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{{Short description|Indian Air Force officer}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[Air Chief Marshal]]
| honorific-prefix = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
|name = Om Prakash Mehra
| name = O P Mehra
| honorific-suffix = [[PVSM]]
|native_name = ਓਮਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਮੇਹਰਾ
| image = File:ACM_OP_Mehra.jpg
|native_name_lang = Punjabi
| image = Air Chief Marshal Om Prakash Mehra.jpg |
| caption = Air Chief Marshal Om Prakash Mehra
| office = [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|8th Chief of Air Staff]]
| caption = Air Chief Marshal Om Prakash Mehra
| term_start = 16 January 1973
|office = [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|8th Chief of Air Staff]]
|term_start =16 January 1973
| term_end = 31 January 1976
| predecessor = [[Pratap Chandra Lal]]
|term_end =31 January 1976
| successor = [[Hrushikesh Moolgavkar]]
|predecessor =[[Pratap Chandra Lal]]
| president = V. V. Giri<ref>V. V. Giri</ref>
|successor =[[Hrushikesh Moolgavkar]]
|president = V. V. Giri<ref>V. V. Giri</ref>
| primeminister = [[Indira Gandhi]]<ref>Indira Gandhi</ref>
| office1 = 11th [[List of governors of Maharashtra|Governor of Maharashtra]]
|primeminister = [[Indira Gandhi]]<ref>Indira Gandhi</ref>
| 1blankname1 = Chief Minister
|office1 = Governor of Maharashtra
| 1namedata1 = * [[A. R. Antulay]]
|term_start1 = 3 November 1980
* [[Babasaheb Bhosale]]
|term_end1 = 5 March 1982
| term_start1 = 3 November 1980
|predecessor1 = [[Sri Sadiq Ali]]
| term_end1 = 5 March 1982
|successor1 = [[I H Latif|Air Chief Marshal I H Latif]]
| predecessor1 = [[Sri Sadiq Ali]]
|president1 =
| successor1 = [[I H Latif|Air Chief Marshal I H Latif]]
|primeminister1 =
| president1 =
|office2 = Governor of Rajasthan
| primeminister1 =
|term_start2 = 6 March 1982
| office2 = 6th [[List of governors of Rajasthan|Governor of Rajasthan]]
|term_end2 = 4 January 1985
| term_start2 = 6 March 1982
|predecessor2 = [[K. D. Sharma]]
| term_end2 = 4 January 1985
|successor2 = [[Vasantrao Patil]]
| predecessor2 = [[K. D. Sharma]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1919|01|19}}
| successor2 = [[Vasantrao Patil]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2015|11|08|1919|01|19}}
| office3= 5th [[Indian Olympic Association|President of Indian Olympic Association]]
| placeofburial_label =
| term_start3= 1975
| placeofburial =
| term_end3= 1980
| birth_place =[[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]]
| predecessor3= [[Bhalindra Singh]]
| death_place =[[New Delhi]], [[India]]
| successor3= [[Bhalindra Singh]]
|alma_mater = [[Convent Of Sacred Heart Lahore|Sacred Heart Convent]] <br /> [[Central Model School, Lahore|Central Model School]] <br /> [[Government College University (Lahore)|Government College University]] <br /> [[University of the Punjab|Punjab University]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1919|01|19}}
|nickname =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2015|11|08|1919|01|19}}
|allegiance={{flag|British India}} (1940-1947) <br />{{flag|India}} (from 1947)
| placeofburial_label =
|rank= [[File:Air Chief Marshal of IAF.png|15px]] [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| placeofburial =
|branch= {{air force|United Kingdom}}<br>{{air force|India}}
| birth_place = [[Lahore]], [[British India]] (now in Lahore, [[Pakistan]])
|serviceyears = 1940-1976
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], India
|commands= [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)]] (1973–1976)<br /> No.3 Squadron<br />[[Western Air Command]]
| alma_mater = [[Convent Of Sacred Heart Lahore|Sacred Heart Convent]] <br /> [[Central Model School, Lahore|Central Model School]] <br /> [[Government College University (Lahore)|Government College University]] <br /> [[University of the Punjab|Punjab University]]
|battles=[[World War II]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Indo-Pakistani War (1965)]]
| nickname =
|awards= {{plainlist|
| allegiance = {{flag|British India}} (1940–1947)<br/>{{flag|India}} (from 1947)
[[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishist Seva Medal]] (PVSM) <br/>[[File:IND Padma Vibhushan BAR.png|20px]] [[Padma Vibhushan]]
| branch = {{air force|British India}} <br/>{{air force|India}}
}}
| rank = [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]]
| serviceyears = 1940-1976
| commands = [[Maintenance Command]]<br/>[[No. 3 Squadron IAF]]
| battles = [[World War II]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Indo-Pakistani War (1965)]]
| awards = {{plainlist|
[[Param Vishist Seva Medal]] (PVSM) <br/>[[Padma Vibhushan]]}}
}}
}}


