Idris Hasan Latif
Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif PVSM | |
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In office 01 September 1978 – 31 August 1981 | |
President | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy[1] |
Prime Minister | Morarji Desai[2] |
Preceded by | Hrushikesh Moolgavkar |
Succeeded by | Dilbagh Singh |
Governor of Maharashtra | |
In office 6 March 1982 – 16 April 1985 | |
Preceded by | Air Chief Marshal O P Mehra |
Succeeded by | Kona Prabhakara Rao |
Indian Ambassador to France | |
In office April 1985 – August 1988 | |
Preceded by | Mr. Narendra Singh |
Succeeded by | Mrs. Soonu Kochhar |
Personal details | |
Born |
Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British Raj | 9 June 1923
Died |
30 April 2018 94) Hyderabad, Telangana, India | (aged
Alma mater |
Nizam College Defence Services Staff College |
Awards |
|
Military service | |
Allegiance |
|
Service/branch |
|
Years of service | 1941–1988 |
Rank |
Service No. 1804 |
Commands |
Chief of Air Staff 1978-1981 No. 4 Squadron |
Battles/wars |
World War II Indo-Pakistan War of 1947 Sino-Indian War Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 |
Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif (9 June 1923[3] – 30 April 2018) was the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force, having served as such from 1978 to 1981.[4] After retirement, he has also served as the governor of the Indian state of Maharashtra (1982–85) and later as the Indian ambassador to France (until 1988).[4][5] He was the first and only Indian Muslim to become the head of the Indian Air Force, or of any Indian armed forces branch.[6]
Early life and education
Latif was born in Hyderabad, Telangana in 1923. His father was Hasan Latif, chief engineer of the erstwhile Hyderabad State.[7] He was educated at Nizam College, Hyderabad, and was also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College. Wellington, and the National Defence College.
Military career
Air Chief Marshal Latif was commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force in 1942, and took part in the Burma Campaign on the Arakan Front during World War II.[4] Later, he was a member of the Indian Advisory Group to Indonesia that helped the Indonesian Air Force induct jet fighters. Latif also served as Air Defence commander and as a Senior Air staff officer in the Eastern Air Command. From 1961 to 1965, Latif was the air attaché at the Indian embassy in Washington, D.C.[4] During the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war, he was Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (plans).
In 1971, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. In 1974, Latif was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal and posted as air officer in charge, administration, at Air Headquarters. He led Air Force relief operations during the Patna floods in 1975. In 1977, then Air Marshal Latif was posted as vice chief of air staff and took over as chief of air staff on 1 September 1978.
Later career
After retirement from active military service, Air Chief Marshal IH Latif was appointed as Governor of the Indian State of Maharashtra, on 6 March 1982, completing his tenure on 16 April 1985. Following this, Air Chief Marshal IH Latif was appointed Ambassador of India to France, a post he held until 1988. Following his later government service he resided in Hyderabad.[8][9]
Personal life
He was married to Bilkees I. Latif, a noted social worker, and daughter of Ali Yavar Jung.[10] She died in 2017, a year before her husband's death in 2018.[11] The couple is survived by two sons and a daughter.[12]
References
- ↑ Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
- ↑ Morarji Desai
- ↑ Abidi, S. Sartaj Alam; Sharma, Satinder (2007). Services Chiefs of India. Northern Book Centre. ISBN 9788172111625.
- 1 2 3 4 "Legends of the IAF: Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif". Indian Air Force. 6 July 2016.
- ↑ Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif, PVSM biography
- ↑ Idris Hassan Latif profile at indianmuslims.info
- ↑ "Former IAF chief Idris Hasan Latif passes away at 94". The Indian Express. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
- ↑ "Hon'ble Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif, PVSM". rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
- ↑ http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Personnel/Chiefs/260-IH-Latif.html
- ↑ "Awards for 5 persons from State". The Hindu. 2009-01-26. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
- ↑ "Social activist Bilkees Latif no more". Deccan Chronicle. 2017-10-28. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
- ↑ "Former chief of IAF Idris Latif dies at 95". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2018-05-01. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by Hrushikesh Moolgavkar |
Chief of the Air Staff (India) 1978–1981 |
Succeeded by Dilbagh Singh |