Running barefoot in the fields, raiding the sugarcane crop, stealing mangoes from orchards, swimming in the village ponds with the cowsthese were familiar scenes from Rajesh Pilots early years. The first ten years of his life were typical of that of a village boycarefree, fun-filled and simple. At the age of 11 tragedy struck the family. His father, the breadwinner of the family, passed away. He had to take care of a mother, two sisters of marriageable age and the education of a younger brother. Most important he had to grow up in a hurry in order to shoulder all these responsibilities. Rajesh moved to Delhi to work in his cousins dairy to support the family. His early years were pure hard work. He woke up at the crack of dawn, milked the cows, distributed the milk in the Lutyen bungalows in Delhi and then, rushed to school. Upon his return he milked the cows again, distributed the milk, cleaned the dairy and then attacked his textbooks under the lamp-post.

People remember him as a man of integrity and confidence. Bet few knew him as a boy who, upon being singled out in the school assembly for wearing a torn uniform, had the strength to point that though torn and old, it was clean. This prompted the principal to enlist him in the NCC so he would get a free uniform. There were times when he sold newspapers at traffic lights. But through all this, the young boy grew up believing that poverty was not a stigma. He imbibed constantly from life and taught himself to be honest and courageous. He managed to get his two sisters married and educate his younger brother who, unfortunately, passed away at the age of 18. He grew up into a young man who believed that no condition was permanent and one could rise out of poverty by hard work. It was his hard work and beliefs that saw him rise from a doodhwala to a highly popular leader.

Pilot Officer Rajeshwar Prasad and his two mates pooled in money and bought an imported cara Morris Minor. The whole gang would get ready in the evenings and go for a round of the town in that car. Then one day one of them lent the car to a friend of his who used it to haul cement and the car was written off! It was no big deal. It was just a car. That was the attitude in those days. That was the depth o friendship when Pilot wasin the air force. They lived for that day and believed in two words very stronglyNo Problem. Everything and anything was No Problem. This was a time in Pilot Officer Rajeshwar Prasads life when he emerged from the shadows.

Right through his schooldays he was an observer but in the air force he found his feet and his personality blossomed. He made very close and good friends who continue to support and love his family evenafter he has gone. That was probably the only time when his responsibilities were fewer and he enjoyed some carefree bachelor days. He saw action in 1971 during the war with Pakistan. He never knew which sortie would be the last one. But his spirits were high and he was anxious to defend the country. He won a medal for bravery after the war.

Known as Prasad, Dad was a friendly guy who got along with everyone and was known for his happy-go-lucky nature. Typical of the armed forces ethos, there were some married families in the station whose houses were raided by the bachelors at night. Sleepy wives good naturedly made egg and toast for all of them. In this phase of life Rajesh learnt to share and care: this was probably the first semblance of family life that he witnessed. He grew and matured as a person. He met and worked with many different people in his various postings, learning to respect human nature and accommodate individual idiosyncrasies.

Once while waiting for a VIP to land at their base, he told his friends that one day they would all be standing there to receive him. I will be the VIP A round of laughterfollowed and somebody said, Doodhiya, that will be the day . . .. Little did they realise how prophetic Rajesh Pilots words were to be.