Today is Kargil Vijay Diwas. Commemorating 25 years of that proud day when India accomplished a major victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War. Belagavi must be immensely proud that its son, Flt Lt Subramanian Muhilan was a key part of this operation. Muhilan was born on 08 March 1972. He completed his B. Sc. in July 1992 from R.L. Science College Belagavi and later joined the Air Force as a cadet after clearing the Combined Defence Services Examination. He was commissioned into IAF on 18 December 1993 at the age of 21 years as a pilot. He was trained as a helicopter pilot in the 152 Pilots’ Course. After serving for a couple of years in various helicopter units Flt Lt S Muhilan got posted to 152 Helicopter Unit on 02 March 1998 which was operating Mi-17 helicopters.
Flt Lt S Muhilan was a passionate flier and a highly dedicated officer. He had over 1250 hrs of flying to his credit and was considered to be one of the best shot in rocketry. He was a professionally competent helicopter pilot with experience in flying the Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters. His flying skills would enable accurate delivery of lethal weapons against well-entrenched positions. Intimately familiar with high-altitude operations, his experience was an asset to the IAF during its operations.
Drass Air Operation (Kargil War) : 28 May 1999
During 1999, Flt Lt S Muhilan was serving with No 152 squadron Helicopter Unit, since 02 Mar 1998. By May 1999, a large-scale planned infiltration by militants backed by the Pakistan army, had been detected in Uri, Batallik and Drass sectors, and Indian Armed Forces were ordered to clear the areas of the intruders. Along with the operations by the Army, IAF also undertook air operations to meet the objective. One such operation was undertaken by 152 Squadron in the Drass sector. On May 28, Flt Lt S Muhilan was flying as a captain of a Mi-17 helicopter during an attack mission against ground positions strongly held by Pakistani infiltrators in the Drass sector. The enemy forces were well entrenched and were equipped with anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air missiles to take on possible air attacks. Flt Lt S Muhilan with his Mi-17 helicopter repeatedly carried out attacks in the face of fierce enemy opposition in the form of ground fire and missiles.
On that fateful day, the Infrared Flare Dispenser on the Helicopter Nubra 3 manned by Muhilan was not functioning. However, the overtly brave Muhilan decided to fly it anyway. Sqn Ldr Rajiv Pundir volunteered to be his co-pilot and together they delivered a devastating blow into enemy territory. They fired a series of salvos on enemy positions. However, they were spotted and took several rounds of fusillade. Unfortunately in one of the retaliatory actions by the enemy forces his helicopter got hit by the US-made Stinger SAM(surface-to-air missile). Since the helicopter took a direct hit the damage caused was massive. The helicopter crashed and the valiant air crew comprising Sqn Ldr Rajiv Pundir, Flt Lt S Muhilan, Sgt Raj Kishor Sahu and Sgt PVNR Prasad were martyred. Flt Lt S Muhilan was a valiant air warrior and a committed soldier who laid down his life at the age of 27 years in the service of the nation. His sacrifice did not go in vain. They had caused enough damage in Pakistani positions and the Indian army could capture all enemy positions in the Tololing ridge by June 17th that same year.
(With inputs from: https://honourpoint.in/profile/flight-lieutenant-subramanian-muhilan)
Flt Lt S Muhilan is survived by his wife Smt Bina Muhilan and son, Dhruv. Bina was granted a Petrol Station at Desur, 10 kms from Belagavi. It was a tough life for her ever since, for Desur was a remote location back then without good roads. She has exemplified herself as a Kargil hero’s wife all these years and today the Petrol Pump has almost all women workforce and stands top in terms of revenue generation in this region. Belagavi shall forever remain indebted to its gallant hero and never shall he be forgotten.
Danny, thanks for sharing this. This is precious!
Despite being close for many years and then apart for many, Muhil was a very dear friend. I think our friendship went much beyond being physically close to each other.
Although we studied in different schools, as kids (and later teens) we spent a lot of time together and I can say with much confidence that he cherished the dream to be a soldier from a very young age. His preparations for the NDA, and later CDS exams were in-depth and his ‘desperate’ desire for current affairs challenged a whole lot of us around him.
I still recall very fondly our shopping and purchase trips carrying with us the list of necessary items sent by the academy when he got selected to join the IAF. Our interactions when he moved to Yelahanka, Bangalore after training were few but exciting, and I still reminisce about the ‘thrill’ with which he used to talk about his flying.
He sent me two photos of his marriage before he left for Jorhat (which I noticed are in the interview video) and also have a letter that he wrote to me from Sarsawa. (I hope I got the facts (places) right.) Muhilan was a simple, but very passionate guy and his letters ‘spoke’ literally!
