Premium

Patiyalkad mourns its ‘Nammo’: The quiet fighter pilot who rose from a hillside village to the Tejas cockpit

In the Kangra village where Wing Commander Namansh Syal grew up ploughing fields and keeping his dreams close, neighbours remember a down-to-earth son who never spoke of his stature and whose legacy is already inspiring the next generation.

5 min readUpdated: Dec 2, 2025 09:40 AM IST

Patiyalkad mourns Wing Commander Namansh Syal, a man they knew simply as “Nammo” until his Tejas crash revealed the full stature of his service. (Source: Express Photo)

Until nine days ago, most residents of Patiyalkad knew Wing Commander Namansh Syal simply as “Nammo”, the soft-spoken son of former Army man and school principal Jagan Nath Syal. They knew he was in the Air Force; none realised he was a fighter pilot of the Tejas squadron until people from outside the village began arriving with the same question: Where is the house of Namansh Syal?

“His father never said much… we knew he had a son in defence services, but not that he flew fighter jets,” said Ajit Kumar, 68, standing near a shop on the narrow approach road to this Kangra village of 1,500 people, nestled at the foothills of the Dhauladhar range.

Syal’s double-storey ancestral home sits at the far end of the village, a short walk downhill from the link road. Last Thursday, three to four glow-sign banners hung on adjoining houses, remembering the 37-year-old pilot who died when his Tejas crashed during an air show in Dubai on November 22. The banners were put up by an NGO, Veernari Shakti Resettlement Foundation.

Also read | Tejas fighter crashes during air show in Dubai, IAF pilot killed

Inside the house, former pradhan Sashi Pal sat among the mourners. “As pradhan, I usually know every detail of every family. But here the family kept things close. I knew he was in the IAF, but never that he was a pilot,” he said. Before he could finish, Ajit Kumar, seated beside him, added: “I saw him working in their fields in a T-shirt and shorts, watering crops, ploughing. I could never imagine he was a Wing Commander.”

In the veranda, his mother, Veena Syal, sat beside a framed portrait of her son placed on a table draped with the Tricolour and his medals. His elder sister, Priya, scrolled through her phone, pulling up childhood photos and images from his Sainik School days and the morning he left for the NDA in 2009. “He was only one-and-a-half years younger than me, but he always behaved like the elder one,” she said. “I always keep these pictures with me.”

Namansh, born on December 24, 1987, studied at Primary School Dalhousie, Army Public School Yol Cantt, and Sainik School Sujanpur Tira before clearing the NDA in 2009. He married Afshan Akhtar, also an IAF officer, in 2014. When this correspondent dropped in, she remained inside as their daughter Aariya played in the small lawn.

“He was a fighter pilot,” said his father, Jagan Nath. “People like him speak less and work more. He was among the best in the country. Why the Tejas crashed is a matter of inquiry, but I became emotional seeing how Air Force personnel from Russia, France and the US paid tribute at the show’s closing. The US team even declined to perform their final sortie as a mark of respect.”

Story continues below this ad

The family has shortened post-funeral rituals from 11 days to six because his daughter-in-law has to return for official formalities. Outside, however, villagers whispered their own anguish. “He was a Wing Commander. It is hard for us to accept this. Why didn’t he get out of the cockpit? Eeh gaal hazam nahi hondi (This doesn’t sit right with us),” said former pradhan Sashi Pal.

Namansh Syal’s father, Jagan Nath. (Source: Express Photo)

For Patiyalkad, a village with a strong Army tradition and now its first IAF officer who reached the rank of Wing Commander, Namansh’s story has become a source of pride and resolve. In recent months, four youths from the village, Ayush Patial, Aryan, Sumit Dogra and Ritik, cleared the Agniveer recruitment. “Eight or nine of us appeared, four cleared,” said 19-year-old Ayush. “Whenever our families told us that the son of retired principal Jagan Nath Syal was a senior officer in the Air Force, we felt inspired.”

Sanjay Kumar, husband of current pradhan Rashma Devi, said the village has always looked up to the Syals. “I never interacted much with Wing Commander Namansh, but his father guided my son Aryan during his preparation,” he said.

Through the day, political leaders including Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, and Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur visited the Syal home to offer condolences.

Story continues below this ad

Also Read | Russia pays tribute to IAF’s Namash Syal killed in Dubai Tejas crash, video emerges: ‘Brother who didn’t return’

But inside the last house of Patiyalkad, at the edge of the village boundary, the grief remained the same. It was a quiet home remembering a quiet man who soared far beyond it and whose life is already shaping the dreams of those who watched him grow up tilling the same earth.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...