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DK Parulkar, IAF Officer Who Orchestrated 1971 War's Most Daring Escape Attempts, Dies At 83
Group Captain Dilip Kamalakar Parulkar, a 1971 war hero, passed away on August 10. The Indian Air Force mourned his loss, celebrating his courage and legacy.
The nation is mourning the loss of one of its most celebrated warriors, Group Captain Dilip Kamalakar Parulkar (Retd), a decorated 1971 war hero and a symbol of the Indian Air Force's valour, who passed away on Sunday, August 10. His name is etched in history for leading a remarkable and dangerous escape attempt from a Pakistani prisoner-of-war camp, a mission that became one of the most daring episodes of the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
Remembering the hero for his might, the Indian Air Force (IAF) expressed its condolences and said that his daring escape during the 1971 war embodied 'unmatched courage" in the force. 'Gp Capt DK Parulkar (Retd) VM, VSM – 1971 War hero, who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan, embodying unmatched courage, ingenuity & pride in the IAF — has left for his heavenly abode. All Air Warriors of the IAF express their heartfelt condolences," the Indian Air Force posted on their social media handle on X (formerly Twitter).
Gp Capt DK Parulkar (Retd) VM, VSM — 1971 War hero, who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan, embodying unmatched courage, ingenuity & pride in the IAF — has left for his heavenly Air Warriors of the IAF express their heartfelt condolences. #IndianAirForce … — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 10, 2025
Parulkar's capture came during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, when he was taken as a prisoner after a fierce aerial battle. Held in Rawalpindi's POW camp under constant watch, he met two other IAF officers, MS Grewal and Harish Singhji. The trio, unwilling to languish in captivity, devised a perilous plan to dig their way to freedom.
There were no tools, no equipment, and enemy surveillance was unrelenting. Yet, under the cover of night, the officers lifted a section of their barrack floor and began to dig, inch by inch, night after night. The excavated soil was concealed in their clothes and discreetly spread across the camp to avoid suspicion. For months, they lived a double life – prisoners by day, tunnelers by night, with the constant fear of discovery hanging over them.
At last, the tunnel was complete. Under the darkness of night, they slipped through their secret passage and stepped into the uncertainty of Rawalpindi's silent streets and open fields. Their destination was the border to India. Hunger, exhaustion, and the threat of patrols tested their resolve at every turn. Yet, their determination was unshaken.
They made it within four miles, just six kilometres from freedom, when fate turned. A Pakistani patrol spotted them, and the three were recaptured. The setback was crushing, but their attempt became a legend in the annals of Indian military history.
The story of this daring escape would later inspire the film The Great Indian Escape, immortalising their courage, ingenuity, and unbreakable spirit. For Parulkar, this was only one chapter in a lifetime of service. In the 1965 war, he had already proved his mettle when his fighter jet was hit by enemy fire, he still managed to land it safely, earning the Air Force Medal for exceptional bravery.
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First Published:
August 11, 2025, 18:22 IST
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