Harbajan Singh Vedi
Harbhajan Singh Vedi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | August 24, 2013 (aged 75) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Role in the evacuation of Indians during the 1990 Invasion of Kuwait |
Harbhajan Singh Vedi (1 September 1937 – 24 August 2013) was an Indian billionaire residing in Kuwait, who played a pivotal role in the evacuation of approximately 170,000 Indians during the 1990 Invasion of Kuwait. This operation is acknowledged as the largest civilian airlift ever conducted.
Together with businessman Mathunny Mathews and others, Vedi was instrumental in organizing and facilitating the evacuation process, contributing significantly to the safe return of thousands of Indian nationals.
Film
The 2016 movie Airlift, directed by Raja Krishna Menon, portrays the events surrounding this massive evacuation. The mission, carried out between 13 August and 11 October 1990, saw crucial involvement from Kuwait-based Malayali entrepreneur Mathunny Mathews—also known as Toyota Sunny—and Harbhajan Singh Vedi. They coordinated closely with the Indian ambassador stationed in Baghdad and negotiated transportation arrangements with Iraqi officials, Indian authorities, and the United Nations to ensure thousands were safely transferred to Amman.
World Record
Air India is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for executing the largest civilian evacuation via a commercial airline during the 1990 Persian Gulf War. This monumental effort involved airlifting Indian expatriates from Kuwait and Iraq and stands as the biggest civilian airlift in recorded history. The Indian community residing in Kuwait also played a vital part in supporting these evacuation activities.