Years ago, during a layover in Delhi, I promised a baggage handler employed by my (then) airline that I could meet him that evening to meet his family—including his six-year-old son—and give the boy a storybook I was bringing from New York. The loader warmly invited me home and asked me to stay for dinner, and I accepted. Later that same day, the CMD of our airline—a senior bureaucrat—asked me to join him for dinner to discuss an important matter. I politely declined, explaining that I had already made a commitment to the other family. Months afterward, the CMD referred back to that incident in a large gathering and shared some words I have never forgotten: True character is revealed when you honor commitments made to those who are powerless and have nothing to offer you.

To Mr. N. Chandrasekaran Chairman, Air India Subject: When Silence Speaks Louder Than Leadership Dear Mr. Chandrasekaran, They say leadership is about showing up — not just in boardrooms, but in moments that truly matter. Today on June 17th when Capt. Sumit Sabherwal — the Commander of Air India flight AI 171 — was laid to rest, you were just a few kilometres away in Mumbai. Yet, neither you nor a single board member of Tata Sons or Air India found the time, or perhaps the inclination, to attend his funeral. Not one. Capt. Sabherwal wasn’t just a name on a payroll or a line item in the cost column of a ₹3000 crore aircraft. He was a human being. A son, a colleague, a commander entrusted with hundreds of lives each flight. But more importantly, he was one of yours — part of the Tata family, or so we’re often told in town halls and mission statements. And yet, as his 88-year-old ailing father stood by his son’s pyre — alone, broken, and betrayed — the Tata Group, that venerable institution that once stood for grace and humanity, could not even spare a board representative. No shoulder to lean on. No condolences delivered in person. One wonders: is this the “New India” the Tata Group wants to lead? You see, leadership is not just about IPOs and synergies. It’s also about presence — especially in the dark moments. Ashwani Lohani, a former Air India Chairman, understood this. When a relatively junior Flight Despatcher passed away in Mumbai years ago, Lohani didn’t send a card or a floral arrangement. He showed up — and went further, offering the grieving wife a job. No cameras. No LinkedIn posts. Just humanity. Now imagine for a moment — would J.R.D. Tata have stayed away? Would Ratan Tata, who personally visited animal shelters and grieving ex-employees, have sent regrets via social media posts and emails? No, they would’ve been there. Because they understood that airplanes may cost thousands of crores, but the men and women who fly them are priceless. It’s not about protocol, sir. It’s about people. And when the Chairman of Tata Sons cannot find time to attend the funeral of a Captain who dedicated his life to serving the skies under the Tata banner, what message does that send to the rest of the crew? The message is loud and clear: You’re just a name in a roster. A code in the system. An employee number.Replaceable. Today, the employees of Air India feel abandoned. Not by fate, not by circumstance, but by you. And in your absence, we saw everything. Warm regards (though with little warmth left), [Name withheld] On behalf of many disillusioned voices | Captain Sumeet Sabharwal’s Funeral Today | ... youtube.com/live/SwRgLMd8weI… via @YouTube

In Moments of Fear, One Truth Stands Tall: Trust the Pilots When a recent @IndiGo6E flight was battered by severe weather, fear swept through the cabin. Passengers whispered prayers and clutched hands—but amid the turbulence, one truth rose above the chaos: only the two pilots in the cockpit could get them safely home. This wasn’t just a moment of crisis; it was a moment of clarity. India’s airline pilots are more than just trained professionals—they are guardians of life in the skies. Every day, they carry immense responsibility with quiet courage and precision. Yet they do so while facing relentless pressure, long hours, and often, deep neglect. It’s time we faced a hard truth: well-rested, emotionally healthy, and fairly treated pilots aren’t a luxury—they’re a lifeline. Respect, fair compensation, humane schedules, and meaningful support aren’t perks. They are essential. For every passenger, this is a call to action. Stand with India’s airline pilot community. Speak out against exploitation and unfair treatment by airline operators and the systemic apathy of @DGCAIndia. Their skill protects us. Their steadiness holds us. Let’s make sure they are never taken for granted. @MoCA_GoI @RamMNK