NE DEFENCE BUREAU
CHENNAI, OCT 8
What happens when the story of national service moves beyond the battlefield and into the lives of those who need care the most? Air Force Station Avadi offered an unusual answer on IAF Day on Thursday, bringing together military tradition, medical excellence and an inter-generational message through the presence of Padma Shri awardee and veteran geriatrician Dr V.S. Natarajan.
Air Force Station Avadi marked Indian Air Force Day on October 8 with a programme that combined solemn remembrance with interaction between one of India’s pioneering medical practitioners and the younger generation.
- Padma Shri awardee Dr V.S. Natarajan joins IAF Station Avadi’s War Memorial tribute and engages with Air Force School students
- Pioneer of geriatric medicine shares his journey and reminds young minds of society’s responsibility towards the elderly
- IAF Day celebration blends military tradition, national service and an inter-generational message at Avadi
As part of the Indian Air Force’s initiative to invite Padma awardees to its stations, Dr Natarajan was invited to Air Force Station Avadi as the fourth Padma awardee in the series.
A pioneer of geriatric medicine in India, Dr Natarajan has devoted much of his professional and social work to the care and well-being of senior citizens. Widely recognised for his contribution to the field, he has authored several publications on geriatric care and instituted an award to honour exemplary work in the area.
The IAF Day observance acquired a poignant dimension when Dr Natarajan joined the Air Force Station Commander in laying a wreath at the War Memorial at the station, paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the nation.
From the solemnity of the memorial, the programme moved to the curiosity of young minds at Air Force School, Avadi, where Dr Natarajan interacted with students and recounted his journey into what was then a relatively unexplored area of medicine in India.
His interaction went beyond the evolution of geriatric medicine. He highlighted the importance of the younger generation understanding the needs of the elderly and recognising caregiving as a social responsibility.
The message was particularly resonant in an era of changing family structures, longer life expectancy and growing demands on elderly care. Dr Natarajan’s journey demonstrated how an area once little understood could evolve into an important discipline through persistence, scholarship and a commitment to society.
The Avadi celebration therefore brought together two very different expressions of service—the IAF’s commitment to defending the nation and the medical profession’s commitment to preserving dignity and quality of life among the elderly.
For the students who listened to Dr Natarajan, IAF Day became more than a commemoration of the Air Force. It became an opportunity to reflect on another form of service: the responsibility of one generation towards another.