Hilal Ahmed Rather: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Indian Air Force officer}}
{{short description|Indian Air Force officer}}
{{Orphan|date=November 2022}}
{{Orphan|date=November 2020}}


{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]]
| honorific_prefix = [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]]
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==Career==
==Career==
A native of southern Kashmir's [[Anantnag district]], Rather studied at the Sainik School Nagrota near Jammu from Class VI in 1978.<ref name="air_commodore">{{cite news |title=Kashmiri Air Commodore Hilal Ahmad Rather becomes first Indian pilot to fly Rafale|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/kashmiri-air-commodore-hilal-ahmad-rather-becomes-first-indian-pilot-to-fly-rafale-867021.html|date=29 July 2020|author=Zulfikar Majid|work=Deccan Herald |access-date=3 August 2022}}</ref> According to family friends, he rarely visited his home following the beginning of the insurgency in 1988.<ref name="air_commodore"/>
A native of southern Kashmir's [[Anantnag district]], Rather studied at the Sainik School Nagrota near Jammu from Class VI in 1978.<ref name="air_commodore">{{cite news |title=Kashmiri Air Commodore Hilal Ahmad Rather becomes first Indian pilot to fly Rafale|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/kashmiri-air-commodore-hilal-ahmad-rather-becomes-first-indian-pilot-to-fly-rafale-867021.html|date=29 July 2020|author=Zulfikar Majid|work=Deccan Herald |access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> According to family friends, he rarely visited his home following the beginning of the insurgency in 1988.<ref name="air_commodore"/>


Rather was commissioned into the regular (flying) branch of the IAF as a [[pilot officer]] on 17 December 1988, with the service number 19863,<ref name="commission">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1471  |date=30 September 1989 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1989/O-0594-1989-0039-25650.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He passed out from the [[Air Force Academy (India)|Air Force Academy]] at [[Dundigal]] as the "Best All-Round Pilot", winning both the President's Plaque and the academy Sword of Honor.<ref name="brightest"/> He was promoted [[flying officer]] on 17 December 1989 and [[flight lieutenant]] on 17 December 1993.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1306  |date=11 August 1990 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1990/O-0547-1990-0032-23306.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1982  |date=29 October 1994 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1994/O-0364-1994-0044-14347.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> Rather was promoted [[squadron leader]] on 17 December 1999,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1114  |date=15 September 2001|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2001/O-2471-2001-0037-112727.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and went on a flight safety course in [[Bangladesh]] in 2003.<ref name="brightest"/> Rather also attended the [[Defence Services Staff College]] (DSSC) at Wellington.<ref name="rafale_man">{{cite news |title=Kashmiri 'Rafale Man' was part of surgical strike against Pak|url=https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/kashmiri-rafale-man-was-part-of-surgical-strike-against-pak/|date=30 July 2020|agency=IANS|work=The Kashmir Monitor |access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> He was promoted [[Wing commander (rank)|wing commander]] on 16 December 2004 and [[group captain]] on 1 May 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=368  |date=18 March 2006|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2006/W_11_2011_096.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1629  |date=3 September 2011|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2011/W_36_2011_098.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He also served as an instructor at the DSSC.<ref name="rafale_man"/>
Rather was commissioned into the regular (flying) branch of the IAF as a [[pilot officer]] on 17 December 1988, with the service number 19863,<ref name="commission">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1471  |date=30 September 1989 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1989/O-0594-1989-0039-25650.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He passed out from the [[Air Force Academy (India)|Air Force Academy]] at [[Dundigal]] as the "Best All-Round Pilot", winning both the President's Plaque and the academy Sword of Honor.<ref name="brightest"/> He was promoted [[flying officer]] on 17 December 1989 and [[flight lieutenant]] on 17 December 1993.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1306  |date=11 August 1990 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1990/O-0547-1990-0032-23306.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1982  |date=29 October 1994 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1994/O-0364-1994-0044-14347.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> Rather was promoted [[squadron leader]] on 17 December 1999,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1114  |date=15 September 2001|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2001/O-2471-2001-0037-112727.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and went on a flight safety course in [[Bangladesh]] in 2003.<ref name="brightest"/> Rather also attended the [[Defence Services Staff College]] (DSSC) at Wellington.<ref name="rafale_man">{{cite news |title=Kashmiri 'Rafale Man' was part of surgical strike against Pak|url=https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/kashmiri-rafale-man-was-part-of-surgical-strike-against-pak/|date=30 July 2020|agency=IANS|work=The Kashmir Monitor |access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref> He was promoted [[Wing commander (rank)|wing commander]] on 16 December 2004 and [[group captain]] on 1 May 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=368  |date=18 March 2006|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2006/W_11_2011_096.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=1629  |date=3 September 2011|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2011/W_36_2011_098.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He also served as an instructor at the DSSC.<ref name="rafale_man"/>


