The man who inspired 'Airlift' is no more, here's his story

May 22, 2017, 04:36:38 PM IST

1/6

Real-life heroes

Prominent Indian businessman in Kuwait, Mathunny Mathews, who was instrumental in the safe evacuation of stranded Indians during the Iraqi invasion in 1990, died on Saturday.

Popularly known as 'Toyota Sunny', he was said to be the inspiration behind Akshay Kumar's character in the hit Bollywood film 'Airlift'.

Here are some of the other heroes who worked with Mathews in India's attempt to airlift 1.7 lakh Indians from Kuwait.

2/6

Tony Jashanmal

K.T.B. Menon

K.T.B. Menon was a Kuwait-based Indian business tycoon; he was reportedly also the 'third Indian to come to Kuwait', and founded an 'industrial empire specialising in major electrification projects and construction of water desalination plants.'

In the Indian Foreign Affairs Journal (January-March 2011), K.P. Fabian recalls the unconditional support given to him by K.T.B. Menon.

“I recall another incident, when one Mr. K.T.B. Menon called me on August 2, saying that if finances were the problem he would pay for the air passage of any Indian who wished to leave. KTB was the richest Indian in Kuwait."

Inder Kumar Gujral

Indian government representatives Inder Kumar Gujral, former MEA Minister and KP Fabian, head of Gulf Division, MEA officials met Saddam Hussein to achieve repatriation for Indian nationals.

I. K. Gujral soon laid the blueprint for the rescue operation. The Indian MEA knew that Iraq did not have enough supplies to feed its own, agreed to grant Indians safe passage to neighbouring Jordan.

5/6

KP Fabian

Working closely with Gujral and Joint Secretary (Gulf Division, Ministry of External Affairs), KP Fabian coordinated the evacuation initiative.

This involved working with officers across Ministries working in the Gulf, and respond to the needs of the stranded people in Kuwait.

He also was personally responsible in keeping the Air India crew motivated in this emergency that the government never had prepared any contingencies for.

6/6

Harbajan Singh Vedi

An architect, Vedi was a consultant to many Kuwaiti projects, and close to the ruling Al- Sabah family.

According to Indian Frontliners, a portal for the Indian community in Kuwait, he "studied under the street light of Delhi after the partition of India in 1947", executing villas for the royal family, Sheikhs and prominent Kuwaitis.

IK Gujral gave him the freedom to issue and sign passports and travel documents, and he played a pivotal role in the initiative.

He also, according to some unverified reports, formed a 51 member unofficial committee coordinating evacuation execution.

Air India's regional director of the Gulf and the Middle East Michael Mascarenhas was also an essential part of the evacuation.

Text: Indiatimes

The man who inspired 'Airlift' is no more, here's his story - Real-life heroes (2024)