[[Air Chief Marshal]] '''Om Prakash Mehra''' (in Punjabi ਓਮਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਮੇਹਰਾ,in Hindi ओमप्रकाश मेहरा) (19 January 1919 – 8 November 2015) was [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]] of the [[Indian Air Force]] from 1973 to 1976. He received [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] (PVSM), the highest military award for peace-time service, in 1968. He was awarded [[Padma Vibhushan]], India's second highest civilian honour, in 1977. He later became [[Governor of Maharashtra]] from 1980 to 1982, and [[Governor of Rajasthan]] from 1985 to 1987. He married Satya Mehra and has four children with her Sunil,Parveen,Rahul, and Amitava and numerous grand children.
[[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] '''Om Prakash Mehra''', [[PVSM]] (19 January 1919 – 8 November 2015) was a former air officer in the [[Indian Air Force]]. He served as the [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]] from 1973 to 1976. He received [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] (PVSM), the highest military award for peace-time service, in 1968. He was awarded [[Padma Vibhushan]], India's second highest civilian honour, in 1977. He later became [[Governor of Maharashtra]] from 1980 to 1982, and [[Governor of Rajasthan]] from 1985 to 1987. He married Satya Mehra and has four children with her Sunil, Parveen, Rahul, and Amitava and numerous grand children.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra was born on 19 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 Master's degree in History from the [[University of the Punjab|Punjab University]] in 1940.<ref name=maha>{{cite web | title = Hon'ble Air Chief Marshal O. P. Mehra | url = https://rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in/previous/opmehrabiodata.htm |work=Governor of Mahrashtra| accessdate = 2014-08-16 }}</ref><ref name=exp/>[[File:OP Mehra as CO of No.3 Squadron (3rd from Rt). Also seen in he picture are Nur Khan and Asghar Khan , both CAS of PAF later on.jpg|thumb|OP Mehra as CO of No.3 Squadron (3rd from Rt). Also seen in he picture are [[Malik Nur Khan|Nur Khan]] and [[Asghar Khan]] , both [[Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)|CAS]] of [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]] later on.|200px|left]]
Mehra was born on 19 January 1918 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 master's degree in history from the [[University of the Punjab|Punjab University]] in 1940.<ref name=maha>{{cite web | title = Hon'ble Air Chief Marshal O. P. Mehra | url = https://rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in/previous/opmehrabiodata.htm | work = Governor of Maharashtra | access-date = 2014-08-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090537/https://rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in/previous/opmehrabiodata.htm | archive-date = 19 August 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=exp/>


==Career==
==Career==
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 30 November 1940.<ref name=maha/>.
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 a [[Pilot Officer]] on 30 November 1940.<ref name=maha/> On completion of his training, he was posted to [[No. 1 Squadron IAF|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 Force]]s located in [[Japan]]. In view of the nationalization of the armed forces, he was recalled and posted in February 1947 as the Chief Ground Instructor at the No.1 Advanced Flying School [[Ambala]], to replace the RAF officer who was returning home.


