India, Oct. 8 -- As India observes Indian Air Force (IAF) Day today, writer Barun Kashyap says working closely with the force for three-four years while researching for the web series Operation Safed Sagar, released in August, gave him a deeper understanding of the people behind the uniform. For him, meeting IAF veterans and their families was as significant as learning about the technicalities of the 1999 Kargil War. Hearing the stories from the veterans themselves was an incredibly profound experience for the writer. Kashyap recalls, "Their stories of courage and valour left me feeling completely insignificant, yet deeply energised... I am just grateful to all the men in uniform. I believe the Indian Air Force, Army and Navy are the most professional defence services in the whole world. It makes me feel happy that we are being protected by them... How many of us can sacrifice our lives?" What stayed with him most was hearing directly from pilots and veterans. "When we were talking to the pilots, we were getting so excited. Then we were like, gosh, how many of us could have joined the defence services? They motivated us to become pilots and join the forces," he shares. While writing the show, he says, the team ensured that outlook was included. "The role that the wives of these officers play is also critical, and we have never projected that in mainstream Indian cinema till now," he shares. The writer adds, "The whole philosophy that they have of celebrating life, knowing that anything might go wrong at any moment, is just so encouraging. Because we just keep thinking that our problems are bigger than anyone else's, and when you meet them, then you realise that your problems are nothing," he says....