Arjan Singh

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Aspy Merwan Engineer
Succeeded byPratap Chandra Lal
Personal details
Born(1919-04-15)15 April 1919
Punjab, Pakistan)
Died16 September 2017(2017-09-16) (aged 98)
New Delhi, India
Spouse
Teji Singh
(m. 1948; died 2011)
Children3
Military service
Allegiance 
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Awards
Later work(s)Chairman, IIT Delhi
Director, Grindlays Bank
National Commission for Minorities

Field Marshal
.

Singh attended the

Group Captain. In 1950, after completing the staff course at Joint Service Defence College, Latimer, Buckinghamshire, he was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore and took over the Operational Command
. He commanded the Operational Command in two stints. In 1958, the post was upgraded to Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at the rank of Air Vice Marshal.

After attending the

Air Chief Marshal
.

After retiring from the IAF, Singh served as a diplomat, politician and advisor to the

Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
from 1989 to 1990. In January 2002, the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force was conferred on Singh, the first and only officer of the IAF to receive the honour.

Early life and education

Arjan Singh as a Flight Lieutenant with a group Indian pilots from No.1 Squadron standing by a Hawker Hurricane IIc. L to R : Ibrahim, Homi Ratnagar, Arjan Singh, Henry and Murcot. World War II.
Officers of No. 1 Squadron IAF sit down to tiffin in their mess at Imphal Main, India. At lower right sits the CO Sqn Ldr Arjan Singh. Next to him is Flt Lt R Rajaram.
20 Div Maj Gen D D Gracey
, OBE

Singh was born on 15 April 1919 in

British India (in present-day Pakistan), into a Punjabi Jat Sikh family of Aulakh clan.[2] Men from the family had joined the armed forces, in keeping with community traditions, and Singh was the fourth generation of his family to join the British Indian armed forces.[3]

Singh's father was a

Naib Risaldar Sultana Singh, was among the first two generations of the Guides Cavalry enlisted in 1854; he was martyred during the Afghan campaign of 1879.[3] Thus, after three generations of men serving in the lower and middle ranks of the army, Singh was to become the first member of his family to become a commissioned officer.[5]

Singh was educated at

RAF College Cranwell in 1938. At the College, he was the Vice Captain of the swimming, athletic and hockey teams.[8]

Military career

World War II

Singh was commissioned as a

Flying Officer. By this time, the squadron had been re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane aircraft.[11]

In 1943, Singh was promoted to acting

Frustrated with watch and ward duty, Singh wanted to be in the thick of action. He met the Commander-in-Chief, India, General (later Field Marshal) Claude Auchinleck during his visit to Kohat in the North-West Frontier Province and requested him to send the squadron to fight the Japanese. The squadron was then inducted into the war and moved to Imphal in early 1944.[9]

Singh led

Arakan Campaign in 1944.[12] He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in June 1944. He was presented with the DFC by Lord Mountbatten, the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command at Imphal. Singh later said about the award, “For a young man to get such a medal in front of his own squadron is a great satisfaction. I was a part of the squadron, and they were my part."[13]

The citation for the DFC reads as follows:[14]

CITATION

Acting Squadron Leader Arjan Singh (IND/1577)

Indian Air Force, No. 1 (IAF) Squadron

This officer has completed very many operational missions involving flights over difficult country, often in bad weather. He has displayed outstanding leadership, great skill and courage, qualities which have been reflected in the high morale and efficiency of the squadron which has won much success.

Singh relinquished command of No. 1 Squadron in December 1944, handing over to

Burma Campaign
. Singh almost faced a
Wing Commander and in August, he was selected to attend the Staff course at the RAF Staff College, Bracknell in the United Kingdom. On his return, he commanded the Air Force Station Kohat and Air Force Station Risalpur
.

Post independence

As part of the celebrations for

Airbase Air Force Station, Ambala. He led the airbase during the Partition of India. Singh subsequently moved to Air Headquarters in 1948 and tenanted the appointment of Director of Training. In 1949, Singh attended the Joint Service Defence College at Latimer, Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom.[17]

On his return to India, in December 1950, Singh was promoted to acting

Singh served in this appointment for three years, until December 1955.

