CM Samrat Choudhary Salutes Indian Air Force on IAF Day
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary marked Indian Air Force Day on 8 October 2026 with a heartfelt tribute on X, invoking the IAF's Sanskrit motto and saluting airwarriors for their sacrifice, courage, and devotion to national sovereignty.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary posted an IAF Day tribute on 8 October 2026 , the force's annual founding anniversary.
He cited the IAF motto 'Nabhah Sprisham Diptam' — 'Touching the Sky with Glory' — drawn from the Bhagavad Gita.
The post praised IAF personnel for their valour, courage, discipline, and national devotion .
Choudhary described airwarriors as 'an eternal source of inspiration' for Indian citizens.
He offered koti-koti naman — a crore salutes — to those who have sacrificed in defence of the nation.
On Indian Air Force Day, 8 October 2026, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary paid a stirring tribute to the men and women who guard India's skies — calling their courage, discipline, and national devotion 'an eternal source of inspiration for every Indian.'
Posting on X in Hindi, CM Choudhary invoked the Indian Air Force's hallowed motto — 'नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम्' ('Touching the Sky with Glory') — a line drawn from the Bhagavad Gita and adopted by the IAF as the guiding spirit of every airwarrior. 'From the heights of the sky to the safety of the nation,' he wrote, 'the IAF's valour, courage, and dedication are a symbol of India's strength and self-respect.'
Indian Air Force Day is observed every year on 8 October, marking the founding of the service on that date in 1932. Over nearly a century, the IAF has grown from a modest colonial auxiliary into one of the world's largest air forces, with a fleet spanning frontline fighter jets, strategic airlifters, attack helicopters, and an expanding unmanned aerial vehicle programme.
Choudhary reserved his deepest salute for the sacrifices made in uniform. 'A crore salutes to their valour and sacrifice in defence of the nation,' he wrote — the phrase koti-koti naman carrying the weight of collective gratitude in a culture where such language is reserved for the most profound reverence.
The tribute, brief in words but rich in sentiment, reflects a tradition among Indian political leaders of marking IAF Day with public acknowledgement — a practice that has grown more visible in recent years as India's civil-military relationship and defence modernisation have moved to the centre of national conversation.
Point of View
Reflecting how defence and national security have emerged as consensus pride-points that cut across party lines. For a BJP leader like Samrat Choudhary, invoking the IAF's Sanskrit motto also subtly reinforces the party's broader cultural-nationalist framing of India's armed forces. The tribute carries no policy weight on its own, but it sits within a larger pattern of civilian leaders visibly aligning themselves with military honour — a trend that has intensified as India's defence modernisation, including the IAF's ongoing fighter-fleet renewal, commands greater public attention.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Indian Air Force Day celebrated?
Indian Air Force Day is celebrated every year on 8 October , the date the IAF was officially established in 1932 .
What is the Indian Air Force motto?
The IAF motto is 'Nabhah Sprisham Diptam' , a Sanskrit phrase meaning 'Touching the Sky with Glory', drawn from the Bhagavad Gita.
Who is Samrat Choudhary?
Samrat Choudhary is the Chief Minister of Bihar and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say on Air Force Day 2026?
He paid tribute to IAF personnel, invoking the force's motto, praising their valour and discipline, and offering 'a crore salutes' to those who have sacrificed in defence of the nation.
