The very first Republic Day parade was held in 1950 at the Irwin Amphitheatre (now Major Dhyan Chand Stadium). In 1955, the parade shifted to Rajpath, with Pakistan’s Governor General Malik ...

Before that, he led No. 4 Squadron, flying the Hawker Tempest and conducting India’s first Republic Day flypast in 1950. In 1951, he married Bilkees, daughter of Nawab Ali Yavar Jung.