In 2011, Rather was selected for a course at the [[United States Air Force|USAF]] [[Air War College]], which he passed with distinction.<ref name="brightest"/> After completing the course, he returned to India in 2013 and was posted to the AHQ (Air Headquarters) of the [[Western Air Command (India)|Western Air Command]].<ref name="brightest"/> From 2013 to 2016, Rather served as director of fighter operations for the Western Air Command, with responsibility for training and operational plans.<ref name="rafale_man"/> Commanding [[Gwalior Airport|AFS Gwalior]], Rather was involved in the September [[2016 Indian Line of Control strike]].<ref name="rafale_man"/> On 26 December 2016, he was promoted [[air commodore]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=2380  |date=21 September 2019|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2019/212654.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
In 2011, Rather was selected for a course at the [[United States Air Force|USAF]] [[Air War College]], which he passed with distinction.<ref name="brightest"/> After completing the course, he returned to India in 2013 and was posted to the AHQ (Air Headquarters) of the [[Western Air Command (India)|Western Air Command]].<ref name="brightest"/> From 2013 to 2016, Rather served as director of fighter operations for the Western Air Command, with responsibility for training and operational plans.<ref name="rafale_man"/> Commanding [[Gwalior Airport|AFS Gwalior]], Rather was involved in the September [[2016 Indian Line of Control strike]].<ref name="rafale_man"/> On 26 December 2016, he was promoted [[air commodore]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch) |page=2380  |date=21 September 2019|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2019/212654.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
A devout Muslim,<ref name="air_commodore"/> AH Rather is the youngest of five siblings, including three sisters and  1 brother.<ref name="brightest"/> His father was Muhammad Abdullah Rather [[Sena Medal|SM]] (d. 2013), a decorated veteran of the 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]] who fought with the [[Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry]] and who subsequently joined the J&K police, retiring as a deputy superintendent.<ref name="brightest"/>  His brother is a teacher in Anantnag, a chemistry lecturer, while his three elder sisters retired after careers in teaching and in the law; both his parents are deceased.<ref name="brightest"/><ref name="air_commodore"/> He married his wife Samina in 1993, with whom he has two children.<ref>{{cite news |title=IAF officer who played key role in Rafale delivery hero back home in Kashmir|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/iaf-officer-who-played-key-role-in-rafale-delivery-hero-back-home-in-kashmir/articleshow/77233316.cms|date=29 July 2020|author=Rohan Dua|work=Times of India |access-date=3 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="brightest">{{cite news |title=First Rafale Man of India: 'Hilal Was the Brightest Among 5 Siblings'|url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2020/07/28/first-rafale-man-of-india-hilal-was-the-brightest-among-5-siblings/|date=28 July 2020|author=Auqib Javeed|work=Kashmir Observer |access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref>
AH Rather is the youngest of five siblings, including three sisters and  1 brother.<ref name="brightest"/> His father was Muhammad Abdullah Rather [[Sena Medal|SM]] (d. 2013), a decorated veteran of the 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]] who fought with the [[Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry]] and who subsequently joined the J&K police, retiring as a deputy superintendent.<ref name="brightest"/>  His brother is a teacher in Anantnag, a chemistry lecturer, while his three elder sisters retired after careers in teaching and in the law; both his parents are deceased.<ref name="brightest"/><ref name="air_commodore"/> He married his wife Samina in 1993, with whom he has two children.<ref>{{cite news |title=IAF officer who played key role in Rafale delivery hero back home in Kashmir|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/iaf-officer-who-played-key-role-in-rafale-delivery-hero-back-home-in-kashmir/articleshow/77233316.cms|date=29 July 2020|author=Rohan Dua|work=Times of India |access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="brightest">{{cite news |title=First Rafale Man of India: 'Hilal Was the Brightest Among 5 Siblings'|url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2020/07/28/first-rafale-man-of-india-hilal-was-the-brightest-among-5-siblings/|date=28 July 2020|author=Auqib Javeed|work=Kashmir Observer |access-date=10 August 2020}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 16:13, 25 December 2022



