Arup Raha

He was also the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, a post occupied by India's senior-most military officer, who advises the government and ensures jointsmanship in the armed forces. Currently, he is the Chancellor of Assam University.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
অরূপ রাহা
Official portrait, 2014
54th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
In office 31 July 2014 – 31 December 2016
President	Pranab Mukherjee
Prime Minister	Narendra Modi
Preceded by	Bikram Singh
Succeeded by	Sunil Lanba
21st Chief of Air Staff
In office 31 December 2013 – 31 December 2016
President	Pranab Mukherjee
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh Narendra Modi
Preceded by	Norman Anil Kumar Browne
Succeeded by	Birender Singh Dhanoa
37th Vice Chief of Air Staff
In office 1 July 2013 – 31 December 2013
President	Pranab Mukherjee
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Dinesh Chandra Kumaria
Succeeded by	Ravi Kant Sharma
Personal details
Born	(1954-12-26) 26 December 1954 (age 69) Baidyabati, West Bengal, India
Spouse	Lily Raha
Children	Anusree Raha
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Air Force
Years of service	1975–2016
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands	Western Air Command Central Air Command AFS Bathinda AFS Adampur 47 Squadron IAF
Battles/wars	Kargil War
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal Vayu Sena Medal

Raha was born in a Bengali family on 26 December 1954 in the city of Baidyabati, an area under the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority which is in the Indian State of West Bengal. His father was a reputed doctor. He was educated at Sainik School Purulia (1970 batch).

Raha was trained at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, India, from July 1970 to June 1973, and at the time of graduating from NDA in June 1973, he was awarded the Gold Medal for being the best cadet of the 44th NDA course. Subsequently, he did flying training on HT-2 and Kiran ( HJT-16 ) at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, before being commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in Dec 1974. After flying Hunters in Operational Conversion Unit, he went on to fly Mig -21 aircraft.

Raha has flown a wide variety of combat and trainer aircraft. After initial training on the HAL HT-2, he has flown the MIG-21 and MIG-29 aircraft and has commanded a MiG-29 fighter squadron and two frontline airbases along India's Western front. As on 2 April 2010, he had 3,400 hours of flying experience. Raha previously served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force and as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Western Air Command, and that of the Central Air Command. He has also served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters, Western Air Command and Deputy Commandant at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad.

Raha has held many important staff appointments in India and abroad.

 

Notable appointments held

Name of Appointment	Rank	Insignia	Period
Chief of Air Staff	Air Chief Marshal		31 December 2013 to 31 December 2016
Vice Chief of Air Staff	Air Marshal		1 July 2013 to 31 Dec 2013
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command of the IAF	Air Marshal		1 June 2012 to 30 June 2013
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command of the IAF	Air Marshal		2 Nov 2011 to 31 May 2012
Senior Air Staff Officer at Western Air Command	Air Vice Marshal		till 1 Nov 2011
Directing Staff at Flying Instructors School,Tambaram	Air Commodore		Unknown
Commanding Officer of No: 47 Squadron IAF Black Archers	Wing Commander		8 June 1992 to 5 June 1994

Arup Raha is married to Lily Raha and they have two children. The son, Atanu, is a commercial pilot who is married to Sanskriti Chatterjee Raha, a professional Kathakali dancer. The daughter, Anusree Raha, is an Indian Economic Service officer and a TEDx speaker, and is married to Bodhisattwa Biswas, an alumnus of Indian School of Business.

In 2018, the state-run Sidho Kanho Birsha University awarded Arup Raha with an honorary D.Litt. degree during its convocation ceremony.