Meet Wing Commander Vijayalakshmi Ramanan: First Woman IAF Officer Who Served Through Three Wars

Wing Commander (Retd) Dr Vijayalakshmi Ramanan VSM stands as a pioneering figure in Indian military history — the first woman to be commissioned as an officer in the Indian Air Force. Born on 27 February 1924 in Madras (now Chennai), she broke gender barriers at a time when women’s participation in the armed forces was virtually unheard of. Over a distinguished 24-year career, she served as a dedicated obstetrician and gynaecologist, provided critical medical care during three major wars, designed the iconic sari uniform still worn by women officers today, and earned the Vishisht Seva Medal for her exemplary service. She retired in 1979 as a Wing Commander and passed away on 18 October 2020 at the age of 96 in Bengaluru, leaving behind a legacy of courage, professionalism, and quiet determination.

Early Life and Academic Excellence

Vijayalakshmi Ramanan, affectionately known as “Viji,” was born into a family steeped in tradition, music, and public service. Her father, T.D. Narayana Iyer, a World War I veteran and later a public health official in Madras, instilled in her values of discipline and national service. Her grandfather had served as a musician in the court of the Travancore kings, and from childhood she absorbed the rich heritage of Carnatic classical music. By the age of 15, she had become an A-grade artist with All India Radio, broadcasting regularly from stations in Delhi, Lucknow, Secunderabad, and Bangalore. She trained under eminent masters such as Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and G.N. Balasubramaniam and even performed patriotic songs at gatherings addressed by Sarojini Naidu and Mahatma Gandhi.

Inspired by her father’s example and the pioneering women of her era — including Sarojini Naidu and Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy — she pursued medicine with single-minded focus. In 1943 she joined Madras Medical College, one of the few women in her batch. She excelled academically, receiving the Balfour Memorial Medal for Medicine and the Madras University Prize for Surgery. In 1948 she was adjudged the best outgoing student and later completed her MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Before entering military service, she worked as a surgeon at Egmore Maternity Hospital in Chennai, honing the clinical skills that would define her career.

Personal Life and the Call to Service

In 1955, Vijayalakshmi married Wing Commander K.V. Ramanan, an Indian Air Force officer who actively encouraged her to join the forces. Theirs was among the earliest husband-and-wife pairs to serve together in the IAF. Tragedy struck in 1971 when her husband passed away, leaving her to raise their two children — son Sukumar Ramanan and daughter Sukanya Narayan — while continuing her demanding military duties. She managed this with characteristic resilience, supported by her in-laws, and never allowed personal loss to compromise her professional commitment.

Commissioning into the Indian Air Force: A Historic First

On 22 August 1955, Vijayalakshmi Ramanan was commissioned into the Indian Army Medical Corps under a short-service commission and immediately seconded to the Indian Air Force. This marked her as the first woman officer in IAF history. She served exclusively in Air Force hospitals from 1956 onward, rising through the ranks: Flying Officer (1955), Flight Lieutenant (1956), Squadron Leader (1960), and Wing Commander (22 August 1972). She retired on 28 February 1979 after 24 years of exemplary service, holding service number 4971 MED.

At the time of her induction, the IAF had no prescribed uniform for women. Undeterred, she designed and had custom-tailored her own — a sari in the signature IAF blue paired with a tan blouse. This practical innovation became the standard uniform for women officers. She faced initial challenges with sleeve length during medical procedures and successfully advocated for modifications, ultimately rolling up her sleeves “like the men” when necessary to deliver babies. Reflecting on her solitary position, she later remarked: “For quite some years, I was the only lady officer in the air force… Initially, I was scared to work with men, but I was brave and thought to myself, I could face anything.”

Service Through Three Wars and Medical Excellence

Dr Ramanan’s career was defined by her unwavering dedication to the health of service personnel and their families. Posted across IAF hospitals in Jalahalli, Kanpur, Secunderabad, and Bangalore, she specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology. From 1 May 1968 she served as Senior Gynaecologist and Obstetrician in the Family Wing of Air Force Hospital, Bangalore — a high-volume section she often managed single-handedly. She remained on call every night, holiday, and Sunday, conducted thousands of deliveries, led family planning initiatives that exceeded targets, and guided other lady doctors in the defence installations.

Her service spanned three major conflicts:

• 1962 Sino-Indian War
• 1965 Indo-Pak War
• 1971 Indo-Pak War (Bangladesh Liberation War)

During each, she worked tirelessly as part of the medical team treating wounded soldiers, handling emergencies at any hour, and ensuring continuous obstetrics care for families. She described her constant state of readiness: “I had to always be prepared for an emergency. It did not matter… even if it was the dead of night. The moment I got the call, I would wait for the ambulance… and rushed to the location.”

In recognition of her distinguished service — particularly her devotion to the Family Wing, family planning work, and single-minded commitment despite personal discomfort — she was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) on 26 January 1977 by President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.

Post-Retirement Contributions and Enduring Legacy

After retiring in 1979, Dr Ramanan established a private practice in Bengaluru and continued treating underprivileged patients free of charge well into her eighties. She remained an active mentor to younger doctors, especially women in the Armed Forces Medical Services, offering rigorous guidance tempered with empathy. She supported social causes quietly — funding cancer treatment, cataract surgeries, rural education, and e-learning initiatives — without seeking recognition. Her love of music endured; she taught nieces and grandchildren, insisting on memorisation of compositions, and maintained the discipline and sharpness that had characterised her military life.

Vijayalakshmi Ramanan’s legacy extends far beyond her rank and medals. She shattered glass ceilings, demonstrated that women could excel in the most demanding military medical roles, and created practical pathways — including the sari uniform — that enabled future generations of women officers. Her story continues to inspire aspiring doctors, military personnel, and anyone who values service above self.

She passed away peacefully on 18 October 2020 at her daughter’s home in Bengaluru. Her ashes were immersed in the Cauvery River near Srirangapatna, in accordance with her family’s wishes. Today, Wing Commander Dr Vijayalakshmi Ramanan is remembered not only as India’s first woman IAF officer but as a physician who served with grace under fire, a mother who balanced duty and family with quiet strength, and a trailblazer whose courage opened doors for countless others.

Her life remains a powerful testament to the belief that dedication, resilience, and an unwavering sense of duty can overcome any barrier.