Wing Commander (Retd) Dr Vijayalakshmi Ramanan, the first woman commissioned officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has died at the age of 96.
Dr Vijayalakshmi Ramanan, a recipient of Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), died peacefully due to old age ailments on Sunday evening.
Born in February 1924, Vijayalakshmi, an obstetrician and gynaecologist by training, had originally joined the Indian Army in 1955. She was seconded to the IAF to become its first woman commissioned officer and ended up staying in the service for 24 years.
Besides serving as a gynaecologist at various Air Force Hospitals, she had also attended to the troops wounded during wars and performed administrative duties.
Ramanan was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander in August 1972 and honoured with the VSM five years later. She retired in February, 1979. Her husband, late K V Ramanan, was also an IAF officer. She is survived by a daughter and a son.