Sometime back, we had suggested that his life and contribution be recognised appropriately in Belgaum. Maybe that is something to think about, especially for the Alumni of St. Xavier’s, RLS and friends in Indal. I would urge the local administration to take this up to honour Flt. Lt. Muhilan.
As for me, he lives on through his legacy!!
Salutations Braveheart.
I salute my childhood friend Muhilan… Me and Muhilan were thickest of friends from LKG to X.. We were benchmates…. We were very good at studies, but very very naughty students… We were targeted by most teachers. We were often thrown out of the class. But we enjoyed the company of each other. There are so many, many incidents which are unforgettable.
One day i had been to his house in childhood in INDAL,, I never knew what is IDLI, the first idli sambar i ever tasted was in his house. He used to come to my house have non veg, he used to like mutton kheema prepared by my mom….
O dear…. I was in touch with him even after PU 1 n 2…
Cannot forget u all through my life…
Proud to CALL you my best friend…
Proud of you Flt lft Muhilan Subramaniam.
May God bless ???? his family. A Braveheart. We owe a lot for the selfless sacrifice. Jai hind.
1. It is nice to note that the Veer Nari Mrs Beena Muhilan was Felicitated by the IAF on the 25th anniversary of Kargil war on KARGIL DIWAS.
2. It is learnt that Muhilan was survived by his wife Beena, minor son Dhruv and Mother Mrs Chinthamani . The mother lived in her native village Karaikudi in Shivganga District of TN. She was also present in Srinagar along with the widow for the last rites of Muhilan.
3. Govt officials from TN visited the mother Mrs Chinthamani after the fatal accident of Muhilan to offer condolences. Thereafter she was forgotten. She had to work as a farm labourer ( coolie) under MNREGA to eke out her living. Her younger son , managed to get a modest job in Chennai and would support her by remitting 2/3 thousand rupees once in 2/3 months. There was TOTAL LOSS OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE VEER MAATA & THE VEER NARI. All financial benefits and Petrol pump allotments were extended EXCLUSIVELY to the Veer Nari, because that was the unfortunate rule. The VEER MATA who was supported by her son lived in total poverty.
4. In 2025, a welfare meeting was organised in the District Collectors compound. Here she met a Veteran Warrant Officer from IAF and narrated her story. The Veteran WO assured her help and represented her case to the IAF and Pension authorities for sharing the financial benefits/ Pension between the Veer Nari and Veer Maata. He was informed that the rules did not permit sharing of Liberalised Family pension between widow and parents.
5. The veteran WO continued his efforts to get some relief and informed in February 2026, the VETERANS PRNSION CELL giving information collected by him. Based on this information the Veterans Pension Cell conveyed the information to INDIAN AIR FORCE BENEVOLENT FUND HEAD QUARTERS ( IAFBA) in New Delhi and to AIR HEADQUARTERS .
6. On receipt of the information about the condition of the Veer Maata, Mrs Chinthamani, the IAF immediately despatched a relief party from AIR FORCE STATION THANJAVUR T. N. Which is located about 200 kms from the village Karaikudi where Mrs Chinthamani lives. She was given a cash amount, monthly rations, clothes and linen.
6. The help from IAF did not stop there. The Marshal of Air Force & Mrs Arjan Singh Trust awarded a monthly grant of Rs5.000/- for two years. The first instalment for March 2026 has already been paid.
7. The IAFBA has further allotted an additional grant of Rs. 15,000/- per month to the mother. This makes a total of Rs20,000/- pm grant in addition to the help given in cash and kind by AF Station Thanjavur.
8. In retrospective thinking, if Govt rules permitted sharing of Liberalised pension between the widow and parent , or, had the Widow supported her mother in law by parting a meagrely sustenance amount of say even 5,000/- Rs P.m, the mother would not have struggled to work as a cookie to survive. This paltry amount may even be less than the salary paid by the widow to her single employee at the BELGAVI Petrol pump.
9. It is magnanimous on the part of the IAF authorities to extend relief to the Veer Maata immediately on learning her condition.
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He is from a remote village of Sivaganga Dist in Tamilnadu. His parents were at Belgaum when he was born. Hew was broughtup and sducated there. His father predeceased him when he was under training in IAF, and his mother an illiterate widow remained wholly dependent on Him all along his lifetime. She now has only the dependent ID card issued by a Helicopter Unit, Air Force, where the Offr last served, and nothing more.
The benefits on Family Pension has been sanctioned to his wife who is in Belgaum and supporting the late Officer’s dependent mother. She is alone staying in the remote village of Tamilnadu where the District collector visited to convey their Condolence at the time of the Officer’s prime sacrifice.
The widow of the late officer is sanctioned with Liberalised Family Pension. The mother of the officer is almost penury and suffers a lot for her survival. She has to work as an Agriculture labourer(Coolee) for her survival.