Born and brought up in Easthill, Vasanthan’s life has been one of discipline, courage, and unwavering passion for the uniform. He comes from a close-knit family of six—his father, mother, and three siblings—where values of integrity and service were deeply rooted. Today, he is a proud husband, father, and grandfather figure. His son is an engineer with Bosch (German Company) in Bangalore, his daughter is an MBA graduate settled in Visakhapatnam, and his son-in-law serves the nation as a Naval pilot and daughter in law is an MBA graduate.
Vasanthan’s dream of joining the Indian Army began early in childhood. While studying in the fifth standard, he was inspired by a soldier from his neighbourhood who would return home wearing his uniform with pride. That powerful image stayed with him. Encouraged strongly by his father, this childhood inspiration turned into a lifelong mission. After completing his tenth standard, Vasanthan joined the Indian Army in 1977.
Selection in those days was extremely rigorous, involving multiple stages of written, physical, and medical tests. After clearing them all, he was sent for training to the AOC Centre, Secunderabad. Following one year of training, his first posting was to Amritsar. During training, his exceptional performance in running caught the attention of his sports officer, who introduced him to the elite Paratroopers.
Drawn to their distinctive maroon beret and parachute insignia, Vasanthan knew he wanted something extraordinary—he did not want to be just another soldier. After applying to the Paratroopers wing, he was selected and posted to Agra. The initial three months were a testing phase where only the toughest earned the honour of wearing the maroon beret. With patience, grit, and determination, Vasanthan successfully qualified.
One of the most painful memories of his career was the tragic air crash of 1980, in which the nation lost 42 soldiers during a night dive operation. The bodies were identified only by ID tags on their uniforms—a moment that left a permanent mark on his heart.
Despite the risks, Vasanthan excelled in airborne operations. He became the first person in the AOC to perform skydiving, completing over 300 jumps during his career. He jumped from nine different aircraft, including helicopters like Chetak and Cheetah, and planes such as Packet, AN-32, Hercules, Otter, Beaver, and Dakota. He also mastered the use of various parachute systems.
A defining moment came in 2001 during a reunion at Secunderabad, when he got another opportunity to skydive. During rehearsals at Jhansi, he fractured his leg. Yet, driven by sheer determination and supported by his colleagues, he went ahead with the jump. From 8,000 feet, enduring immense pain, he landed on one foot and completed the dive—an act that symbolized his indomitable spirit.
Vasanthan served in the Paratroopers for 26 continuous years, a remarkable achievement and a source of immense pride. He also actively participated in the Kargil War operations and represented India abroad, visiting several countries during his service.
Even after retirement, his passion never faded. Recently, during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, he was invited as a guest, where—at the age of 69—he once again took part in jumping activities, proving that age is no barrier to courage.
Looking ahead, Vasanthan dreams of establishing a defence-oriented academy, where he can share his vast experience, display his equipment, and guide young aspirants towards a career in the armed forces. Through this initiative, he hopes to inspire the younger generation to stay away from drugs and alcohol and instead channel their energy into discipline, adventure, and national service.
For Vasanthan, the uniform was never just clothing—it was identity, honour, and purpose. His life stands as a powerful reminder that true passion does not retire; it only inspires the next generation.