===Post-Independence===
On completion of his training, he was posted to [[No. 1 Squadron IAF|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 Force|British Commonwealth Occupation Forces]] located in [[Japan]]. In view of the 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 (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] in August 1963, he took over as [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Maintenance Command]], in which capacity he served during the 1965 War. On 26 January 1968, he was awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Indian Air Force Gallantry & Service Awards Register|work=[[Bharat Rakshak]]| url = http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Awards/awards.php?qaward=1VSM | access-date = 2014-08-16 }}</ref> and promoted to [[Air Marshal]] in March 1968. Soon thereafter he was posted as Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Headquarters. In early 1971, he was deputed as Chairman of [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]], [[Bangalore]]. On 15 January 1973, he returned to Air Headquarters, designated as the new Chief of Air Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal [[Pratap Chandra Lal|PC Lal]].<ref name=pro>{{cite web | title = Indian Air Force :: Chiefs of Air Staff Profile| url = http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Personnel/Chiefs/258-OP-Mehra.html |publisher=Bharat Rakshak| access-date = 2014-08-16 }}</ref> He credited his success to [[Sathya Sai Baba]] and became his avowed devotee. (http://www.vedamu.org/features/FMrOPMehra.aspx)


Mehra relinquished the post to Air Chief Marshal [[Hrushikesh Moolgavkar]] on 31 January 1976, on completion of his tenure.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ex-Chiefs Gallery | url = http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_exchief_page.php?pg_id=19 | access-date = 2014-08-16 | publisher = Indian Air Force | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140403061917/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_exchief_page.php?pg_id=19 | archive-date = 3 April 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
[[File:OP Mehra as Commandant of No.2EFTS Jodhpur, seen along with the Maharaja of Jodhpur (Left) and Air Cmde Mehar Singh (Right).jpg|thumb|OP Mehra as Commandant of No.2EFTS Jodhpur, seen along with the Maharaja of Jodhpur (Left) and Air Cmde [[Mehar Singh (pilot)|Mehar Singh]] (Right)|left]]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]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Indian Air Force Gallantry & Service Awards Register|work=[[Bharat Rakshak]]| url = http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Awards/awards.php?qaward=1VSM | accessdate = 2014-08-16 }}</ref> and promoted [[Air Marshal]] in March 1968. Soon thereafter he was posted as Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Headquarters. In early 1971, he was deputed as Chairman of [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]], [[Bangalore]]. On 15 January 1973, he returned to Air Headquarters, designated as the new Chief of Air Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal [[Pratap Chandra Lal|PC Lal]].<ref name=pro>{{cite web | title = Indian Air Force :: Chiefs of Air Staff Profile| url = http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Personnel/Chiefs/258-OP-Mehra.html |publisher=Bharat Rakshak| accessdate = 2014-08-16 }}</ref>

Air Chief Marshal Mehra relinquished the post to Air Chief Marshal [[Hrushikesh Moolgavkar]] on 31 January 1976, on completion of his tenure.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ex-Chiefs Gallery | url = http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_exchief_page.php?pg_id=19
| accessdate = 2014-08-16|publisher=Indian Air Force }}</ref>


