IAF Devon

In the early fifties, an IAF Devon aircraft carrying five Generals had engine problem and made a forced landing while flying from Lucknow to Delhi. There were no casualties. Sometime later, the Prime Minister called all the Generals to a party and asked them what their thoughts were at the crucial time. One said he thought this and another said he thought of that. Lt Gen Thimayya, who always spoke with the PM with the same dignity and friendliness as he did with anyone else, said he kept thinking of Mr Bhavani Shankar Rao. “Who is Bhavani Shankar Rao.” asked Nehru. “He is Financial Adviser in our ministry, who has sent a circular that Lieutenant Generals are not entitled to State funerals.” The order was cancelled the next day. “It is hoped that there will be no undue haste to make use of the facility,” was a typical sentence that the Finance Ministry would add.. As received