Images below: First from bottom - cover of Arjan Singh's biography by Roopinder Singh. Third from below - photo by the author.
Our Heroes
Arjan Singh:
Air Force Marshal & 5-Star General Turns 90
by ROOPINDER SINGH
The imposing four storeyed Rashtrapati Bhavan (India's Presidential Palace in New Delhi) has 340 rooms, but on this day in 2002, all eyes were fixed on the Ashoka Hall.
It was originally built as the State Ballroom and the assembled guests walked on the polished wooden floor. Many glanced at the ceiling with a painting on leather depicting a royal hunting expedition in the centre and scenes from court life in the corners. It is a dark painting, and because of leather being the canvas, even the white has become brownish. The Persian-style painting was commissioned by Lady Wellington when her husband was the Viceroy of India during the British Raj.
Those seated under this imposing canopy included the country's Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Defence Minister, the External Affairs Minister, the Air Chief Marshal, a large number of retired and service military officers.
The Presidential Body Guard buglers sounded the fanfare from the central vestibules. Everybody in the Ashoka Hall stood up. The President of India was escorted to the room by his aides-de-camp, dressed in the finery of their office.
The band then played the National Anthem. The hall has seen many glittering events, but none as this one.
On this day, the first-ever Marshal of the Indian Air Force was to be presented his baton by the President of India.
Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, DFC, had been named for this rarest of rare honours on January 26. This was the investiture ceremony for him and it meant a lot to everybody present, even though it had taken a while for it to happen.
A tall, handsome Sardar, sporting a milky white beard, wearing an Air Force uniform with five stars on the lapel, medals gleaming on his chest, marched up to the President with a sure stride. He belied his years and stood straight before the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces.
In a departure from the customary investiture ceremony protocol, but in keeping with the importance of the occasion, the Defence Secretary read the citation that concluded thus:
"His inspiring career, towering personality and distinguished reputation have endowed him with a unique stature in society and have earned him the respect of the nation. Even till date, he actively associates himself with various welfare activities of the Air Force as a father figure of the service, which he nurtured from its fledgling days.
"For his most outstanding and extraordinary service to the nation, the President of India is pleased to confer upon Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force."
The President acknowledged the salute of the veteran warrior.
The baton was brought up on a velvet cushion. It was a magnificent creation that took the blue from the sky and had the glitter of gold gliding.
The President handed the baton to Marshal of the Air Force, Arjan Singh, who saluted him again.
As he turns 90 today - Wednesday, April 15 - the nation salutes its only living 5-star general, whose dignity, philanthropy and upright moral conduct make him an exemplar.
[Roopinder Singh is Assistant Editor of The Tribune, Chandigarh, Punjab, and author of Arjan Singh DFC, Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Rupa, Delhi, 2002.]
April 15, 2009
Conversation about this article
1: Manjyot Kaur (New York City, U.S.A.), April 15, 2009, 10:14 AM.
Wow! Very impressive; an exemplar, indeed! May Waheguru shower him with blessings, on his milestone birthday, and always.
2: Mai Harinder Kaur (Near Seattle, U.S.A.), April 15, 2009, 1:14 PM.
This man, truly "an officer and a gentleman", is the perfect answer to every silly, demeaning Sardar/Santa-Banta "joke." While it is well-known that I am no fan of India or of its military, a great soldier is a great soldier. And this one is a great soldier who deserves recognition.
3: Chintan Singh (San Jose, California, U.S.A.), April 15, 2009, 2:20 PM.
It would have been nice if something about Marshal Arjan Singh's career and his achievements in the field were provided. Maybe, sikhchic.com can publish an excerpt from the book.
4: Amitoj (U.S.A.), April 16, 2009, 10:19 AM.
I bought a book on Arjan Singh and it was worth reading. Well deserved recognition. If anyone is interested in buying this book, it is available on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Arjan-Singh-Marshal-Indian-Force/dp/8171679382/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239891276&sr=1-1
5: Meena (Delhi, India), August 24, 2009, 9:36 PM.
What an accomplished and handsome man, both in youth and maturity! A true officer and a gentleman! A rare gem amongst a national armed force guilty of serious human rights violations in Sri Lanka, Kashmir and Punjab. Congratulations on your birthday, Sir ...and may there be many more to come!
6: Devinder Pal Singh (Delhi, India), December 01, 2009, 5:30 AM.
Marshal Arjan Singh's heroism became legend while he was still serving in the Air Force. His exemplary leadership and willingness to lead from the front have no parallel. Here we have a Sikh who should be a beacon to all those youngsters who are adrift and not willing to abide with the principles and tenets of Sikhism. We wish him a long life. His attachment and dedication to the Air Force have no parallel and the latest was when we read that he contributed a huge amount of his career benefits to the welfare of Air Force personnel. May the Guru's blessings be always with him. The present Sikh political leadership and bureaucracy have indeed a strong lesson to be learnt from Air Marshal Sardar Arjan Singh.
7: Capt. A.J. Singh (London, England), January 09, 2010, 10:38 AM.
Right from my childhood, I admired him and wanted to join a flying career with the Indian Air Force. He's been my role model. I couldn't make it into the IAF, but became a commercial airline pilot starting my job with the B.S.F. I salute this 5-Star General and pray to Waheguru for his long life.
8: Amit (India), November 30, 2011, 11:47 AM.
Regal personalities like Arjan Singh are always young in spirit!
9: Samir Ray (Dinhata, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India), October 11, 2012, 4:56 PM.
My highest salute to Marshal Arjan Singh, DFC.
10: Prafulla Kumar S Pandit (United States), December 17, 2014, 11:59 PM.
I am a retired Sergeant of the Indian Air Force. My father retired as Warrant Officer and during his term posting in Bawana, Delhi from 1966 to 1970, I - then a child - had an opportunity to be photographed with ACM Arjan Singh.