Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani
Encyclopedia
Radhakrishna Hariram Tahiliani (born May 12, 1930) is a retired Indian Navy
admiral
who served as the 13th Chief of the Naval Staff from December 1, 1984 until November 30, 1987. His prior commands included those as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) of the Western Naval Command
, FOC-IN-C of the Southern Naval Command
and Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Fleet (FOCWF). A carrier-based aircraft
pilot, he also served as the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier
, .
After retirement, Tahiliani served as the Governor of Sikkim. He was a founder member and chairman of the India chapter of Transparency International
(TI). He has also served on the board of TI.
and qualified as a pilot for carrier-based aircraft
. He is a graduate of the Naval War College
, United States and the National Defence College
, New Delhi. He also qualified as a test pilot
.
He served as a carrier-based strike pilot on board , and also later commanded its carrier borne squadron.
Later, he served as the commanding officer of and .
In December 1977, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed Flag Officer, Goa Area (FOGA). Later, he was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet (FOCWF).
His next appointment was as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (ACNS) at Naval Headquarters (NHQ). This was following by appointment as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS). He was promoted to Vice Admiral while in this office.
In February 1982, then Vice Admiral, Tahiliani was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C), Southern Naval Command
.
In March 1983, he was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command
.
In May 1984, he was appointed the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS).
On December 1, 1984, he took over as the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy.
Admiral Tahiliani retired from the Indian Navy on November 30, 1987.
and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal
for his distinguished service.
He helped launch the India chapter of Transparency International as a founder member in 1997. He served as the chairman of the India chapter practically from its founding until 2010.
Admiral Tahiliani was elected to the board of Transparency International
in 2002.
.
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
who served as the 13th Chief of the Naval Staff from December 1, 1984 until November 30, 1987. His prior commands included those as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) of the Western Naval Command
Western Naval Command
The Western Naval Command is a formation of the Indian Navy. It has its HQ in Mumbai, Maharashtra and is commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, currently Vice Admiral D. K. Joshi...
, FOC-IN-C of the Southern Naval Command
Southern Naval Command
The Southern Naval Command is one of the three main formations of the Indian Navy. It has its HQ in Kochi, and is commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief....
and Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Fleet (FOCWF). A carrier-based aircraft
Carrier-based aircraft
Carrier-based aircraft are military aircraft designed specifically for operations from aircraft carriers. The term is generally applied only to fixed-wing aircraft, as naval helicopters are able to operate from a wider variety of aviation-capable ships. Carrier-based aircraft must be relatively...
pilot, he also served as the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, .
After retirement, Tahiliani served as the Governor of Sikkim. He was a founder member and chairman of the India chapter of Transparency International
Transparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
(TI). He has also served on the board of TI.
Naval career
Tahiliani was commissioned into the Indian Navy on September 1, 1950. He joined the Indian Naval Air ArmIndian Naval Air Arm
The Indian Naval Air Arm is part of the Indian Navy which is tasked to provide an aircraft carrier based strike capability, fleet air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. To undertake these tasks, the Indian Navy employs an aircraft carrier and a variety of manned and...
and qualified as a pilot for carrier-based aircraft
Carrier-based aircraft
Carrier-based aircraft are military aircraft designed specifically for operations from aircraft carriers. The term is generally applied only to fixed-wing aircraft, as naval helicopters are able to operate from a wider variety of aviation-capable ships. Carrier-based aircraft must be relatively...
. He is a graduate of the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, United States and the National Defence College
National Defence College, India
The National Defence College of India, located in New Delhi, is an institution of higher learning of the defence forces of India. The institution was inaugurated on 27 April 1960 and is the only military institution in the country that imparts knowledge on all aspects of national security and...
, New Delhi. He also qualified as a test pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
.
He served as a carrier-based strike pilot on board , and also later commanded its carrier borne squadron.
Later, he served as the commanding officer of and .
In December 1977, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed Flag Officer, Goa Area (FOGA). Later, he was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet (FOCWF).
His next appointment was as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (ACNS) at Naval Headquarters (NHQ). This was following by appointment as the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS). He was promoted to Vice Admiral while in this office.
In February 1982, then Vice Admiral, Tahiliani was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C), Southern Naval Command
Southern Naval Command
The Southern Naval Command is one of the three main formations of the Indian Navy. It has its HQ in Kochi, and is commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief....
.
In March 1983, he was appointed the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command
Western Naval Command
The Western Naval Command is a formation of the Indian Navy. It has its HQ in Mumbai, Maharashtra and is commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, currently Vice Admiral D. K. Joshi...
.
In May 1984, he was appointed the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS).
On December 1, 1984, he took over as the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Indian Navy.
Admiral Tahiliani retired from the Indian Navy on November 30, 1987.
Awards
Admiral Tahiliani was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva MedalAti Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal is a military award of India given to recognize "distinguished service of an exceptional order" to all ranks of the armed forces....
and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Param Vishisht Seva Medal is a military award of India. It was constituted in 1960 and since then till 1980, it was awarded in recognition to peace-time service of most exceptional order.-External links:...
for his distinguished service.
Later career
Admiral Tahiliani served as the Governor of Sikkim between February 8, 1990 and September 20, 1994.He helped launch the India chapter of Transparency International as a founder member in 1997. He served as the chairman of the India chapter practically from its founding until 2010.
Admiral Tahiliani was elected to the board of Transparency International
Transparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
in 2002.
Personal life
Admiral Tahiliani is married to Jaswanti Tahiliani. His wife was the first female engineer in Mumbai. He is the father of noted Indian fashion designer, Tarun TahilianiTarun Tahiliani
Tarun Tahiliani is a noted Indian fashion designer.In 2010, Tahiliani claimed an exemption as an artist on his income tax for his design work under section 80 RR of the Indian Income Tax Act...
.