From salesman to Guinness World Record holder: Malayali soars with Tricolour from 13000 feet

Kannur (Kerala): Hailing from a modest home in Thillankeri, born to Usman and Ramla, Jamsheer Thanalot left for the UAE fifteen years ago with little money in his pocket to take up a job as a salesman. Today, that same son stands at a height where the entire world looks up - 13,000 feet in the sky, holding the Indian flag.

It was in 2015 that Jamsheer first saw skydive jumping. It was then that a desire took root in him – “I too want to fly.” He made up his mind that very day. But he lacked funds - he had only a dream. He waited and worked hard for six years. Eventually, he co-founded Jasp.com, an e-commerce firm operating in the UAE and Qatar. Finally, in 2021, he began his skydiving training, successfully completing the required courses and instruction.

His very first jump took place in 2021. Fear was present, but the moment his feet touched the ground, he felt, “This is me,” says Jamsheer. To date, he has completed 320 jumps across various parts of the world, including Dubai, Russia and Libya. In 2025, he won a gold medal alongside a UAE team.

Now, driven by unyielding passion, Jamsheer’s flight has earned him a Guinness World Record. The feat – 65 countries, 65 flags and a single simultaneous jump – secured the world record. As the door of an Ilyushin Il-76TD military transport aircraft opened, the wind rushed in. In his hands was a three-kilogram Indian flag. The earth below was not even visible, and he was accompanied by 64 other jumpers.

“There was fear – ‘Would the flag get tangled? Would there be a collision?’ But in my mind, there was only Kannur and the Tricolour,” says Jamsheer.

“When I landed safely, what I received was not just a certificate; it was the belief that ‘you did it’. I came from being a salesman – a boy who had to wait six years because he had no money. If I can do it, anyone can. I dedicate this record to Kannur and Kerala,” he added, emphasising that one should never be afraid to dream, even at heights where the ground is out of sight, and raise our flag high.

His wife P P Bushra and their children Nafeesa Mifra and Mahsa Nasal remain steadfast in their support of him.