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Pushkal Dwivedi
| Wing Commander Pushkal Dwivedi (Retd.) | |
| Pushkal Dwivedi | |
| Born | September 1979, Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Allegiance | India |
| Branch | Indian Air Force |
| Service years | 2001–2022 |
| Rank | Wing Commander |
| Codename | "Bullet" |
| Awards |
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| Other work |
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| Education |
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| Residence | Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, India |
Wing Commander Pushkal Dwivedi (Retd.) (born September 1979) is an Indian Air Force veteran, social and religious activist, and the Chief of Kalki Sena, a volunteer combatant organization. Known for his military service and contribution to counter-insurgency (CI) operations in Kashmir, he is recognized as a staunch nationalist and expert in geopolitics, security, and religious philosophy.[1]
Childhood and Education
Wing Commander Pushkal Dwivedi was born in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, to Mr. Anjani Kumar Dwivedi, a Central Government Gazetted Officer in Doordarshan, and Mrs. Vijaylakshmi Dwivedi, a practicing advocate. He comes from a background deeply rooted in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideology, having studied magazines like 'Rashtradharma' and 'Panchjanya' from a young age.[2]
He completed his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Rae Bareli. Dwivedi pursued higher education at Lucknow University, where he studied Political Science, Philosophy, and Ancient Indian History. He holds a Master's degree in Philosophy and Police Management and topped the Advanced Intelligence Course at the Air Force Intelligence School. Despite being selected for IIM Ahmedabad, departmental leave issues prevented him from joining, and he later started an MBA at IIM Trichy but left it to dedicate himself to social and religious service.
Early Professional Career
Before his military career, Pushkal Dwivedi had a brief stint in journalism and acting. He was associated with IPTA and other theatre groups, performing in various cities across India. He also worked in print journalism for Amar Ujala and later as a journalist and anchor for Doordarshan and Akashvani. In his very first attempt at SSB Varanasi, he was selected for the Indian Air Force.[3]
Military Service
Wing Commander Pushkal Dwivedi joined the Indian Air Force in June 2001 and served until December 2022, when he voluntarily retired to focus on his religious and social service objectives. Known by his codename "Bullet," he was recognized for his quick response and aggressive approach toward enemies. Some key highlights of his military service include:
- Serving in challenging locations like Assam, Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and West Bengal.
- Commanding the shooting team of the South Western Air Command, where he won a gold medal. He is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association of India.
- Being one of the youngest Commanding Officers in the IAF and topping the Air Force Intelligence School.
- Training numerous Special Forces and police units, including 9 Para, 11 Para, Cobra, and Garud.
- Receiving the President's Colours Award for his unit in 2016 from President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
- Commanding aerial security for strategic locations like BARC, Lok Sabha, President House, Prime Minister's House, and oil installations along the western coast.
- Leading counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir, where he thwarted a major terrorist attack on the Srinagar airfield in 2011.
- His intelligence and Counter intelligence tenures at North east and Kashmir valley included series of highly classified operations which are not yet declassified. He was known as interrogation and humint expert owing to his impeccable information network in Kashmir valley.
- Managing land acquisitions and assets worth approximately ₹5000 crore for the IAF.
Post-Retirement Career
After his retirement from the Indian Air Force, Pushkal Dwivedi assumed leadership positions in various organizations:
- He is the National President and Chief of Kalki Sena, the largest volunteer combatant organization in India.
- He serves as the Director of Garud Kavach, a security company, and CEO of Garud Tactical, a defense and security firm.
- Additionally, he is the Editor of Geopolitics and Defence Strategy at a 24x7 live TV news channel.
Controversies
During his tenure in Kashmir, Pushkal Dwivedi was involved in several counter-insurgency operations that led to controversies, many of which remain undisclosed due to national security concerns. He has received threats from Pakistan-based terror groups on social media.
In 2024, a statement made by him, where he threatened Swami Prasad Maurya, went viral and sparked a public controversy.
Political and Social Activity
Pushkal Dwivedi has been active in social and political spheres. He was the National Vice President and Uttar Pradesh President of the political party Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal, a Hinduism-based party. After leaving the party due to internal disputes, the party’s performance significantly declined, and it eventually merged with the Bharatiya Janata Party in September 2024.
He remains focused on religious and social service, advocating for the protection of Sanatan Dharma and augmenting India's defense and law enforcement forces through Kalki Sena.
Honors and Awards
- Chief of the Air Staff Commendation Award
- Vishesh Seva Padak
- Long Service Medal
- Op Suraksha Medal
- Op Parakram Medal
- International Brooklyn Award for Military & Combatant Leadership
- Indian Icon Award for Military & Social Security
- Mahatma Gandhi Iconic Peace Award
- Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Unity Award
- Vishwa Ratna Award for Military Leadership & Social Service
- Swami Vivekananda Award of Philosophy
- Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Nationalist Award
Personal Life
Wing Commander Pushkal Dwivedi is proficient in Hindi and English and has a deep understanding of religion, geopolitics, military strategy, and philosophy.
External Links
- Pushkal Dwivedi on Twitter
- Pushkal Dwivedi on Facebook