Kottayam native B Manikandan becomes Air Marshal

KOTTAYAM: The Union Ministry of Defence has decided to promote Malayali Air Vice Marshal B Manikandan (56) as Air Marshal. Currently, he is working as the Assistant Chief at the Integrated Defense Staff Headquarters, New Delhi.

He is the son of Kottayam native retired teacher M R Balakrishna Pillai and P K Lakshmikutty Amma. He was a 1983 batch student of Sainik School, Kazhakkootam. During his 36 years of service, he has participated in LTTE operation in Sri Lanka, Operation Meghdoot in Siachen and several other operations. In 2006, he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal and in 2017, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. His wife is Dr Nirmala, who retired from Armed Forces Medical college. Children: Ashrit and Abhisree.

'He called at night and told us about the promotion. I got teary eyed', said his mother. After schooling, he studied at National Defence Academy, Pune. He became a helicopter pilot in the Air Force at the age of 19.