RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Hails Captain Smit Machchhar, Says Hanuman Chalisa Reflects Hindu Values

In his Vijayadashami address on Dussehra, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat cited Captain Smit Machchhar, the Flydubai FZ 1073 pilot who reportedly fought back during a cockpit attack and helped protect 174 passengers. Bhagwat said the pilot’s courage reflected the Hindu values he grew up with. In a virtual interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Captain Smit revealed that he recited the Hanuman Chalisa during the ordeal, a prayer he turns to when in pain. Modi also praised the pilot and his mother for nurturing Indian cultural values and introducing his two-year-old son to the daily prayer.