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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

AI’s Maharaja smiles joyfully

All 30 grounded aircrafts now fly Mumbai : Air India’s Maharaja is all pleased as punch at 80. After years of huge costs and efforts, the last of the grounded 30 aircraft – inherited by the Tata Group during the privatization in Jan. 2022 – is now resurrected fully and took to the skies gracefully on Monday.   The aircraft is the gleaming VT-ALL, a Boeing 777-300ER, that was gathering grime since February 2020, and becomes the final among the two-and-half dozen aircraft that have been revved...

AI’s Maharaja smiles joyfully

All 30 grounded aircrafts now fly Mumbai : Air India’s Maharaja is all pleased as punch at 80. After years of huge costs and efforts, the last of the grounded 30 aircraft – inherited by the Tata Group during the privatization in Jan. 2022 – is now resurrected fully and took to the skies gracefully on Monday.   The aircraft is the gleaming VT-ALL, a Boeing 777-300ER, that was gathering grime since February 2020, and becomes the final among the two-and-half dozen aircraft that have been revved up and revived in the past few years, AI official sources said.   It marked a symbolic milestone for Air India itself - founded in 1932 by the legendary Bharat Ratna J. R. R. Tata - which once ruled the roost and was India’s pride in the global skies.   Once renowned for its royal service with the iconic Maharaja welcoming fliers on board, in 1953 it was taken over by the government of India. After years of piling losses, ageing aircraft, decline in operations and standards – almost like a Maharaja turning a pauper - it returned to the Tata Group four years ago.   This time it was not just the aircraft, the brand and the deflated Maharaja coming into the large-hearted Tata Group stables, but a formidable challenge to ensure that the airline could regain its old glory and glitter. Of the total around 190 aircraft in its fleet were 30 – or 15 pc – that had been grounded and neglected for years.   At that time, the late Ratan N. Tata had directed that all these valuable aircraft must be revived as far as possible and join the fleet. Accordingly, the VT-ALL, languishing at Nagpur for nearly five years, was ‘hospitalized’ at the Air India Engineering Service Ltd., its MRO facility in May 2025.   New Avatar Then started a thorough, painstaking nose-to-tail restoration of an unprecedented scale, in which over 3000 critical components were replaced, over 4,000 maintenance tasks executed, besides key structural upgrades like the longeron modification, engines, auxiliary power units, avionics, hydraulics, landing gears and almost every vital system was rebuilt or replaced.   After the repairs, the old aircraft was reborn, under the gaze of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and technical assistance from Boeing, and the new ‘avatar’ jetliner emerged with the highest global safety standards.   The aircraft cleared all the rigorous checks, a successful test flight, earned the mandatory Airworthiness Review Certificate and then made its maiden commercial flight from Monday, March 16 – after a wait of six years.   Sturdy Fliers Created in 1946 to become an instant global icon, the Air India’s mascot Maharaja now sports a youthful and chic look, a welcome with folded hands, closed eyes, featuring a bejewelled turban, stylish jootis, and a textured kurta in Air India’s new colours. He is prominently visible at various touch-points in a flyer’s journey, such as First Class, exclusive lounges, and luxury products.   Today, he commands a mix fleet of around 190 narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft like : A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo, A350-900 and B787-8, B787-9, B7770200LR, B-777-300ER. With the merger of Vistara and agreements signed for 10 A350 and 90 A320 aircraft, the Maharaja’s fleet is slated to soar to some 570 in the near future.

All Is Well: When Faith Met the Fury of Nature

Life can change in a moment, and survival itself is a blessing. With courage, calm thinking, faith, and togetherness, even the impossible becomes possible.

In this article, we continue our journey to the Valley of Flowers. The last two articles captured some unforgettable, life-altering moments of our tour. Realising how narrowly we had escaped the tragedy at Malpa left us humbled and deeply emotional; fate had truly spared us. With no immediate road access and no means to contact our families, we had to stay in Badrinath for a few days until conditions improved. Those days were spent in silence, prayer, and reflection, absorbing the fragility of life and the miracle of survival.


That journey taught me that life can change in a moment, and survival itself is a blessing. Courage, calm thinking, faith, and togetherness can turn the impossible into possible.


That journey taught me something profound—life can change in a moment, and survival itself is a blessing. Courage, calm thinking, faith, and togetherness can make the impossible possible. Looking back, the trek was not just a physical journey through mountains but a profound lesson in resilience, gratitude, and the fragile beauty of life.


We remained in Badrinath for eight days, unable to leave until the roads were declared safe. Though technically stranded, those days became a blessing in disguise. Once the BSF and local authorities cleared travel, we prepared to return but first made the most of our time by exploring every accessible corner around Badrinath and the surrounding region.


I spent countless peaceful hours with my mother and father at Badrinath Temple. Sitting there quietly, observing the rituals, the devotees, and the powerful stillness of the place, I felt a deep sense of protection. In my heart, a strong belief took root—that there truly is a higher power watching over us, guiding and protecting us in unseen ways. From that moment on, my faith in God grew stronger and more grounded.


One of the most fascinating places we explored during that time was Mana village, the last village near the Indo-Tibetan border. From Mana, we walked carefully along a narrow path to witness the origin of the Saraswati River. The journey was slow and cautious, but every step felt worthwhile.


When we reached the point where the river burst from the rocks, I was overwhelmed. The force was immense, and the roar so thunderous that we couldn’t hear one another speak. Watching the Saraswati emerge so powerfully from solid rock felt unreal, as if nature were revealing one of its deepest secrets.


Mana Village in Uttarakhand is India's "first village" near the Indo-Tibetan border, just 3 km from Badrinath, known for its stunning Himalayan scenery and mythological sites like Bhim Pul and Vyasa Gufa. Vasundhara Falls was also worth visiting!


That experience—witnessing the birth of a hidden river, surrounded by mountains, silence, and faith—left a lasting impression on me. It was yet another reminder of how nature and spirituality intertwine, offering lessons that stay with us long after the journey ends.


The return journey from Badrinath was emotionally heavy. As we passed through Malpa village, it was heartbreaking to witness the complete devastation left behind by the landslide. Just a short while earlier, this place had been alive—a village where people were engaged in their daily routines, where travellers and tourists had paused to rest. Within minutes, everything had been wiped out.


Among those lost was the great Odissi dancer Protima Bedi, along with members of her group. The thought that such a remarkable artist, full of life and creativity, was taken away so suddenly in a natural calamity was deeply disturbing. Seeing the ruined landscape made the tragedy painfully real. Silence hung in the air, heavy with loss and disbelief.


That journey—to the Valley of Flowers, Badrinath Temple, and across the rugged terrain of Uttarakhand—was truly life-changing. It taught us humility, resilience, faith, and gratitude. Even today, I thank God for giving us the strength to face such extreme situations and for protecting us through moments of uncertainty.


I firmly believe that the shared faith of our group, especially my parents’ unwavering faith, played a vital role in bringing us safely back to our hometown, Jalgaon. We trusted God, and we trusted ourselves and one another.


Nature is immensely powerful, and everything ultimately lies in its hands. Yet, when we hold on to faith—both in the divine and within ourselves—we find the strength to endure even the hardest moments. That is why, no matter what life brings, I truly believe in this simple, powerful mantra:


All is well!


(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)

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