Wing Commander Gandharva Sen was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January 1953. He attended the Pilots Conversion Course in 1953 and Flying Instructors Course in 1958. In 1967, he was appointed to command an operational Squadron. His squadron has been re­equipped with a new type of aircraft. He has rendered valuable service towards the training of the air and ground crew of the Squadron. He has successfully developed new standard operating procedures and operational tactics for the aircraft. He has also made valuable suggestions to improve the operational capability and flight safety of the aircraft.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Wing Commander Gandharva Sen was commanding a Signal Unit. His unit stopped functioning only once despite the fact that it was subjected to twenty-nine enemy air attacks. Even on that one occasion, the disruption of power supply and damage to the equipment was rectified in about half an hour. When his Unit was called upon to perform the additional role of Air Defence Direction Centre, he rendered valuable assistance in arranging air defence of the tactical areas, protection of our own aircraft on offensive missions and organising aggressive action over enemy territory in the form of sweeps. Apart from the operational tasks directly connected with the Unit, he also carried out the task of training a large number of personnel from the Air Force to enable them to man the low level reporting system which functioning very well during hostilities.

Throughout, Wing Commander Gandharva Sen displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duly.

Air Marshal Gandharva Sen was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January, 1953. A graduate from the National Defence College, he has held a variety of important command and staff appointments during his long service career.

In 1981 he took over command of a major forward fighter base. Under his inspiring leadership and guidance, the station was brought up to the highest level of operational preparedness. He also made significant improvements in the administrative infrastructure, support services and the welfare facilities.

On promotion to the rank of Air Marshal in November, 1986 he took over as Senior Air Staff Officer of an Operational Air Command. In this assignment, he again brought to bear his professional excellence and dedication and was instrumental in augmenting the combat capability of different elements of the Command, thereby enhancing the overall operational effectiveness of the IAF.

In his present appointment as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of an operational air command, his dynamism, dedication and managerial skills were brought to bear on the entire range of air operations in Sri Lanka. Because of his inspiring leadership, induction of and logistic support for the Indian Peace Keeping Force was planned and executed with meticulous precision and efficiency. The successful conduct of air operations in Maldives is another remarkable achievement of Air Marshal Sen. His meticulous planning and its precise execution was a brilliant example of rapid response in strategic deployment of our troops and resources.

Air Marshal Gandharva Sen, AVSM, VM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.