Pushpinder Singh Chopra (30 September 1943 – 3 May 2021) was an Indian military historian and the author of several books, chiefly on military aviation history of India.[1][2][3] He is known as the chronicler of Indian aviation.[4]
Sardar Pushpinder Singh Chopra | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 September 1943 |
| Died | 3 May 2021 (aged 77) Gurgaon, India |
| Education | The Doon School |
| Occupation(s) | Historian, editor, author |
| Organization(s) | Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co Ltd Rallis Dornier Flugzeugwerke Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review Society of Aerospace Studies Asian Defence Journal Aviation Week & Space Technology Daimler Benz Aerospace Royal Aeronautical Society Jullundur Brigade Association Nishaan Nagaara The Sikh Forum |
| Relatives | Mohinder Singh Chopra (father) |
Biography edit
Early life and family edit
Singh was educated at The Doon School, Dehra Dun to a military background. His father was Major General Mohinder Singh Chopra, a famed soldier in the Indian Army, although his family had to shift from Pakistan to India- leaving their ancestral lands behind.[5]
He had graduated from Government College, Chandigarh.[5] He worked with Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co Ltd in Calcutta, and later with Rallis, where he quickly made a name for himself in marketing.[5]
Aeronautical career edit
He wrote extensively about the history of the Indian Air Force, from its inception in 1933 till present day.[2] He was the founder editor of Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review, a bi-monthly aviation and defence magazine based in New Delhi, and the Society of Aerospace Studies.[6][7]
He started with debunking conspiracies by the Pakistan Air Force during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War where he interviewed pilots. His article, ‘Laying the Sargodha Ghost to Rest’, in Vayu Aerospace Review in November 1985 was a trailblazer amongst others, which led to debunking the myth of Pakistan Air Force’s claim of shooting down five Indian Air Force Hunters on September 7, 1965.[8] His ‘Aircraft of the Indian Air Force 1933-73’ became standard reference book on the Indian Air Force and was followed by an account of the Service on its Golden and then Diamond Jubilees.[9] The definitive three-volume History of the Indian Air Force ‘Himalayan Eagles’ was officially released at the IAF’s Platinum Jubilee in 2007.[9]
He was also responsible for the immense respect and recognition that Arjan Singh received before he became an Air Marshal in the Indian Army.[5]
He was the Founder-Editor of the Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review and was Indian editor for the Air International, World Air Power Journal, Asian Defence Journal, Jane’s Defence Weekly and Aviation Week & Space Technology.[9] He also headed Daimler Benz Aerospace in India.[5] During an earlier Farnborough Air Show, he was given a special award for his breaking news story on the Indian LCA programme from the Royal Aeronautical Society of the UK.[9] In 2015, at the Aerospace Media Awards held at the Paris Air Show, he was awarded ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for Outstanding Contribution to Aviation Journalism’.[9]
One of his largest breakthroughs was the launching of the Dornier 228, he was a representative of Dornier in India at the time, which has been one of India's greatest aeronautical accomplishments.
Socio-religious career edit
Pushpinder founded ‘Nishaan Nagaara’, a non-political journal, to highlight Sikh issues, culture, history and heritage in April 1999. The inaugural issue was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.[5] He was made the President of the Sikh Forum, and protested for justice for the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots, a resolution seeking declaration of the violence as “Sikh Genocide Day” was also passed by him along with other leaders.[10][11]
Death edit
Publications edit
Books edit
- A Guide to Air Power in Asia and the Pacific (1971)
- Aircraft of the Indian Air Force, 1933-73 (1974)
- A Directory of Combat Aircraft in Asia (1980)
- The Indian Air Force and its Aircraft (1982)
- Touching the Sky: the Indian Air Force Today (1991)
- Fiz’aya: Psyche of the Pakistan Air Force (1991)
- The Battle Axes (1993)
- 1947: A Soldier’s Story (1997)
- Diamonds in the Sky (2000)
- Portrait of Courage: Century of the 5th Battalion, The Sikh Regiment (2001)
- History of Aviation of India: Spanning the Century of Flight (2003)
- Fly Navy (2006)
- Himalayan Eagles: History of the Indian Air Force (2007)
- Consolidation and Expansion (2007)
- World Air Power (2007)
- Foundations (2007)
- The Black Archers: Illustrated History of No. 47 Squadron Indian Air Force (2009)
- Dragon Fire, Illustrated History of No. 6 Squadron Indian Air Force (2012)
- The First Supersonics, No. 28 Squadron, IAF (2013)
- Neuve Chapelle: The Jullundur Brigade in France & Flanders, 1914-1915 (2014)
- Fly Navy Fly (2022)
Magazines edit
- Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review (1973-Present)
- Nishaan Nagaara Magazine (1999-Present)
References edit
- ^ "Introduction : Behind the Book – Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force". Bharat Rakshak. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Falcon down: Why Pakistan is desperate to fake the F-16 dogfight". Businesstoday.in. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "70th anniversary of Attari border: Brigadier who drew the line remembered at Partition museum – punjab top". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Defence from the Skies: 80 Years of the Indian Air Force: 80 Years of the Indian Air Force. KW Publishers Pvt Ltd. 15 August 2013. ISBN 978-93-85714-72-6.
- ^ a b c d e f "He left his Nishaan – The Sikh Foundation International". 6 May 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ "When Arjan Singh sold off his farm for Air Force personnel". The Tribune India. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Sagar, Pradip R. (28 March 2018). "Defence experts raise concerns over IAF's depleting fleet – The Week". Theweek.in. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/musings/encyclopaedia-of-indian-aviation-258447".
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ a b c d e "https://www.vayuaerospace.in/issue/tribute-min.pdf" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ "https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/news-detail-677538".
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ "34th anniversary of 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Victims remembered". PTC News. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2023.