New Delhi: Various social media sites went buzzing after IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman emerged in the news with a new look moustache and his trademark ‘handlebar moustache gone.
Abhinandan Varthaman, who emerged a national hero earlier this year after an aerial combat between India and Pakistan in February, flew Monday a MiG-21 with Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. The flight lasted for 30 minutes.
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa declared that it was his last sortie in a fighter aircraft. “This is my last sortie on a fighter jet. Both of us have two things in common – first, both of us ejected and second, both of us have fought Pakistanis. I fought in Kargil, he fought after Balakot. And third, I’ve flown with Abhinandan Varthaman’s father. It’s an honour for me to do my last sortie in the IAF, in a fighter aircraft, with his son,” the Air Chief Marshal said.
Social media users however reacted in a different manner after seeing the pictures of the two together. They said they were missing Abhinandan Varthaman’s signature gunslinger moustache.
“The handlebar is gone. But, the style and smile remain,” a user wrote on the micro-blogging site Twitter. Another user said: “Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman gets rid of his iconic handlebar moustache, flaunts new look.” A third one wrote: “Sad to see that he has trimmed his iconic moustache.”
Abhinandan Varthaman, who spent nearly 60 hours in Pakistan’s custody after his MiG-21 Bison was shot down by Pakistan Air Force F-16s in February, was awarded the Vir Chakra gallantry medal on Independence Day. He resumed his flying operations August 23.
It should be stated here that Varthaman’s moustache had become iconic after his deeds. Many men, more so in South India started developing handlebar moustache. It was as if Abhinandan had become a new style icon.
Agencies
