Air Vice Marshal Harkrishan Lal Kapur
Air Vice Marshal Harkrishan Lal Kapur
HFI President
(1977 – 1985)
Air Vice Marshal Padma Shri, Harkrishan Lal Kapur, PVSM, AVSM (10 December 1923 – 14 February 2020) was a former Air Vice Marshal of the Indian Air Force who served as President of the Handball Federation of India from 1977 to 1985.
Biography
AVM Harkrishan Lal Kapur was born in Rohtak on 10 December 1923, where his father, the Late Rai Bahadur Dr. Ram Chand Kapur, served as the civil surgeon. After graduating from Forman Christian College, Lahore in 1942, he joined the Royal Indian Air Force.
He was commissioned in the Administrative Branch of the Royal Indian Air Force on 11 January 1943. Early in his career, he completed the Physical Fitness Course and served with distinction as a Physical Fitness Officer at various units, at Group Headquarters, and Headquarters Training Command. He successfully underwent the Defence Services Staff College Course and the Judge Advocate General (Air) Course. He served with great distinction as Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of the Air Staff from December 1960 to May 1963 and as Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff from May 1963 to August 1967. He served as the Judge Advocate General (Air) at Air Headquarters from 1 August 1968 to 19 May 1978. As Judge Advocate General of the Indian Air Force, he streamlined the legal procedures for the timely dispensation of justice with a systematic approach. He was promoted to the post of Air Vice Marshal on 20 May 1978, and served until his superannuation on 30 June 1979.
Dates of promotions
- Flying Officer: 11 January 1944
- Flight Lieutenant: 12 January 1949
- Squadron Leader: 11 January 1956
- Wing Commander: 1 October 1965
- Acting Group Captain: 1 August 1968
- Group Captain: 1 April 1972
- Air Commodore: 1 June 1972
- Air Vice Marshal: 20 May 1978
He was awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal on 26 January 1974, for his distinguished service of an exceptional order in the Indian Air Force, and the Param Vishist Seva Medal on 26 January 1979, in recognition of his service of the most exceptional order.
AVM Kapur was also active in sports administration along with his service in the Indian Air Force. He served as President of Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) from March 1976 to June 1979.
AVM Kapur was elected President of the Handball Federation of India (HFI) in 1977, succeeding Mrs. Lakshmi Chhabra, and served in the position for 8 years until 1985, when he was succeeded by Padma Shri Dr. Roshan Lal Anand.
AVM Kapur joined the Indian National Congress after retiring from the Indian Air Force. For the 9th Asian Games, held from 19 November to 4 December 1982, in Delhi, he was appointed Chief Administrator of the Asian Games Village Complex, established to look after the needs and comforts of over 5000 sportsmen and officials. For the efficient and blemish-free performance of the important and demanding duties assigned to him, he was awarded Padma Shri in 1983.
In 1983, he was also given the responsibility by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, of looking after the delegates from the various countries to attend the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) in Delhi.
AVM Kapur was nominated for the Council of States of the Indian Parliament in 1985. He took the oath on 3 January 1985, but resigned on 14 November 1985, to become Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. He served in the position from 16 November 1985 to 3 August 1988.
AVM Kapur died at the age of 96 years on 14 February 2020, after prolonged illness in Dehradun, where he was residing with his daughter at her house on Rajpura Road. His cremation took place the same evening with full honour at Lakhibagh Ghat.
Awards
AVM Kapur was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, by the Government of India in 1983. The following is the list of awards, along with the date of each award:
- Ati Vishisht Seva Medal: 26 January 1974
- Param Vishisht Seva Medal: 26 January 1979
- Padma Shri: 26 January 1983
AVM Kapur held various positions in organisations, which included the following:
- Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (16 November 1985 – 3 August 1988)
- Member of Parliament, Council of States (3 January 1985 – 14 November 1985)
- President of Handball Federation of India (1977 – 1985)
- President of Services Sports Control Board (March 1976 – June 1979)
- Vice President of Indian Olympic Association