He lost his mother at age two, to illness; and his only
adored brother to an accidental fall soon after.
His father remarried, and had a new family of
seven daughters.
He was sent to live with his grandpa and step-grandma.
This was the best thing that happened to little Shamim,
because step-grandma, never having had her own kids,
showered all her pent up love and care on him, while
grandpa was a wise, humble, and spiritual.
The combination of early pain of losses, older and gentler
company, and spiritual caring, turned him into a man that
had no regrets for what he lost; or what he did not have;
treasured what he had; and struggled for what he could
achieve.
Colleagues named him “cool cat,” because he
remained perfectly calm under the highest pressure of
wars. During 1965 war, after thirty six straight
hours of flying, without any break, he proved
worthy of his title.
