Indian Air Force (1952 - 1993)
Touch The Sky With Glory
Embrace Dignity, self respect and Grace: Reject flattery & praise
Then & Now
childhood
Latter Years
Loreto convent, tara hall, simla - Asha far right
(Senior Cambridge Exam, March 1954 - December 1957)
Asha (nee Dev) was born in Lahore (now Pakistan) on 12th February 1941. The family moved to India in 1944 (pre-partition) and settled in Calcutta, where Asha enrolled at the prestigious Loreto House. In 1954, Asha moved to Simla to continue her education and joined Loreto Convent, Tara Hall, where she completed her Senior Cambridge exam. Her university years were completed at Loreto College, Calcutta, where she graduated with a degree in English Honours (1961, Calcutta University). Asha won three gold medals for her academic performance at the university.
Graduation From Loreto college (Calcutta University)
(Triple Gold Medalist- English Honours)
Early Years (1963)
Bride Asha With Her Grandfather S.N. Varma
(Calcutta, 10th February 1966)
Asha married Squadron Leader Nirmal Suri in 1966 in Calcutta. Asha’s involvement with Air Force life commenced almost immediately, as she immersed herself in welfare related work. Her interest and involvement in such activities continued to progress over the years, during which Asha developed a special interest in the welfare of the handicapped children (‘Special Children’) from Air Force families. This continued in every Air Force station where they were posted.
Marriage (Calcutta, 11th February 1966)
20 squadron
(Hindan, 1966-69)
20 squadron (Nirmal & Asha on extreme left)
With friends in iraq (1971)
With the Honourable President of india, Sanjiva Reddy
(Poona)
With The Wife of the Chief of the Australian Air Force
(Poona)
A Proud Wife
(Awards Ceremony, New Delhi, 1982)
With Mother Teresa
(Air House, New Delhi, 1992)
With the first lady of india Smt. Janaki Venkataraman
(New Delhi, 1991)
With The Honourable Prime Minister of India, P.V. Narasimha Rao
(Air House, New Delhi, 1991)
With the first lady of india Smt. Vimala Sharma
(New Delhi, 1992)
With The Honourable President of India, S.D. Sharma
(New Delhi, 1992)
With First Ladies of the Indian Army and Indian Navy
(National Defence Academy, 1991)
With Smt. Sonia Gandhi
(Air House, New Delhi, 1992)
Introduction of the Indian Air Force Song
(Palam, New Delhi, 1992)
Induction of Women in the IAF
(Palam, New Delhi, 1992)
launching the first Missile craft ‘Vinash’
(Goa Shipyard, 24 January 1992)
Awards
Mahila Shiromani Award
(Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi, 1992)
For her welfare service and contribution to society, Asha was awarded the prestigious Mahila Shiromani Award, presented to her by the First Lady of India Smt. Vimla Sharma, w/o the President of India. The award ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1993. Her interest in helping the ‘special children’ never waned and she continued such activities for many years since retirement.
Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA) - Indian Air Force
President
1991 - 1993
Asha took over as President of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA) in July 1991. She held this post for two years. Under Asha’s leadership, the organisation executed one of its larger projects, the expansion of the upmarket shopping arcade Santushti, which had been founded by Mrs Katre, a former President of the AFWWA and w/o Air Chief Marshal Katre.
However, it was her enormous and deep interest in the welfare of the disabled children, that during her tenure as AFWWA President, Asha ensured that every Air Force Station in the country established a special care and training program for these children.
I have a dream - where every air force wife will one day not only say 'i belong to AFWWA' but that 'AFWWA belongs to me'
- Asha Suri
AFWWA is synonymous with the name Mrs Ela Lal (w/o Air Chief Marshal P.C. Lal), the founder of this prestigious welfare organisation. AFWWA was founded in October 1971, with a mission to provide assistance to the families of the deceased, disabled, retired and serving personnel of the IAF. The exceptional work done by Mrs Lal set the standard for subsequent Presidents of AFWWA to follow.
With Mrs Ela Lal (New Delhi, 1991)
Presidents Of AFWWA
(New Delhi, November 2021)
Santushti Expansion
Santushti Shopping Complex, New Delhi
Asha main project as President AFWWA was the expansion of the Santushti Shopping Complex. Conceived and started by Mrs Sheila Katre, as a small cluster of high quality shops, it was handed over by her to the subsequent AFWWA Presidents at the sudden demise of Air Chief Marshal Katre.
When Asha Suri took over as President AFWWA, she immediately went ahead with the expansion of Santushti as a full shopping arcade, with 30 shops, including a restaurant run by ‘Cordon Bleu’ Mrs Bikoo Manekshaw. The shopping arcade received much acclaim from the media and drew the attention of the elite of Delhi society. It also became a premier shopping destination for VIP delegations from embassies.
Official International Engagements
visit to the united states of america
(1992)
with wives of the US Air Force officers
(1992)
On Their Visit To Moscow & St. Petersburg
(1991)
With Lady Slim
(1992)
With Mrs Arjan Singh
(1992)
Air House
New Delhi, 1991 - 1993
With Nirmal and her sons Arvind & Ashvin
(1991)