==Post-Air force career==
==Post-Air force career==
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013)|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf}}</ref> He went on to serve as the Governor of Maharashtra from 3 November 1980 to 5 March 1982.<ref name=maha/> This was followed by his posting as Governor of Rajasthan from 6 March 1982 to 4 November 1985.<ref>{{cite web | title = Former Governors |publisher=Raj Bhawan, Rajasthan| url = http://rajbhawan.rajasthan.gov.in/SitePages/rajpramukh.aspx | accessdate = 2014-08-16 }}</ref><ref name=assem>{{cite web | title = Photo Gallery of Governors | url = http://rajassembly.nic.in/govphoto.htm |publisher=Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan| accessdate = 2014-08-16 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013)|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf}}</ref> He went on to serve as the governor of Maharashtra from 3 November 1980 to 5 March 1982.<ref name=maha/> This was followed by his posting as Governor of Rajasthan from 6 March 1982 to 4 November 1985.<ref>{{cite web | title = Former Governors | publisher = Raj Bhawan, Rajasthan | url = http://rajbhawan.rajasthan.gov.in/SitePages/rajpramukh.aspx | access-date = 2014-08-16 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140627023040/http://rajbhawan.rajasthan.gov.in/SitePages/rajpramukh.aspx | archive-date = 27 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=assem>{{cite web | title = Photo Gallery of Governors | url = http://rajassembly.nic.in/govphoto.htm | publisher = Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan | access-date = 2014-08-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120417094946/http://www.rajassembly.nic.in/govphoto.htm | archive-date = 17 April 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>


Air Chief Marshal Mehra was elected President of the [[Indian Olympic Association]] in 1975, 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]].<ref name=maha/> He was an honorary life member of the Durand Football Tournament Society, which organizes the [[Durand Cup]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Honorary Life Members Durand Football Tournament Society|publisher=Durand Football| url = http://www.durandfootball.com/honorary_life_members.html| accessdate = 2014-08-16 }}</ref>
Air Chief Marshal Mehra was elected president of the [[Indian Olympic Association]] in 1975, 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 continued to be the Honorary Life President of the [[Olympic Council of Asia]].<ref name=maha/> He was an honorary life member of the Durand Football Tournament Society, which organizes the [[Durand Cup]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Honorary Life Members Durand Football Tournament Society|publisher=Durand Football| url = http://www.durandfootball.com/honorary_life_members.html| access-date = 2014-08-16 }}</ref>


In January, 2010, his autobiography, ''Memories: Sweet and Sour'', was released by M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web | title = Vice President’s releases the autobiography of Air Chief Marshal (Retd) O P Mehra|publisher=Vice President's Secretariat, Press Information Bureau| url = http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=57084|date=19 January 2010| accessdate = 2014-08-16 }}</ref> He was Chairman, Board of Advisors of [[Centre for Air Power Studies (India)|Centre for Air Power Studies]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capsindia.org/about|title=About - Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS)|work=capsindia.org}}</ref>
In January, 2010, his autobiography, ''Memories: Sweet and Sour'', was released by M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web | title = Vice President's releases the autobiography of Air Chief Marshal (Retd) O P Mehra|publisher=Vice President's Secretariat, Press Information Bureau| url = http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=57084|date=19 January 2010| access-date = 2014-08-16 }}</ref> He was chairman, Board of Advisors of [[Centre for Air Power Studies (India)|Centre for Air Power Studies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capsindia.org/about|title=About - Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS)|work=capsindia.org}}</ref>


In 2012, he was living in Delhi, and was the oldest living student of [[Panjab University, Chandigarh]].<ref name=exp>{{cite web | title = PU to honour its oldest alumni, former Air Chief Marshal O P Mehra of 1938 batch |work= Indian Express | url = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/pu-to-honour-its-oldest-alumni-former-air-chief-marshal-o-p-mehra-of-1938-batch/904137/ | accessdate = 2014-08-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
In 2012, he was living in Delhi, and was the oldest living student of [[Panjab University, Chandigarh]].<ref name=exp>{{cite web | title = PU to honour its oldest alumni, former Air Chief Marshal O P Mehra of 1938 batch |work= The Indian Express| url = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/pu-to-honour-its-oldest-alumni-former-air-chief-marshal-o-p-mehra-of-1938-batch/904137/ | access-date = 2014-08-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Hon'ble Air Chief Marshal Sh. O.P Mehra ji visited our Gurukul | website=[[Facebook]] | url = https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.657300361017535.1073741887.199550793459163&type=1 | access-date = 2014-08-16 }}</ref> He died on 8 November 2015 at the age of 96.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/former-air-chief-marshal-o-p-mehra-dies-115110900605_1.html|title=Former Air Chief Marshal O P Mehra dies|agency=Press Trust of India|date=9 November 2015|work=Business Standard}}</ref>
| title = Hon'ble Air Chief Marshal Sh. O.P Mehra ji visited our Gurukul | url = https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.657300361017535.1073741887.199550793459163&type=1 | accessdate = 2014-08-16 }}</ref> He died on 8 November 2015 at the age of 96.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/former-air-chief-marshal-o-p-mehra-dies-115110900605_1.html|title=Former Air Chief Marshal O P Mehra dies|author=Press Trust of India|date=9 November 2015|work=business-standard.com}}</ref>[[File:On a route march (right) with Air Cmde RHD Singh (center) and Wg Cdr MM Engineer (left).jpg|thumb|On a route march (right) with Air Cmde RHD Singh (center) and Wg Cdr [[Minoo Merwan Engineer|MM Engineer]] (left).200px|left]]


