P V Iyer, an unlikely soldier, continues to inspire | The Indian Express

P V Iyer, an unlikely soldier, continues to inspire | The Indian Express

Written by Parameswaran Iyer |Updated: October 30, 2019 9:57:14 am

The writer is secretary, Ministry for Drinking Water and Sanitation. Views are personal.

P V Iyer, an unlikely soldier, continues to inspire

He took to running, like a duck to water, and regularly ran 10-15 milers early morning. Once, in the dark of an early Delhi winter morning, he collided with a buffalo on Janpath road.

In June this year, a video clip was shared by Param Iyer featured his father Air Marshal PV Iyer (retd) doing pull-ups on a bar. Netizens reacted to the tweet, calling the Air Marshal an inspiration.

October is the month Air Force Day is celebrated in India and this is also a good occasion to celebrate the birthday of an Air Force veteran — Air Marshal P V Iyer —who turned ninety today. Known as the Running Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force, having logged in about 1,20,000 kms in his over 50-year running career, he has turned running and fitness into a passion and inspired countless others, including his family, to make this a lifestyle. One person he could not inspire to undertake extreme running, however, was his son, the author of this piece.