India, Aug. 30 -- Vijay Seth's 'Aircraft of the Indian Air Force 1933 2026' is far more than a catalogue of machines; it is a sweeping historical narrative that mirrors the rise of India's air power from its tentative colonial beginnings to its emergence as a technologically sophisticated and globally engaged force. Published at a time when Indian military aviation approaches its centenary, the book feels both timely and deeply reflective. The work begins by tracing the origins of aviation in India to the post-World War I era, when RAF aircraft began operating in the North-West Frontier Province. Indians initially entered the system as officers and hawai sepoys, with sharply defined roles: officers trained to fly, and sepoys to maintain the...