==Works==
==Works==
* ''Memories Sweet And Sour'' by Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra. KW Publisher, 2010. ISBN 9380502095.
* ''Memories Sweet And Sour'' by Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra. KW Publisher, 2010. {{ISBN|9380502095}}.


















== References ==
== References ==
Line 96: Line 82:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{cite web| title = Hon'ble Air Chief Marshal O. P. Mehra Profile| url = https://rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in/previous/opmehrabiodata.htm#| publisher = Governor of Maharashtra| access-date = 16 August 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090537/https://rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in/previous/opmehrabiodata.htm| archive-date = 19 August 2014| url-status = dead}}
* {{cite web
| title = Hon'ble Air Chief Marshal O. P. Mehra Profile| url = https://rajbhavan.maharashtra.gov.in/previous/opmehrabiodata.htm#
|publisher=Governor of Maharashtra }}
<!-- * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081231193329/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Air-Chiefs/Chiefs-Air-8.html] -->
<!-- * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081231193329/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Air-Chiefs/Chiefs-Air-8.html] -->


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{{end}}

{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{Chief of Defence Staff (India)}}
{{Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)}}
{{Chief_of_the_Air_Staff_(India)}}
{{Governors of Rajasthan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehra, Om Prakash}}
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[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in civil service]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in civil service]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Indian sports executives and administrators]]
[[Category:Deputy Chiefs of Air Staff (India)]]
[[Category:People from Punjab Province (British India)]]

Latest revision as of 00:30, 19 March 2024

Air Chief Marshal
O P Mehra
PVSM
Air Chief Marshal Om Prakash Mehra
8th Chief of Air Staff
In office
16 January 1973 – 31 January 1976
PresidentV. V. Giri[1]
Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi[2]
Preceded byPratap Chandra Lal
Succeeded byHrushikesh Moolgavkar
11th Governor of Maharashtra
In office
3 November 1980 – 5 March 1982
Chief Minister
Preceded bySri Sadiq Ali
Succeeded byAir Chief Marshal I H Latif
6th Governor of Rajasthan
In office
6 March 1982 – 4 January 1985
Preceded byK. D. Sharma
Succeeded byVasantrao Patil
5th President of Indian Olympic Association
In office
1975–1980
Preceded byBhalindra Singh
Succeeded byBhalindra Singh
Personal details
Born(1919-01-19)19 January 1919
Lahore, British India (now in Lahore, Pakistan)
Died8 November 2015(2015-11-08) (aged 96)
New Delhi, India
Alma materSacred Heart Convent
Central Model School
Government College University
Punjab University
Awards
Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM)
Padma Vibhushan
Military service
Allegiance British India (1940–1947)
 India (from 1947)
Branch/service Royal Indian Air Force
 Indian Air Force
Years of service1940-1976
RankAir Chief Marshal
CommandsMaintenance Command
No. 3 Squadron IAF
Battles/warsWorld War II
Indo-Pakistani War (1965)

Air Chief Marshal Om Prakash Mehra, PVSM (19 January 1919 – 8 November 2015) was a former air officer in the Indian Air Force. He served as the Chief of the Air Staff from 1973 to 1976. He received Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), the highest military award for peace-time service, in 1968. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, in 1977. He later became Governor of Maharashtra from 1980 to 1982, and Governor of Rajasthan from 1985 to 1987. He married Satya Mehra and has four children with her Sunil, Parveen, Rahul, and Amitava and numerous grand children.