Air Vice Marshal

Hilal Ahmed Rather

VM VSM
Nickname(s)"Hally"
"Rafale Man"[1]
AllegianceIndia India
Service/branchError creating thumbnail: File missing Indian Air Force
Years of service1988-present
Rank Air Vice Marshal
Service number19863[2]
Commands heldAFS Gwalior
Battles/wars2016 Indian Line of Control strike
Awards Vayu Sena Medal
Vishisht Seva Medal

Air Vice Marshal Hilal Ahmed Rather VM, VSM is an Indian Air Force air vice marshal from Kashmir in India. Since 2016, he serves as the Indian air attaché in Paris, and organized the supply of the Dassault Rafale to the Indian Air Force.[3][4]

Career[edit | edit source]

A native of southern Kashmir's Anantnag district, Rather studied at the Sainik School Nagrota near Jammu from Class VI in 1978.[5] According to family friends, he rarely visited his home following the beginning of the insurgency in 1988.[5]

Rather was commissioned into the regular (flying) branch of the IAF as a pilot officer on 17 December 1988, with the service number 19863,[2] He passed out from the Air Force Academy at Dundigal as the "Best All-Round Pilot", winning both the President's Plaque and the academy Sword of Honor.[6] He was promoted flying officer on 17 December 1989 and flight lieutenant on 17 December 1993.[7][8] Rather was promoted squadron leader on 17 December 1999,[9] and went on a flight safety course in Bangladesh in 2003.[6] Rather also attended the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) at Wellington.[1] He was promoted wing commander on 16 December 2004 and group captain on 1 May 2010.[10][11] He also served as an instructor at the DSSC.[1]

In 2011, Rather was selected for a course at the USAF Air War College, which he passed with distinction.[6] After completing the course, he returned to India in 2013 and was posted to the AHQ (Air Headquarters) of the Western Air Command.[6] From 2013 to 2016, Rather served as director of fighter operations for the Western Air Command, with responsibility for training and operational plans.[1] Commanding AFS Gwalior, Rather was involved in the September 2016 Indian Line of Control strike.[1] On 26 December 2016, he was promoted air commodore.[12]

As defense air attaché in Paris, Rather is one of only four IAF officers in this role; the others are posted at the Indian missions in the U.S., the U.K. and Russia.[1] He has over 3,000 accident-free flight hours on Dassault Mirage 2000, MiG-21 and Kiran aircraft.[1] He was promoted to the rank of air vice marshal in 2021.[13]

Awards[edit | edit source]

Rather received the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) for devotion to duty in 2010, followed by the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2016.[6]


Template:Ribbon devices/alt Template:Ribbon devices/alt
Vayu Sena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal

Personal life[edit | edit source]

AH Rather is the youngest of five siblings, including three sisters and 1 brother.[6] His father was Muhammad Abdullah Rather SM (d. 2013), a decorated veteran of the 1962 Sino-Indian War who fought with the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and who subsequently joined the J&K police, retiring as a deputy superintendent.[6] His brother is a teacher in Anantnag, a chemistry lecturer, while his three elder sisters retired after careers in teaching and in the law; both his parents are deceased.[6][5] He married his wife Samina in 1993, with whom he has two children.[14][6]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Kashmiri 'Rafale Man' was part of surgical strike against Pak". The Kashmir Monitor. IANS. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 30 September 1989. p. 1471.
  3. ↑ "Hilal Ahmed Rather: The Man Behind Rafale Delivery To India", 29 July 2020
  4. ↑ "J&K’s very own 'Rafale Hero' Hilal, The Northlines, 30 July 2020
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Zulfikar Majid (29 July 2020). "Kashmiri Air Commodore Hilal Ahmad Rather becomes first Indian pilot to fly Rafale". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Auqib Javeed (28 July 2020). "First Rafale Man of India: 'Hilal Was the Brightest Among 5 Siblings'". Kashmir Observer. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 11 August 1990. p. 1306.
  8. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 29 October 1994. p. 1982.
  9. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 September 2001. p. 1114.
  10. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 18 March 2006. p. 368.
  11. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 3 September 2011. p. 1629.
  12. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 21 September 2019. p. 2380.
  13. ↑ "Two IAF officers from Jammu and Kashmir to become Air vice-marshals". WION. 12 May 2021.
  14. ↑ Rohan Dua (29 July 2020). "IAF officer who played key role in Rafale delivery hero back home in Kashmir". Times of India. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
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