I started writing true stories about lesser-known people who have done incredible things. But this man Saji Thomas is way beyond that. Saji Thomas a school dropout, deaf, a mute but lot of dreams. Saji was born in a remote village in Thodupuzha, Kerala, India. From school days his interest and curiosity grew on how things work, which led to repairing things on which his sight falls.
It doesn’t make any good, other than his father stopping his education from school. Then one day at home his brother pulled him out to show him a helicopter roving around to spray pesticides in the nearby rubber plantation. That was the moment he got hooked up to the world of Aircraft.
From that moment, all he wanted to know is how this thing is flying. His curiosity drove him to learn about aircraft and its principle from books. He collected several books on aircraft for his self-study. Even though his knowledge of the English language was poor, his determination made him learn English with a little help from his brother.
He applied all his knowledge gained from the book and built his first skeleton helicopter in 1990 using all the MS rods and pipes. After his first construction of the skeleton, all he need was an engine to make it fly. His search for the engine ended up in a company in Mumbai, India from where the helicopter came to Kerala to his nearby plantation. But to his utmost surprise, the helicopter needs a bigger engine and it cost a bomb to buy one. So, he came back with a dull heart only to build an aircraft with a smaller engine.
All his dreams have their own expenses, he worked as a Tv technician and Dish Tv technician to fuel his dream. After started working on his second aircraft with a motorbike engine, he got an offer from a nearby college to buy out his prototype. So, his first prototype with a motorbike engine got sold for Rs 1,50,000.
All his knowledge on aircraft building came from books and from his experience working for the local college. After constructing his 2 prototypes, his dream grew to build an aircraft that will fly. This wasn’t easy for him considering the cost involved. He sold his land to build his 3rd aircraft SAJI-XAir using all material sourced from the USA and Bangalore, India. To cut down the cost he made his own aircraft propeller from the wooden log.
By the time he built his 3rd aircraft, he was approached by many documentary production houses and news channels. Even few films were made out of his story without even proper credits given to him.
His major dream of flying his own aircraft became to reality through a retired Wing Commander SJK Nair, who helped him in achieving his dream. Mr. SJK Nair was kind enough to make all arrangements to get his aircraft flying. And on 9th April 2014, his day came when the aircraft made its maiden flight on a small airstrip in Tamilnadu, India. Since there no license from DGCA( Aircraft certificating authority) to fly, the aircraft flew only at a height of 20ft.
Mr. SJK Nair told that he has never seen an aircraft this flexible in this category. He explained that this aircraft is the result of Saji’s vision and the perseverance of his interest. Mr. SJK Nair helped him to expose his talents through media, which gained him recognization and awards.
Saji Thomas made history in Indian books of records as the first disable man to build an aircraft.
Even though many awards and reorganization is given, he is still looking for support to fuel his dream. He feels sad due to his poor economical background. But never gave up on his dream.
Saji’s awards and recognization showcased his talents, but no one supported his dream to go further. He did get a job in a German aviation company, Kolkatta India. But he couldn’t continue due to his health problem and staying away from family. He is still looking for support from the Government and companies to give wings for his passion.
He with his son as the chief technician on his side has built many drones from recycled engineering products with various applications.
Saji Thomas has made a mark with his life expeditions, with sheer determination and perseverance nothing could stop him in building his dream. Once he was a laughing stock in his village and his family for his unachievable dream. And now he has become an identity of that small village.
All we can hope that he will find his place some day.
Picture Courtesy – Saji Thomas.
Thank you so much for sharing this story! It is indeed remarkable that he learnt English and built his own airplanes from scratch. I hope that one day he’ll get enough funding to take his dream even further. It just proves that if you have passion you can achieve your dreams.
Yes, it is and it is also a good lesson for people who cribs with all that comfort 🙂