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Lost Weight but Not Dharm
Published On: October 10, 2025
Batch: 2001-2006
Member ID: GR No. 740
Ever since childhood, Kuntalkumar Kikani was fascinated by the vastness of the sky. The night sky with stars and the galaxy always gave him the hope that someday he will reach out to them. While his classmates gazed at kites in the sky, Kuntal’s eyes followed the roar of airplanes. His dream was clear—he wanted to associate himself with the sky somehow.
With sheer effort, discipline, and values that he was brought up with in the Gurukul guided him at every step.
He worked as a one man army towards achieving the goal of becoming a pilot, at the time when the internet was scarce, slow, and truly a luxury. He still remembers the times in boarding school where he used his limited “30 mins. of monthly access to a very slow internet” to browse for flying institutes and watch the photos of the fighter jets to recharge the motivational dose of flying dream for next few weeks.
The goal was so clear that he filled up the enrollment form for pilot’s course in the 11th class itself that, 2 months after passing 12th he was in the flying institute attending the theoretical classes already.
Eventually, for flying training he went to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he enrolled in a reputed pilot training academy.
At first, everything seemed exciting—the simulators, the aircrafts, the thrill of training. But soon, a storm approached—not in the skies, but the diet..
Springs, (outskirts of Johannesburg) localites were far off the vegeterian concept. Kuntal would find nothing except eggs and meat to eat. His fellow cadets and instructors would occasionally joke saying, “KK, stop being so adamant about it and start off with eggs and you will start loving it” and also it would help in maintaining medical fitness.
Temptation, pressure, and loneliness—everything cornered him. But the shikshapatri that he read every morning during pooja and the values that saints imparted in Gurukul would work as a motivation. There were even nights where he would go to bed empty stomach but smiling, remembering how on Ekdashis at Gurukul he and his friends willingly fasted through the day and night making the situation normal years later.
But deep in his heart, Kuntal remembered the promise he made to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his Guru Maharaj: to never consume meat and alcohol.
He looked straight into the eyes of his peers and said firmly:
“I may lose weight, I may even lose strength, but I will never lose my Dharma.”
And with that, he chose the harder path.
While others feasted, Kuntal survived on boiled potato and plain rice and sometimes, only the salted rice that he would have normally cooked by himself.
As weeks passed, his body grew weaker but his intent got even stronger. The weighing scale was disappointing. He lost 16 kilograms. His face thinned, his frame shrunk, but his spirit remained unshaken and in fact with more determination than ever.
Every morsel he ate was not just food—it was a statement of devotion, a declaration of his loyalty to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the Gurukul sanskars. “He carried on with the spirit that, “This is the Guru Dakshina that he would want to give to his Gurudev Shashtriji Maharaj and the Saints”
A few months later, when the training concluded, Kuntal had passed the theoretical exams as well as the flying checks with the best results amongst his peers. Despite his physical struggle, he flew aircrafts, cleared the exams, and most importantly—kept his vow pure.
His peers who once joked about his weight, had developed more respect for him. His instructors admired his discipline and the will power. Above everything he stood tall and wide for the values and sanskars preached by his Gurus.
Kuntalkumar after earning wings and three stripes from South Africa went up looking for an adventurous job as a Bush Pilot in Botswana. Botswana was more tougher in terms of survival as even the non-vegetarian struggled but by then he started embracing the challenges at the personal as well professional level. Where he would happily survive on rice and milk and fly to the remotest strips in the jungles of Botswana.
After a good professional experience in Botswana he returned to India in 2015 to tap into an airline career. And soon enough he cleared the Induction process of Air India to join as a First officer.
Later, in 2019 he joined Indigo as a Senior first officer.
With every flight, he carried not just passengers but also the weight of his faith and values.
And then came the moment of glory – THE PIC “Pilot-in-Command”.
In 2023, after years of rigorous training, countless hours of dedication, and passing the most exacting evaluations, Kuntal achieved the pinnacle of aviation excellence by earning the final and fourth stripe on his shoulder — officially becoming a COMMANDER. This rank is not just a position of authority, responsibility, and honor; it is a mark of personal glory, the dream of every pilot, and a testament to unwavering skill, discipline, and perseverance.
In a moment of profound blessing and recognition, Mahant Swami Sadguru Shri Devprasaddasji Swamiji personally honored Kuntal, placing the four stripes upon his shoulders, acknowledging him as a COMMANDER Pilot — a true symbol of excellence, dedication, and divine grace.
From a boy who once survived on boiled potatoes in Johannesburg to a Commander, his journey became proof that faith fuels the highest flights
Even today, in order to keep up to the spirit and values of a gurukulite, he carries his personal pooja no matter where he flies, reads Bhaktachintamani, Srimad Bhagwad puran on daily basis and keeps byhearting sanskrit slokas, by reciting a shloka everyday repeatedly, a learning practice that he learnt from gurukul. Latest one byhearting whole Narayan kawach.
Kuntal had not just learned to fly planes—he had learned to fly above temptation. He showed the world that:
Today, CAPTAIN Kuntalkumar Kikani soars in the skies not only as a skilled aviator but also as a shining example of devotion, discipline, and Gurukul Sanskar.
Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul is Proud of CAPT. Kuntalkumar Kikani.
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