Early life[edit]

Mehra was born on 19 January 1918 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 master's degree in history from the Punjab University in 1940.[3][4]

Career[edit]

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 a Pilot Officer on 30 November 1940.[3] 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 the nationalization of the armed forces, he was recalled and posted in February 1947 as the Chief Ground Instructor at the No.1 Advanced Flying School Ambala, to replace the RAF officer who was returning home.

Post-Independence[edit]

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 took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command, in which capacity he served during the 1965 War. On 26 January 1968, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal,[5] and promoted to Air Marshal in March 1968. Soon thereafter he was posted as Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Headquarters. In early 1971, he was deputed as Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore. On 15 January 1973, he returned to Air Headquarters, designated as the new Chief of Air Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal PC Lal.[6] He credited his success to Sathya Sai Baba and became his avowed devotee. (http://www.vedamu.org/features/FMrOPMehra.aspx)

Mehra relinquished the post to Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgavkar on 31 January 1976, on completion of his tenure.[7]

Post-Air force career[edit]

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.[8] He went on to serve as the governor of Maharashtra from 3 November 1980 to 5 March 1982.[3] This was followed by his posting as Governor of Rajasthan from 6 March 1982 to 4 November 1985.[9][10]

Air Chief Marshal Mehra was elected president of the Indian Olympic Association in 1975, 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 continued to be the Honorary Life President of the Olympic Council of Asia.[3] He was an honorary life member of the Durand Football Tournament Society, which organizes the Durand Cup.[11]

In January, 2010, his autobiography, Memories: Sweet and Sour, was released by M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India in New Delhi.[12] He was chairman, Board of Advisors of Centre for Air Power Studies.[13]

In 2012, he was living in Delhi, and was the oldest living student of Panjab University, Chandigarh.[4][14] He died on 8 November 2015 at the age of 96.[15]

Works[edit]

  • Memories Sweet And Sour by Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra. KW Publisher, 2010. ISBN 9380502095.

References[edit]

  1. ^ V. V. Giri
  2. ^ Indira Gandhi
  3. ^ a b c d "Hon'ble Air Chief Marshal O. P. Mehra". Governor of Maharashtra. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  4. ^ a b "PU to honour its oldest alumni, former Air Chief Marshal O P Mehra of 1938 batch". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Indian Air Force Gallantry & Service Awards Register". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Indian Air Force :: Chiefs of Air Staff Profile". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Ex-Chiefs Gallery". Indian Air Force. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs.
  9. ^ "Former Governors". Raj Bhawan, Rajasthan. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Photo Gallery of Governors". Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Honorary Life Members Durand Football Tournament Society". Durand Football. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Vice President's releases the autobiography of Air Chief Marshal (Retd) O P Mehra". Vice President's Secretariat, Press Information Bureau. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  13. ^ "About - Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS)". capsindia.org.
  14. ^ "Hon'ble Air Chief Marshal Sh. O.P Mehra ji visited our Gurukul". Facebook. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  15. ^ "Former Air Chief Marshal O P Mehra dies". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 9 November 2015.

External links[edit]

Military offices
Preceded by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command
1963–1967 		Succeeded by
H. N. Chatterjee
Preceded by Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (India)
1969–1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Air Staff
1973–1976 		Succeeded by
Civic offices
Preceded by President of the Indian Olympic Association
1975–1980 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of Maharashtra
1980–1982 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
K. D. Sharma
(acting)
 Governor of Rajasthan
1982–1985 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Om_Prakash_Mehra&oldid=1214444446"