/kDgocwpclA
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 1, 2019
In my time alive on this 🌎 planet, I haven’t seen a bigger hero. #WelcomeBackAbhinandan
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) March 1, 2019
The nation salutes your valour , selflessness and grit. #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan 🙏 pic.twitter.com/N432Qk2ajT
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 1, 2019
The nation salutes your valour , selflessness and grit. #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan 🙏 pic.twitter.com/N432Qk2ajT
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 1, 2019
It's only the brave who can gather strength from all distress. We salute you Wing Commander Abhinandan for your act of courage!#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) March 1, 2019
We salute you sir! We are blessed to have you protect us. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳#welcomehomeabhinandan pic.twitter.com/C9VG5tnlk1
— K L Rahul (@klrahul) March 1, 2019
Welcome to our motherland #WingCommanderAbhinandan Another name for bravery https://t.co/PlMCWgqBsf
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) March 1, 2019
“Bravery is not a quality of the body. It is of the soul.”
Thank You Sir 🙏🏼 #WelcomeHomeAbinandan #Abhinandancomingback— Sandeep sharma (@sandeep25a) March 1, 2019
Welcome home 🙏🏼 https://t.co/sXoiBMaKKO
— Karun Nair (@karun126) March 1, 2019
Welcome back Abhinandan sir, the entire nation is proud of your selflessness and bravery ! We salute you 🙏🏻 Jai Hind!#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) March 1, 2019
Real Hero. I bow down to you. Jai Hind 🙏🙏🇮🇳🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/kDgocwpclA
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 1, 2019
Tensions between two countries escalated following the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in which India’s Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) lost 40 soldiers. Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the cowardly attack in which a suicide bomber blew up a CRPF bus in Pulwama.
India responded to it by launching air strikes on a Jaish terror base in Balakot, early Tuesday morning. Pakistan retaliated with their own air strike inside the Indian territory the very next day during which both nations claimed to have downed an enemy jet each.
