If you ask a school child who was M. M. Alam, you would certainly get the answer in negative. Even few of the young adults knew about him and some learned about him on his death.
I also just had heard his name as a record holding war pilot and nothing more. However, on his death, I tried to learn more about him and switched all the news channel hoping that they would be broadcasting exclusive shows on his achievement, but found nothing. Instead, the regular political debates and TV shows were on-air, with only a news slide of his death. It was quite hateful that they can broadcast prolonged Bollywood shows and movies on important national, cultural and festive days but they can’t give enough time for attributing a national hero on his death. Although it is quite late, but it is never late to talk about the National Heroes.
Muhammad Mahmud Alam, commonly known as M.M. Alam was born on July 6, 1935, into an educated family in Calcutta. He joined Pakistan Air Force in 1952, and was commissioned as Officer in October 1953. He attended numerous courses in the United States and the United Kingdom. His claim to fame was shooting five Indian Hawker Hunter fighters in air-to-air combat, in less than 60 seconds on September 7, 1965. A day before, he had also shot down two and damaged three enemy aircrafts.
Later, after the Arab-Israel war, he served in Syria on behalf of PAF for five years. He not only trained the Syrian Pilots for attacks but also flew on the skies of Syria for defense of Arab world. The Syrians had great respect for him, as they had for Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Because they were in full support of Arab against Israel, not only morally but practically also.
As his other major appointments, he had served at air gunnery, at the Fighter Leader School as a tactical instructor, commanded three squadrons, as director of operations research and as assistant chief (flight safety and plans) of the air staff at the air headquarters.
Government of Pakistan awarded him with Sitara-i-Jur’at in recognition of his outstanding service. In addition, a road in Gulberg, Lahore, is named after him.
MM Alam’s Favorite F-86 Aircraft (1965)
DEffendi
You are amongst the first in many to write something on him on this day. Very informative esp for the younger generation
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot. But I wrote this 6 years ago on his death.
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