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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.

Leading from the front

The nine days of Navratri celebrate goddesses who embody strength in different forms; valour, compassion, creativity, austerity, devotion, justice, protection, forgiveness and wisdom. In our annual Navratri series, we celebrate the lives of nine women who strive to build happy and safe spaces for themselves and those around them.


PART - 11


Name: Rashmi Shukla | Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Name: Rashmi Shukla | Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra

In a space where most would think twice before venturing, Rashmi Shukla walks with ease. In September 2025, when Maharashtra’s first-ever woman Director General of Police (DGP) visited Gadchiroli, six senior Naxal cadres surrendered before her—a symbolic victory in the state’s long battle against insurgency. Over the years, Rashmi has been commended for her contributions to law enforcement, investigation, and citizen-focused policing, while also steering key social initiatives.


An officer of the 1988 IPS batch, Rashmi Shukla was appointed DGP of Maharashtra in January 2024, breaking a historic barrier. Born and raised in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, she cleared the civil services examination on her first attempt and chose the Indian Police Service. Brought up by her grandparents—both teachers—and her aunt, Rashmi credits them for instilling in her values of discipline and resilience. In a 2017 interview with The Unbound, she recalled: “They taught me so many things that I still remember and use in my day-to-day life.” Reflecting on her training years, she added that it was the support of her 1988 batchmates that helped her successfully complete the physically demanding IPS course: “I was never into physical activity. I would have left IPS in between without their push.”


That blend of gratitude, determination, and discipline has propelled Shukla to the top ranks of her profession. In March 2023, she took charge as Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the central armed police force guarding India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Before that, in 2021, she served as Additional Director General of the CRPF, leading crucial national security operations. For her service, she was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2005.


As Maharashtra’s DGP, Rashmi has focused on strengthening citizen-centric policing. In June 2025, she conferred the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation on 11 police officers for their outstanding work in solving cases of murder, dacoity, kidnapping, and crimes against children. She has also prioritized women’s safety, the fight against narcotics, and cybercrime prevention. In September, she launched an initiative, ‘One Mandal – One Cop’ to improve communication between organisers of festivals and the police and ensure better integration of the police with the local community.


Yet, her journey has not been without challenges. As head of the Maharashtra Intelligence Department, she was accused by political opponents of authorising phone tapping of leaders from rival parties—a controversy that drew sharp debate. Earlier in 2025, the Election Commission placed her on compulsory leave, citing alleged bias towards a political party during state elections.


Despite such controversies, Rashmi’s rise as the first woman police chief of Maharashtra stands as a milestone not just in policing but in what women can achieve. Her career continues to inspire a new generation of young women to join the police force, proving that resilience and integrity can break through the hardest glass ceilings.

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