Squadron Leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr or S/L) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Squadron leader is immediatel ...

Rana Tej Pratap Singh Chhina, MBE (born 1960) is a

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...

, a

military historian Military history is the study of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, cultures and economies thereof, as well as the resulting changes to local and international relationships. Professional historians ...

and a veteran of the

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the air force, air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflicts. It was officially established on 8 Octob ...

Military career

Born and raised in New Delhi, Chhina was selected for the

National Defence Academy The National Defence Academy (NDA) is the joint defence service training institute of the Indian Armed Forces. Here, cadets of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force train together before they go on to their respective service a ...

in 1976, shortly after graduating from St. Columba's School. He was commissioned into the flying branch of the

(IAF) as a

pilot officer Pilot officer (Plt Off or P/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Pilot officer is the lowest ran ...

on 11 June 1981. He served with distinction as a helicopter pilot in all sectors in which the IAF was operational. From 1990 to 1993 he was an IAF flight instructor.

Military historian

After retiring from active service in 1997 as a

squadron leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr or S/L) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Squadron leader is immediatel ...

, Chhina became a historian of the IAF, the former

British Indian Army The Indian Army was the force of British Raj, British India, until Indian Independence Act 1947, national independence in 1947. Formed in 1895 by uniting the three Presidency armies, it was responsible for the defence of both British India and ...

, and Indian military medals and decorations. Chhina is the secretary and editor at the

United Service Institution United Service Institution of India (USI) is a national security and defence services think tank based in New Delhi, India. It describes its aim as the "furtherance of interest and knowledge in the art, science and literature of the defence serv ...

of India (USI) Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, New Delhi, and is the vice-president of the

Indian Military Historical Society Indian Military Historical Society (IMHS) is an organisation and learned society, which is based primarily in the United Kingdom but with a wide membership extending to the British Commonwealth and several other countries around the world. The soci ...

(IMHS), UK. He is also a member of the IAF Aerospace Museum Apex Steering Committee and the Government of India's Archival Advisory Board, and was a member of the joint USI–MEA ( Ministry of External Affairs) Steering Committee responsible for coordinating international and national commemoration of India's participation in the First World War in connection with the centenary of the conflict. In 2016 Chhina was awarded an Honorary MBE for services to First World War centenary commemorations.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/581724/2016_Honorary_awards_V4.pdf

Books

As author

*''The Indian Distinguished Service Medal'' (2001) *''The Eagle Strikes'' (2006) *''The Indian Army: An Illustrated Overview'' (2007) *''Medals and decorations of independent India'' (2008) *''Indian Order of Merit'' (with Cliff Parrett, of the Indian Military Historical Society (IMHS)) (2010) *''India And The First World War 1914-1918'' (2014) *''Last Post Indian War Memorials Around the World'' (2014) *''India in Flanders Fields'' (co-author) (2017)

As editor

*''For the honour of India: a history of Indian peacekeeping'', by Lieutenant General Satish Nambiar (2009)

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chhina, Rana Tejpal Singh 1960 births Living people 20th-century Indian historians Indian Air Force officers Indian military aviators Indian military historians Indian military writers Indian aviation record holders Rotorcraft flight record holders Recipients of the MacGregor Medal St. Columba's School, Delhi alumni