Advaya Anant

*TODAY ON FRIENDSHIP DAY* When JRD Tata was just 25 years old, an interesting news item in the London Times newspaper caught his attention. A unique air race had just been announced, by His Highness The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, to popularize aviation and flying in India. The announcement read : “The Aga Khan has offered through the Royal Aero Club, a prize of UK Pounds 500, for the first flight from England to India, or vice-versa, by a person of Indian nationality. It must be a solo flight, completed within six weeks, from the date of starting. The prize will remain open for one year from 1st January 1930.” JRD Tata was already an avid flyer, and he had just obtained his flying license earlier that year. Since he was the first person to have qualified in India, his license, issued by the Aero Club of India and Burma, proudly bore the number “1”. He was now excited by the Aga Khan Prize, and decided to take up this flying challenge. India to England