As HAL shapes India’s aerospace future, we must honour its true founder—H.H. Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. When others hesitated, he took a bold risk for India’s progress.
An untold story in India’s industrial history reveals how a young Maharaja’s bold vision laid the foundation for our aerospace industry, despite claims that credit others like Jawaharlal Nehru. Recently, Honourable Deputy CM Shri D.K. Shivakumar stated that HAL was founded by Nehru. This is far from the truth. The real story begins with a 21-year-old royal who dared to dream big when India needed wings.
A Royal Dream Takes Flight
In 1940, World War II was shaking the world. India stood at a turning point. On September 8, 1940, H.H. Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar became the Maharaja of Mysore after his uncle’s passing. At just 21, he faced a bold proposal that would change India’s future.
American businessman William Douglas Pawley, who had been building aircraft in China, needed a new base. Pawley had started the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (CAMCO) in 1933 with China’s Nationalist government, assembling Hawk 75 and CW-21 fighter planes. CAMCO was key to China’s early aviation, but Japanese attacks forced Pawley to move.
In October 1939, Pawley met Indian industrialist Walchand Hirachand on a Pan Am Clipper flight to Hong Kong. That chance meeting sparked the idea of starting an aircraft factory in India. By July 1940, Pawley arrived in India and got British approval for the project in just 72 hours.
Mysore Steps Up When Others Back Out
The plan was ambitious: build India’s first major aircraft factory. But it wasn’t easy. Walchand pitched the idea to shareholders of his Scindia Steam Navigation Company, but they refused. He then approached princely states—Baroda, Gwalior, Bhavnagar, and Mysore. One by one, they said no.
But when Walchand and Pawley reached Bangalore in October 1940, they met the young Maharaja of Mysore. Unlike others, he saw the future. Within 72 hours, the Mysore government promised 700 acres of land for free, invested ₹25 lakh in shares, and offered full support. Pawley himself chose the site.
This wasn’t just a business deal—it was a vision for India’s self-reliance. The Maharaja knew aviation would shape the nation’s future.
From Vision to Victory
The speed was astonishing. On December 23, 1940, Hindustan Aircraft Company was registered under the Mysore Companies Act, with Walchand as Chairman. Work started the very next day. In just three weeks, by mid-January 1941, the first building and runway were ready. The company set up its office in a bungalow called “Eventide” on Domlur Road, Bangalore.
The Government of India placed its first order:
– 74 Vultee Attack Bombers
– 30 Harlow PC5 Trainers
– 48 Curtis Hawk Fighters
All to be delivered by 1942.
On August 29, 1941, less than a year after starting, the company handed over its first aircraft—a Harlow Trainer—to the government. India’s aviation journey had begun.
A Key Player in World War II
As World War II grew intense, Hindustan Aircraft became vital. When Japan bombed CAMCO’s factory in China, all its machinery was moved to Mysore. The British Indian Government invested ₹25 lakh in April 1941, matching Mysore’s stake.
After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and advanced in Malaya, the British bought out Walchand’s shares in April 1942 for ₹57 lakh—a huge profit on his ₹25 lakh investment. The Mysore government refused to sell its stake but handed over management to the British for the war.
In 1943, the US Army Air Forces took over, turning the factory into the 84th Air Depot. It repaired aircraft like PBY Catalinas and others used in India and Burma, becoming one of Asia’s largest aircraft repair hubs. Planes from Mysore helped push back Japanese and Indian National Army forces in Manipur and Nagaland.
The Mysore government was paid ₹12.11 lakh as compensation for pausing its stake during the war. In April 1946, Mysore resumed active participation.
The Mysore Squadron Soars
The Maharaja’s vision went beyond borders. Mysore donated £100,000 to form the Royal Air Force’s No. 129 Squadron, called the “Mysore Squadron.” Flying Supermarine Spitfires, it fought in the Battle of Britain and other key missions. Its badge carried Mysore’s mythical two-headed bird, the Gandabherunda, with the motto “I will defend the right.”
In a personal gesture, the Maharaja sent each pilot a Gandabherunda badge and a message: “My birth after the last war’s victory led to Jaya in my name, and my emblem is the Gandabherunda, the mightiest bird. I wish you Jaya in all your battles.”
Building India’s Aviation Future
The Maharaja’s contributions didn’t stop at Hindustan Aircraft. He built Mandakalli Airport in Mysore and donated 211 acres for the Government Flying School at Jakkur, Bangalore, opened in 1948. He even gave his personal Dakota DC-3 aircraft for pilot training. India’s first woman pilot, Usha Sundaram, trained at this school.
A Forgotten Hero
On October 1, 1964, Hindustan Aircraft was restructured and renamed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the Ministry of Defence. Today, HAL is a cornerstone of India’s defence and aerospace industry. Yet, its website highlights Walchand Hirachand but barely mentions the Maharaja whose vision and resources made it possible.
This oversight ignores a leader who, at 21, showed remarkable foresight. While Walchand earned profits, the Maharaja’s contribution was driven by patriotism, not money. Claims like Nehru founding HAL are simply untrue—HAL’s roots lie in Mysore’s royal vision.
A Legacy to Celebrate
As HAL shapes India’s aerospace future, we must honour its true founder—H.H. Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. When others hesitated, he took a bold risk for India’s progress. Instead of spreading misinformation, our leaders should strengthen HAL and give it the global edge it deserves.
Let’s celebrate the young Maharaja who gave India its wings and inspire future generations to dream big for our nation.
Recognising unsung heroes like the Maharaja is key to understanding India’s true history and building a stronger future.
(Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. Contact: girishlinganna@gmail.com)
