Idris Hasan Latif

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Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif was chief of Air Staff of India from 1978 to 1981. He also served as Governor of Maharashtra from 1981 to 1985 after that as Indian ambassador to France.

Born in 1923 he studied at Nizam College Hyderabad and was commissioned into the Air Force in 1942.He took part in the Burma Campaign on the Arakan Front in the Second World War. He was sent on a special mission to Indonesia as a member of Indian Advisory Group that helped the Indonesian Air Force induct jet fighters.

He is a Graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College and served as Air Defence Commander and Senior Air Staff Officer in Eastern Air Command. During 1971 war , he was Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans). From 1961 to 1965 he was Air Attache in Indian embassy in Washington.

Air Chief Marshal Latif was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 1971 for his distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

He led Air Force Relief operations during the Patna floods in 1975.

He loves Urdu poetry a passion he shares with his wife Bilkees Latif.