Purnia: The father of Air Marshal Avdhesh Kumar Bharti, the Indian Air Force officer who led Operation Sindoor, has expressed his immense pride and joy at his son’s role in the mission that drew national attention. The operation, a bold air campaign following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, has been praised for its decisive response against Pakistani targets.
Speaking from Jhunni Kalan, a village in Bihar’s Purnia district, Jeevchhalal Yadav, a retired government accountant and father of the senior officer, said he learned about his son’s role through news reports. “I didn’t know anything before the operation, but when it started coming in the papers, I felt very proud. He’s doing something great for the country,” Yadav said.
Air Marshal Bharti, Director General Air Operations (DGAO), was reportedly overseeing aerial operations as part of the military retaliation. His leadership has been lauded across defence circles and political corridors.
Hailing from humble beginnings, Bharti studied at Sainik School Tilaiya and later joined the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 1987 and has since held numerous key positions in the force.
Jeevchhalal Yadav shared that his son continues to stay connected with his roots. “He visits the village when he can, talks to everyone simply, and never shares internal matters. He came here a year ago and spent a day with us all.”
The Bharti family continues to reside in the Purnia region, with AK Bharti’s mother, Urmila Devi, living in Srinagar Hata. His two brothers are also based in the area.
