18. Air Marshal (Dr) Padmavati Bandopadhyay

 


The first Indo-China war in 1962 was at a time when India and China accepted Panchsheel (Five principles)  of Pandit Nehru which was  accepted  by Chinese government. However,  China  attacked  India at the  borders and . 13,454 brave Indian soldiers lost their lives in that war. This was  because India   was not at all  prepared for a war with any of the neighbours as and the defence outlay was very marginal at that time.  The bottom line is that we had to pay a heavy price for being completely unprepared for a war. Everyone got away with putting all the blame on the head of the then Defence Minister Shri.VK Krishnamenon. After this tragic incident, many patriotic young men and women of India joined the army and prepared to protect the nation. The Hindi song “Aaye Mere Watan Ke Logo” which was very popular in our country at that time was thrilling to all those who have loyalty and love for the nation.

 

Inspired by this song, Padmavati, born in a Tamil orthodox Brahmin family, joined our army in 1968 after completing her medical degree and rose through the ranks to become India's first woman air marshal. She became the second woman in India to reach the three-star rank and was awarded the Parama Vishishta Seva, Ati Vishishta Seva and Vishishta Seva medals.

The rank of Air Marshal is a three-star rank in the Indian Air Force. The four star rank is for Air Chief Marshal. It belongs only to the Chief of Air Staff, the highest ranking officer of the Indian Air Force. From 1947 to 1966, the Chief of the Air Staff was an Air Marshal. Arjan Singh was the first to enter this rank. He was later appointed as a five-star Marshal of the Indian Air Force. The equivalent rank is Lieutenant General in the Indian Army and Vice Admiral in the Navy.

Dr. Padma Bandopadhyay was born on 4 November 1944 in an orthodox Brahmin family in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. At an early age, Padma's mother became bedridden due to tuberculosis. Their nursing became the duty of Padma, a girl who was only 4-5 years old. One of the reasons may be the experience of caring for her mother when she was very young and the experience she got when she was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. Acquaintance with Dr.I S Padmavathi , her neighbour,  who  was a professor of medicine at Lady Hardinge Medical College New Delhi  might have also helped in her choosing medical profession. .  Padmavati studied humanities at the Tamil Education Association Senior Secondary School in Delhi. After school education, she switched from humanities to science. She  did her  pre-medical studies at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi. Then joined the Armed Forces Medical College in 1963.

Professional life

Padmavati joined the Indian Air Force in 1968. She, married  a colleague in the Air Force, Satinath (SN). Bandopadhyay. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his meritorious service in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Padma and her husband Bandopadhyay were the first couple to receive the President's recognition at the same time. She was also elected as the first Distinguished Member (Fellow) of the Aerospace Medical Society of India. She also became the first woman to go to the North Pole and conduct scientific research. She was also the first woman to pass the first course of the Defence Services Staff College in 1978. She became the Director of Medical Services at the Air Force Base. In 2002, she was promoted as the first Air Vice Marshal. She is a certified expert in aviation medicine. She  is also a member of the New York Academy of Medicine.

Military awards and recognitions

• Vishishta Seva Medal January 1973

• Indira Priya Darshini Award

• Distinguished Service Medal 2002

• Param Vishishta Sevamedal January 2006

• Padma Shri Award January 2020

Even after retiring from the Air Force, she continues to serve the poor children of Eastern Uttar Pradesh for the rest of her life, taking care of their education. She was awarded the Padma Shri for such services. On receiving this award, she said. : It is rare for a person in regular military service to receive awards like the Padma Shri given to civilians. So, I am very proud to receive this award. Perhaps this award is a tribute to my lifetime of gallant service, both in and out of war. ”

Reference

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sunday-chronicle/cover-story/010420/woman-of-many-heights.html

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