Blog: Honorary commissions in the IAF

The President of the Republic of India and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, today expressed her pleasure in the grant of the honorary rank of Group Captain (equivalent to Colonel in the army) to India’s top cricketer, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Tendulkar, one of the top ranking batsmen of all time, has accepted with his typical graciousness. He will be the 22nd person to be granted an honorary commissions in the IAF. Here’s a list of those commissioned before him.

1. His Highness, Raja Yashwant Rao Patangshah Vikramshah Mukane, Raja of Jawhar, conferred the honorary rank of Flight Lieutenant (equivalent to Captain in the army) on September 30, 1944.

2. Former Royal Air Force (RAF) officer Rup Chand, conferred the honorary rank of Wing Commander (equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel in the army) on September 20, 1947.

3. His Highness, Raj Tajeshwar Maharaja Manwant Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur, conferred the honorary rank of Group Captain on August 15, 1948.

4. J Beaumont, OBE, AFC of the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF), conferred the honorary rank of Group Captain on February 25, 1950.

5. Sir Thomas Elmhirst, KBE, CB, AFC of the RAF, conferred the honorary rank of Air Marshal (equivalent to Lieutenant General in the army) on October 16, 1950.

6. His Highness, Sikander Daulat Iftikhar-ul-Mulk Nawab Muhammed Hamidullah Khan Bahadur, GCSI (Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India ), GCIE (Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire), Nawab of Bhopal, conferred the honorary rank of Air Vice Marshal (equivalent to Major General in the army) on January 18, 1951.

7. His Highness, Sir Pratap Chandra Bhanja Deo, GCIE, Maharaja of Mayurbhanj, conferred the honorary rank of Flight Lieutenant on January 18, 1951.

8. GE Gibbs, GIE, KBE, CBE, MC of the RAF, conferred the honorary rank of Air Marshal on April 11, 1954.

9. Maharaja Umaid Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur, conferred the honorary rank of Air Vice Marshal on an unknown date.

10. Raja Brajendra Chandra Singh Deo Birhar Bajradhar Narendra Mahapatra, Raja of Ranpur, conferred the honorary rank of Flight Lieutenant on March 09, 1956.

11. NR Batra, about whom there is no information, conferred the honorary rank of Squadron Leader (equivalent to Major in the army) on June 02, 1962.

12. AS Sandhu, Public Relations Officer (of, presumably, the IAF), conferred the honorary rank of Flight Lieutenant on June 07, 1971.

13. SK Kulkarni, Public Relations Officer, conferred the honorary rank of Squadron Leader on December 07, 1971.

14. C Ramni Public Relations Officer, conferred the honorary rank of Squadron Leader on December 07, 1971.

15. SD Jadeja, Maharaja of Jamnagar, conferred the honorary rank of Wing Commander on May 25, 1973.

16. JRD Tata, conferred honorary rank of Group Captain in 1948, promoted to honorary Air Commodore (equivalent to Brigadier in the army) and further promoted to the honorary rank of Air Vice Marshal on April 01, 1974.

17. HS Malik, formerly of the RAF, former Ambassador to France, conferred the honorary rank of Wing Commander on August 15, 1949 and promoted to honorary Group Captain on January 20, 1975.

18. Yadu Nandan Chaturvedi, Public Relations Officer, conferred the honorary rank of Flight Lieutenant on August 02, 1982.

19. Abhai Deo, Public Relations Officer, conferred the honorary rank of Flight Lieutenant on July 01, 1982 and then promoted to honorary Squadron Leader on Ovtober 09, 1989.

20. Sardar Surjit Singh Majithia, Maharaja of Patiala, conferred the honorary rank of Group Captain on February 08, 1958 and promoted to honorary Air Commodore on October 08, 1990.

21. Vijaipat Singhania, conferred the honorary rank of Air Commodore on October 08, 1990.

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