Squadron Leader Subodh Dixit (Retd) at Chandigarh air force station
Chandigarh: When the thunder of MiG-21 jets echoed across the skies of Chandigarh for the final time, the hand guiding their farewell belonged to a son of Kanpur.
Former Indian Air Force officer Squadron Leader Subodh Dixit (Retd), a radar-qualified Air Traffic Control specialist, and son of an ex-Army officer, Devi Shankar Dixit, was the man the Indian Air Force turned to when history had to be written in the skies.
Commissioned on 14 December 2013, Dixit is the youngest in his family, with two elder sisters. Since his childhood, discipline was second nature to him, instilled by his father's service in the Indian Army and fueled by his own passion for aviation.
This foundation led him to become a radar-qualified Air Traffic Control officer, entrusted with managing live airspace and ensuring flight safety under high-pressure conditions.
In his career, he gained extensive experience at prestigious defence events, including Defence Expo, Aero India, and Fire Power Demonstrations, where precision and coordination were critical.
His unwavering professionalism earned him commendations from the Maintenance Command in Nagpur (2019) and the Central Air Command in Prayagraj (2023).
When the time came to bid farewell to the MiG-21, the Indian Air Force made an extraordinary decision, recalling Dixit from retirement. His devotion to duty was trusted once again to script and narrate the farewell that unfolded before Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, senior commanders, and international dignitaries.
The ceremony saw a sequence of MiG-21s, Jaguars, and LCA Tejas aircraft flying in formations choreographed by Dixit himself. In a symbolic moment, the Chief of the Air Staff piloted a MiG-21 for one last sortie, following the sequence Subodh had prepared.
For Dixit, it was not just about aviation, it was about proving that service to the nation does not retire with the uniform. God chooses ordinary men for extraordinary duties, he often says. His return beyond the call of duty embodies that belief.
Outside of the cockpit and control tower, Dixit’s literary talents have also been recognized. On 25 May 2024, he was honored by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh for his writing. He now holds over 20 commendation letters from senior officers across the three services.
Today, living in Kanpur, he remains grounded and humble. But his role in giving the MiG-21 its final salute has made him a symbol of devotion, for the Air Force, for Kanpur, and for the countless youth who dream of serving their nation.
Because, as his story proves, nobody can snatch away a soldier’s love for the nation.
