The procession at the Flying School in Nashik got an emotional twist on Tuesday when an Indian Army captain proposed to his partner.
The show ended at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) with a surprise proposal from Captain Bharat Bhardwaj to his partner. In the video shared by news agency ANI, Captain Bhardwaj can be seen getting down on one knee while wearing his military uniform, while his partner hugs him as he gets up.
Others were seen registering the request and applauding, while some walked up to the couple and shook their hands while congratulating them. The captain and his partner then take a photo together after the proposal.
The incident went viral on social media, with users describing it as a “wholesome moment” and describing it as an example of “love that takes flight”.
Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) in Nashik is one of the training institutes of the Indian Army. The institute is affiliated to ARTRAC – Army Training Command, Shimla – with trainees including Indian Army officers. This includes personnel of the Indian Navy, women officers and military officers from friendly foreign countries. CAATS-trained pilots can then specialize CAATS-trained pilots can then go on to specialize in tactical operations such as parachuting, search and rescue, special forces insertions, and critical medical and supply missions in high-altitude environments such as the Siachen Glacier.
“I wanted to make this day unforgettable.”
After the proposal, Captain Bhardwaj said he “wanted to make this day memorable”, since all CAATS registrants became pilots or instructors.
“We all became pilots and instructors today. It was a great day for all of us. Our hard work paid off today,” he said, adding that it was a “great day” for his family as well.
Bhardwaj said he has known his partner for five years. “I don’t think there is a better day than this to propose to her… I wanted to make this day memorable for my fiancée as well. That was the whole idea,” he told news agency ANI.
The proposal was similar to another marriage proposal made by a 25-year-old army student after he graduated six years ago. Thakur Chandresh Singh, having become an officer in the Rajputana Rifles after training at the Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai, proposed to his partner in 2018. The proposal photo was shared on social media and went viral, with social media users congratulating the couple and showing support for the gesture.
