Rana Chhina
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader Rana Tej Pratap Singh Chhina (born 1960), a writer
and military historian, is a veteran of the Indian Air Force
.
Born and raised in New Delhi, Chhina was selected for the National Defence Academy in 1976,
shortly after graduating from St. Columba's School
.
He went on to serve with distinction as a helicopter
pilot in all sectors in which the Indian Air Force
was operational. From 1990–93 he was a flight instructor at Air Force training institutions.
Chhina is one of a small group of Indian officers to receive the rarely awarded prestigious MacGregor Medal
for valuable military reconnaissance
. He holds the record for a high altitude flight (landing) for a medium-lift helicopter.
Since retiring from active service in 1997 as a Squadron Leader
, Chhina has become a leading historian of the Indian Air Force
and the former British Indian Army
. He was responsible for organising the Indian Air Force archives at Air Headquarters.
He is the author of five books, the latest of which is Medals and decorations of independent India, a study of India’s post-Independence military and civil honours and awards. His previous works include: The Indian Air Force Memorial Book - a consolidated account of battle casualties of the Indian Air Force from 1932to 1996; a ; "The Eagle Strikes - The Royal Indian Air Force 1932-1950".; and "The Indian Army: An Illustrated Overview",; a monograph on the pre-independence gallantry award The Indian Distinguished Service Medal and most recently one on the Indian Order of Merit (with Cliff Parrett, of the Indian Military Historical Society (IMHS)), this is the first of three volumes - the second and third volumes are expected to follow soon.
In reviewing his book The Indian Distinguished Service Medal (2001), Prof. Ed Haynes of Winthrop University
wrote,
In addition, he has edited a number of official war histories, the latest being For the honour of India: a history of Indian peacekeeping, by Lieutenant General Satish Nambiar. He is one of the key interviewees in the internationally acclaimed award-winning Canadian documentary about the Komagata Maru
, "Continuous Journey".
He is the vice president of the Indian Military Historical Society, UK and Secretary of the United Service Institution of India - Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, New Delhi.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and military historian, is a veteran of the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
.
Born and raised in New Delhi, Chhina was selected for the National Defence Academy in 1976,
shortly after graduating from St. Columba's School
St. Columba's School
St. Columba's School, Delhi, India, was established in 1942, and is one of twelve English Medium schools of its kind conducted by the Indian Province of the Congregation of Christian Brothers which was founded by Blessed Edmund Rice, a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. It follows the...
.
He went on to serve with distinction as a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
pilot in all sectors in which the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
was operational. From 1990–93 he was a flight instructor at Air Force training institutions.
Chhina is one of a small group of Indian officers to receive the rarely awarded prestigious MacGregor Medal
MacGregor Medal
The is awarded to Indian Armed Forces personnel for valuable military reconnaissance. The medal was instituted in 1888 to honour the memory of founder, Maj Gen Sir Charles MacGregor....
for valuable military reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
. He holds the record for a high altitude flight (landing) for a medium-lift helicopter.
Since retiring from active service in 1997 as a Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
, Chhina has become a leading historian of the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
and the former British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
. He was responsible for organising the Indian Air Force archives at Air Headquarters.
He is the author of five books, the latest of which is Medals and decorations of independent India, a study of India’s post-Independence military and civil honours and awards. His previous works include: The Indian Air Force Memorial Book - a consolidated account of battle casualties of the Indian Air Force from 1932to 1996; a ; "The Eagle Strikes - The Royal Indian Air Force 1932-1950".; and "The Indian Army: An Illustrated Overview",; a monograph on the pre-independence gallantry award The Indian Distinguished Service Medal and most recently one on the Indian Order of Merit (with Cliff Parrett, of the Indian Military Historical Society (IMHS)), this is the first of three volumes - the second and third volumes are expected to follow soon.
In reviewing his book The Indian Distinguished Service Medal (2001), Prof. Ed Haynes of Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Winthrop University is a public, four-year liberal arts university in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. In 2006-07, Winthrop University had an enrollment of 6,292 students. The University has been recognized as South Carolina's top-rated university according to evaluations conducted by the South...
wrote,
Rarely does a book on medals come along that presents the sort of Platonic ideal that Rana T. S. Chhina's work on the IDSM presents. This is a model for emulation for any effort at addressing a single award. In addition to giving a masterful history of the development and evolution of the IDSM, Chhina gives a detailed listing of all recipients of the medal.
In addition, he has edited a number of official war histories, the latest being For the honour of India: a history of Indian peacekeeping, by Lieutenant General Satish Nambiar. He is one of the key interviewees in the internationally acclaimed award-winning Canadian documentary about the Komagata Maru
Komagata Maru
The Komagata Maru incident involved a Japanese steamship, the Komagata Maru, that sailed from Hong Kong to Shanghai, China; Yokohama, Japan; and then to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1914, carrying 376 passengers from Punjab, India. The 356 of passengers were not allowed to land in...
, "Continuous Journey".
He is the vice president of the Indian Military Historical Society, UK and Secretary of the United Service Institution of India - Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, New Delhi.
Other References
- http://www.imhs.org.uk
- http://www.usiofindia.org
- Charles MacGregorCharles MacGregorMajor-General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor KCB CSI CIE was an Anglo-Indian explorer, geographer and officer of the British Indian Army. He was the Quartermaster General for the British Army in India, the head of the Intelligence Department for the British Indian Army and served under Frederick...
(General) - Omer TarinOmer TarinOmer Tarin , born March 1967, is a well-known Pakistani poet in English, research scholar, and social activist...
- http://www.awm.gov.au/events/conference/2010/abstracts_speakers.asp