Rana Chhina

Military career

Born and raised in New Delhi, Chhina was selected for the National Defence Academy in 1976, shortly after graduating from St. Columba's School.

He went on to serve with distinction as a helicopter pilot in all sectors in which the Indian Air Force was operational. From 1990–93 he was a flight instructor at Air Force training institutions.

Chhina is one of a small group of Indian officers to receive the rarely awarded prestigious MacGregor Medal for valuable military reconnaissance. He holds the record for a high-altitude flight (landing) for a medium-lift helicopter.

Since retiring from active service in 1997 as a Squadron Leader, Chhina has become a leading historian of the Indian Air Force and the former British Indian Army. He was responsible for organising the Indian Air Force archives at Air Headquarters.

Writer

He is the author of five books, the latest of which is Medals and decorations of independent India, a study of India’s post-Independence military and civil honours and awards. His previous works include: The Indian Air Force Memorial Book - a consolidated account of battle casualties of the Indian Air Force from 1932to 1996; a ; "The Eagle Strikes - The Royal Indian Air Force 1932-1950".; and "The Indian Army: An Illustrated Overview",; a monograph on the pre-independence gallantry award The Indian Distinguished Service Medal and most recently one on the Indian Order of Merit (with Cliff Parrett, of the Indian Military Historical Society (IMHS)), this is the first of three volumes - the second and third volumes are expected to follow soon.

In reviewing his book The Indian Distinguished Service Medal (2001), Prof. Ed Haynes of Winthrop University wrote,

Rarely does a book on medals come along that presents the sort of Platonic ideal that Rana T. S. Chhina's work on the IDSM presents. This is a model for emulation for any effort at addressing a single award. In addition to giving a masterful history of the development and evolution of the IDSM, Chhina gives a detailed listing of all recipients of the medal.

In addition, he has edited a number of official war histories, the latest being For the honour of India: a history of Indian peacekeeping, by Lieutenant General Satish Nambiar. He is one of the key interviewees in the internationally acclaimed award-winning Canadian documentary about the Komagata Maru, "Continuous Journey".

He is the vice president of the Indian Military Historical Society, UK and Secretary of the United Service Institution of India - Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, New Delhi.