In a heartfelt opinion piece, retired Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur has come forward to defend the generation that laid the groundwork for contemporary India. He addresses a growing sentiment among some of today's youth who question the contributions of their predecessors in modernizing the nation.
The 'Ambassador' Generation: Bearing India's Load
Bahadur offers a powerful analogy to describe the so-called 'Gen Free' cohort. He likens them to the legendary Hindustan Ambassador car, a vehicle renowned for its sturdiness and reliability. According to him, this generation, much like the Ambassador, shouldered the nation's immense burdens and challenges for over four decades. They provided a stable, resilient foundation during a formative period in India's history, navigating through times of scarcity and limited resources.
The article, published on 11 January 2026, expresses a sense of personal hurt felt by many from this older generation. Bahadur, representing these 'oldies', finds it painful when their efforts are minimized or overlooked in the current discourse about India's development journey.
The Shift to the 'Maruti 800' Era
Bahadur acknowledges the transformative change that followed. He references the Maruti 800, which revolutionized the Indian automobile market with its modern, glitzy, and efficient design. This car symbolizes the new era of rapid growth, globalization, and technological advancement that younger generations have inherited and accelerated.
The core of his argument is not to dismiss the achievements of the present but to seek recognition for the groundwork. He implies that the sleek 'Maruti 800' of today's progress could only arrive because the rugged 'Ambassador' of the past kept the country moving forward on often difficult roads.
A Plea for Historical Context and Respect
The retired Air Vice Marshal's commentary is more than a nostalgic look back. It is a call for intergenerational understanding and respect. He urges the youth to view India's modernization as a continuous relay race, where each generation passes on the baton built upon the sweat and toil of the last.
By highlighting this perspective, Bahadur emphasizes that modern India was not built in a vacuum. The infrastructure, institutions, and ethos that the current youth leverage were painstakingly established by the Gen Free. Their contribution was less about flashy disruption and more about providing steadfast, essential service to the nation during its early post-independence decades.
Ultimately, the piece serves as a reminder that progress is cumulative. Recognizing the foundational role of previous generations does not diminish current accomplishments; instead, it provides a complete and honest narrative of how a nation evolves from one era to the next.
