| File:ACM Arup Raha.jpg
| |
| Office | 54th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee |
|---|---|
| Office | 21st Chief of Air Staff |
| Office | 37th Vice Chief of Air Staff
|
| Term start | 31 July 2014 |
| Term end | 31 December 2016 |
| Predecessor | Bikram Singh |
| Successor | Sunil Lanba |
| Predecessor | Norman Anil Kumar Browne |
| Successor | Birender Singh Dhanoa
|
| Born | 1954-12-26 (age 72) |
| Born | Baidyabati, West Bengal, India
|
| Spouse | Lily Raha |
| Children | Atanu Raha, Anusree Raha
|
Arup Raha, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, (Template:Langx) is an Indian Air Force veteran and was the 21st Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and served from 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2016.[1] He was also the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, a post occupied by India's senior-most military officer, who advises the government and ensures jointsmanship in the armed forces.[2][3] Currently, he is the Chancellor of Assam University.
Early life and education
Raha was born in a Bengali Kayastha family on 26 December 1954 in the city of Baidyabati, West Bengal. His father was a doctor. He was educated at Sainik School Purulia (1970 batch).[4][5][6]
Military training
Raha was trained at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, India, from July 1970 to June 1973, and at the time of graduating from NDA in June 1973, he was awarded the Gold Medal for being the best cadet of the 44th NDA course. Subsequently, he did flying training on HT-2 and Kiran ( HJT-16 ) at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, before being commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in Dec 1974. After flying Hunters in Operational Conversion Unit, he went on to fly Mig -21 aircraft.
Military career
Raha has flown a wide variety of combat and trainer aircraft. After initial training on the HAL HT-2, he has flown the MIG-21 and MIG-29 aircraft and has commanded a MiG-29 fighter squadron and two frontline airbases along India's Western front. As on 2 April 2010, he had 3,400 hours of flying experience.[3] Raha previously served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force[7] and as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Western Air Command,[8] and that of the Central Air Command.[3] He has also served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, Western Air Command and Deputy Commandant at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad.[9]
Raha has held many important staff appointments in India and abroad.
Notable appointments held
| Name of Appointment | Rank | Insignia | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief of Air Staff | Air Chief Marshal | File:Indian IAF OF-9.svg | 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2016 |
| Vice Chief of Air Staff | Air Marshal | File:Indian IAF OF-8.svg | 1 July 2013 to 31 Dec 2013 |
| Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command of the IAF | Air Marshal | File:Indian IAF OF-8.svg | 1 June 2012 to 30 June 2013 |
| Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command of the IAF | Air Marshal | File:Indian IAF OF-8.svg | 2 Nov 2011 to 31 May 2012 |
| Senior Air Staff Officer at Western Air Command | Air Vice Marshal | File:Indian IAF OF-7.svg | till 1 Nov 2011 |
| Directing Staff at Flying Instructors School, Tambaram | Air Commodore | File:Indian IAF OF-6.svg | Unknown |
| Commanding Officer of No: 47 Squadron IAF Black Archers | Wing Commander | File:Indian IAF OF-4.svg | 8 June 1992 to 5 June 1994 |
Personal life
Arup Raha is married to Lily Raha and they have two children. The son, Atanu, is a commercial pilot who is married to Sanskriti Chatterjee Raha, a professional Kathakali dancer. The daughter, Anusree Raha, is an Indian Economic Service officer and a TEDx speaker, and is married to Bodhisattwa Biswas, an alumnus of Indian School of Business.[10][11]
Awards and decorations
In 2018, the state-run Sidho Kanho Birsha University awarded Arup Raha with an honorary D.Litt. degree during its convocation ceremony.[12]
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedthehindu1 - ↑ Arup Raha is new chief of staff. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Arup Raha takes over as senior Air Staff Officer at WAC. The Times of India(2 April 2010). Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ↑ Air Marshal Arup Raha to be IAF Chief(30 October 2013).
- ↑ Sainik School in Purulia turns 50, Air Marshal to be chief guest. The Times of India(26 January 2012).
- ↑ Service Record for Arup Raha, Rohila, Naresh. Bharatrakshak.com(5 June 2019).
- ↑ Air Marshal Arup Raha to take over as IAF Vice Chief(30 June 2013).
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCAC - ↑ Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha's official profile. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ Indian Air Force Template:Dead link
- ↑ Indian Economic Service.
- ↑ Aajkaal: Bengali News, Bangla News, Breaking News in Bengali.
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