Om Prakash Mehra
Encyclopedia
Om Prakash Mehra was Chief of the Air Staff (India)
from 1973 to 1976 . He received Param Vishistht Sewa Medal in 1968 . He was awarded Padma Vibhushan
in 1977. He later became governor of Maharashtra
from 1980 to 1982 and governor of Rajasthan
from 1982 to 1985.
Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra was born on 19th January 1919 at Lahore. His basic education was at the Sacred Heart Convent. He finished school at the Central Model School in 1933 and joined Government College University
, Lahore
and completed a Masters Degree from the Punjab University
in mid 1940.
After a short spell of flying at the Northern India Flying Club, Lahore
, he was selected for the Indian Air Force and joined the services as Pilot Officer on 30th November 1940.
On completion of his training, he was posted to No.1 Squadron in August 1941.
In March 1946 Mehra was selected to serve as the Indian Air force representative at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Australia - An organization set up to provide Administrative and Logistics support to the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces located in Japan. In view of Nationalization of the armed forces, he was recalled and posted in February 1947 as the Chief Ground Instructor at the No.1 Advance Flying School Ambala
, to replace the RAF Officer who was returning home.
In August 1947 he was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander and posted as Commandant of the Elementary Flying Training School at Jodhpur
.
On promotion to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal in August 1963 he look over as AOC in Chief Maintenance Command, in which capacity he served during the 1965 War. In January 1968 he was awarded the PVSM and promoted Air Marshal in March 1968. Soon thereafter he was posted as Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Headquarters. Early 1971 he was deputed as Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
, Bangalore
. On 15th January 1973 he returned to Air Headquarters, designated as the new Chief of Air Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal PC Lal
.
Air Chief Marshal Mehra relinquished the post to Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgavkar on 31st January 1976, on completion of his tenure.
After his retirement, he represented India at a UNESCO
meeting in Paris
as Deputy Leader of India's Team. He was the recipient of Padma Vibhushan
in January 1977. He went on to serve as the Governor of Maharashtra
(1980) and later as Governor of Rajasthan
(1982).
Air Chief Marshal Mehra was elected President of the Indian Olympic Association
and was responsible for the hosting by India of the 1982 Asian Games
. From 1978 to 1980 he was President of the Asian Games Federation, currently known as the Olympic Council of Asia
and continues to be the Honorary Life President of the Olympic Council of Asia
.
Chief of the Air Staff (India)
The head of the Indian Air Force is known as the Chief of the Air Staff . The position was held by an Air Commodore , by an Air Vice-Marshal and by an Air Marshal . In 1965, the position was upgraded to that of an Air Chief Marshal...
from 1973 to 1976 . He received Param Vishistht Sewa Medal in 1968 . He was awarded Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
in 1977. He later became governor of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
from 1980 to 1982 and governor of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
from 1982 to 1985.
Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra was born on 19th January 1919 at Lahore. His basic education was at the Sacred Heart Convent. He finished school at the Central Model School in 1933 and joined Government College University
Government College University
Government College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and completed a Masters Degree from the Punjab University
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
in mid 1940.
After a short spell of flying at the Northern India Flying Club, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, he was selected for the Indian Air Force and joined the services as Pilot Officer on 30th November 1940.
On completion of his training, he was posted to No.1 Squadron in August 1941.
In March 1946 Mehra was selected to serve as the Indian Air force representative at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Australia - An organization set up to provide Administrative and Logistics support to the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces located in Japan. In view of Nationalization of the armed forces, he was recalled and posted in February 1947 as the Chief Ground Instructor at the No.1 Advance Flying School Ambala
Ambala
Ambala is a city and a municipal corporation in Ambala district in the state of Haryana, India, located on the border of the states of Haryana and Punjab in India. Politically; Ambala has two sub-areas: Ambala Cantt and Ambala City, approximately 3 kilometers apart from each other...
, to replace the RAF Officer who was returning home.
In August 1947 he was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander and posted as Commandant of the Elementary Flying Training School at Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
.
On promotion to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal in August 1963 he look over as AOC in Chief Maintenance Command, in which capacity he served during the 1965 War. In January 1968 he was awarded the PVSM and promoted Air Marshal in March 1968. Soon thereafter he was posted as Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Headquarters. Early 1971 he was deputed as Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited based in Bangalore, India, is one of Asia's largest aerospace companies. Under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence, this state-owned company is mainly involved in aerospace industry, which includes manufacturing and assembling aircraft, navigation and...
, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. On 15th January 1973 he returned to Air Headquarters, designated as the new Chief of Air Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal PC Lal
Pratap Chandra Lal
Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal was the Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. He served in the IAF from 1939 until his retirement in 1973. He served as CO of No. 7 Squadron, AOC-in-C of Western Air Command, VCAS and Managing Director of Hindustan...
.
Air Chief Marshal Mehra relinquished the post to Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgavkar on 31st January 1976, on completion of his tenure.
After his retirement, he represented India at a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
meeting in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
as Deputy Leader of India's Team. He was the recipient of Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
in January 1977. He went on to serve as the Governor of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
(1980) and later as Governor of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
(1982).
Air Chief Marshal Mehra was elected President of the Indian Olympic Association
Indian Olympic Association
The Indian Olympic Association is the body responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other international athletic meets and for managing the Indian teams at the events...
and was responsible for the hosting by India of the 1982 Asian Games
1982 Asian Games
The 9th Asian Games were held from November 19, 1982 to December 4, 1982 in Delhi, India.An incredible 74 Asian and Asian Games records were broken. This was also the first Asiad to be held under the aegis of the Olympic Council of Asia.-Sports:...
. From 1978 to 1980 he was President of the Asian Games Federation, currently known as the Olympic Council of Asia
Olympic Council of Asia
The Olympic Council of Asia is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees. The current president is Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah. The oldest NOC is from Japan and Philippines, recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1911; whereas East Timor is...
and continues to be the Honorary Life President of the Olympic Council of Asia
Olympic Council of Asia
The Olympic Council of Asia is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees. The current president is Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah. The oldest NOC is from Japan and Philippines, recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1911; whereas East Timor is...
.
External links
- http://rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in/previous/opmehrabiodata.htm
- http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Air-Chiefs/Chiefs-Air-8.html