https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=V._SundaramV. Sundaram - Revision history2026-09-07T00:21:28ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=V._Sundaram&diff=147192&oldid=previmported>SilverTiger12: /* References */2021-08-04T05:24:03Z<p><span class="autocomment">References</span></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>'''Captain V. Sundaram''' (April 22, 1916 &ndash; May 31, 1997) was an [[India]]n [[aviator|pilot]] and [[animal welfare]] activist. He founded the [[Blue Cross of India]], the largest animal welfare organization of [[Asia]].<br />
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==Career as a pilot==<br />
Captain V. Sundaram became a pilot in 1935 at the age of 19. He trained in [[England]] and returned to India to become an instructor at the [[Madras Flying Club]]. He flew extensively over the country, and was probably the first person to take a picture of the [[Taj Mahal]] from air.<ref name="review">[http://dimdima.com/bookbuzz/show_books.asp?q_bid=10&q_title=An%20Airman's%20Saga Review of ''An Airman's Saga'']</ref> During [[World War II]], he trained British and American pilots. In 1945 he joined [[Tata Airlines]], and from 1945-1951, served as the pilot of the [[Maharaja of Mysore]]. During this time he flew [[Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru]] and [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]] throughout India, especially the latter when he was negotiating the [[political integration of India|merger of princely states with India]].<ref name="review"/> His wife, Usha, served as co-pilot in many of these flights. They set a world record for flying a [[de Havilland Dove]] from [[London]] to [[Madras]] in 27 hours. This record for a piston-engined aircraft is still unbroken.<ref>[http://network.bestfriends.org/international/news/7390.html The treatment of animals in India - past and present.] Best Friends Network</ref> Captain Sundaram had an accident-free flying record during the 35 years he served as pilot. He wrote of his experiences as a pilot in a book titled ''An Airman's Saga''.<br />
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Sundaram was the first pilot to get the commercial pilot licence in the country.<ref name="Muthiah_2014">{{cite book | last = Muthiah| first = S. | author-link = S. Muthiah | title = Madras Rediscovered| publisher = EastWest | series = | volume = | edition = | date = 2014 | location = Chennai | pages = 142 | language = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-93-84030-28-5| mr = | zbl = | jfm = }}</ref> On 26 October 1936, he flew a [[De Havilland Dove]] aircraft from [[Karachi]] to Madras.<ref name="TOI_WhenGoodOldMadrasTookWing">{{cite news | last = Ayyappan | first = V. | title = When Good Old Madras Took Wing | newspaper = The Times of India | location = Chennai | publisher = The Times Group | date = 21 August 2009 | url = http://mobiletoi.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=3&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=21-08-2009&pubname=Times%20of%20India%20-%20Chennai&edname=&articleid=Ar00300&publabel=TOI | access-date = 25 December 2012 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130614041323/http://mobiletoi.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=3&sectid=edid%3D&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=21-08-2009&pubname=Times%20of%20India%20-%20Chennai&edname=&articleid=Ar00300&publabel=TOI | archivedate = 14 June 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><br />
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==Animal welfare==<br />
Captain V. Sundaram was always known for his compassion for animals. It was known among pilots that he would keep circling around until the runway was cleared of stray animals. He was instrumental in stopping [[animal sacrifice]]s at several places. He also organized several seminars speaking against cruel methods of killing animals. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the [[Animal Welfare Board of India]] until 1987.<br />
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==Blue Cross of India==<br />
On a rainy day in 1959, Captain Sundaram saw two pups struggling to stay afloat in the flooded roads of [[T. Nagar]], [[Chennai]]. He took them home and founded the [[Blue Cross of India]], a shelter for animals. In his own words, ''"God had given me so much that I thought I ought to do something in return. There are so many charitable institutions for human beings, but so few for animals."'' Blue Cross, started with a kennel in his own home, grew under his leadership to become the largest animal welfare organization of Asia.<ref>[http://www.bluecross.org.in/founder.html Captain Sundaram] at the website of the Blue Cross of India.</ref><br />
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==Awards and recognition==<br />
* [[Queen Victoria Medal]] from the [[Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]], 1964<br />
* [[Watamull Foundation]] Award, 1987<br />
* Silver medal from Madras SPCA<br />
* Silver medal from the [[Mylapore]] Academy<br />
* Distinguished Service Award from the [[Rotary club]] of South Madras<br />
* [[Prani Mitra Award]], posthumously<br />
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==Bibliography==<br />
* ''An Airman's Saga''. Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan. {{ISBN|81-7276-102-3}}<br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Blue Cross of India]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
{{Portal bar|India|Animals|Dogs|Aviation}}<br />
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{{Animal rights}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sundaram, V}}<br />
[[Category:1916 births]]<br />
[[Category:1997 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Indian aviators]]<br />
[[Category:Animal welfare workers]]<br />
[[Category:Animal welfare and rights in India]]<br />
[[Category:Indian aviation record holders]]</div>imported>SilverTiger12