Promoted to substantive Air Commodore, Singh again served as the AOC Operational Command, for the second time. In 1956, Singh led a squadron of

Chef de Mission of the Indian Contingent for the 1956 Summer Olympics held at Melbourne, Australia.[7]
In May 1958, Singh was promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal and continued as the head of the Operational Command. The appointment was upgraded to Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) Operational Command.[21] He led the Operational Command until November 1959, handing over command to Air Vice Marshal Erlic Pinto. Singh has the distinction of being the longest serving head of the Operational Command. He led the Command for a total of six years in two stints - December 1950 to December 1952 and December 1955 to November 1959.[22]

Singh was selected to attend the

Imperial Defence College and proceeded to United Kingdom in early 1960. After completing the year-long course, he returned to India and assumed charge as the Air Officer in Charge Administration at Air Headquarters. He tenanted this appointment through the Sino-Indian War. By the end of the war, Singh took over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS), and in August 1963, he took over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS). As the VCAS, Singh was the overall commander of the joint air exercises "Shiksha" with the United States Air Force (USAF), Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) which was held in India.[23]

Chief of the Air Staff

In May 1964, the

Air Marshal and took over as the 6th Chief of the Air Staff.[24] When appointed as Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, he was around 45 years old.[25]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

In August 1965, as part of

Pakistani Army. Singh was summoned into the Defence Minister Y B Chavan
's office with a request for air support. With a characteristic nonchalance, he replied "in an hour." True to his word, the armoured thrust was hit in an hour by the IAF. Although the IAF suffered some losses early on, it bounced back and scored strategic victories during the conflict . The war ended with a ceasefire being declared by both nations on 23 September. Singh led the IAF during the war showing unparalleled leadership and remained cool and inspirational throughout.[26]

Singh was awarded India's second-highest civilian award, the

Air Chief Marshal. Singh became the first Officer to hold the rank of Air Chief Marshal.[29][25]

On 7 June 1966, with the retirement of

After heading the IAF for almost five years, the second-longest term as Chief of the Air Staff in history, Singh retired in July 1969, at the age of 50.[15]

Diplomatic and political career

In 1971, after his retirement, Singh was appointed India's Ambassador to Switzerland, the Holy See and Liechtenstein.[31] He presented his credentials to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Rudolf Gnägi on 2 April 1971.[32]

MIAF Arjan Singh carrying the Marshal's baton with the President of India, K. R. Narayanan and Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee after being promoted to Five Star rank in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

After a three year stint at Bern, Singh then took over as the High Commissioner of India to Kenya in 1974.[33] Singh spent three years heading the High Commission of India at Nairobi, till 1977. Subsequently, he served as a member of the National Commission for Minorities from 1978 to 1981.[31]

Singh also served as the

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi from 1980 to 1983 and was a Director of the Grindlays Bank from 1981 to 1988.[34]

On 12 December 1989, Singh was appointed

Lieutenant Governor of Delhi by the President of India.[35] He served in the position for a year, till December 1990.[36]

Singh on a 2019 stamp of India
Uniform of Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh at Air Force Museum in Delhi

Promotion to Marshal of the Indian Air Force

On 25 January 2002, the Government of India announced that the rank of

Field Marshal and is held for life.[37] The President of India, K. R. Narayanan conferred the Five-star rank on Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh and handed the Marshal's baton in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 April 2002.[38]

Personal life

In 1948, Singh married Teji Singh, a lady of his own community and similar family background, in a match arranged by their families. They were married for 63 years before her death in April 2011. In 1949, their first daughter Amrita was born. Three years later, her brother Arvind Singh was born and the Singhs' youngest child Asha followed another three years later.[39] Teji Singh was the maternal aunt of actress Mandira Bedi.[40]

Later years and death

Singh's health declined in his final years, and he frequently made references to growing old and the passing away of many of his friends.

Palam Airport. He paid his last respects to President Kalam at Palam Airport on 28 July.[41] He remained active even at 98, continuing to take tea and to play golf twice a week at the Delhi Golf Club.[40][39]

Singh suffered a cardiac arrest at his New Delhi residence in the early morning of 16 September 2017 and was rushed to the Army Hospital, Research and Referral, in New Delhi, where his condition was stated to be critical.[42] He died at 7:47 p.m. (IST) that evening.[25] After his passing, his body was returned to his home at 7A Kautilya Marg in New Delhi, where numerous visitors and dignitaries offered their respects, including President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Seetaraman and the three service chiefs of the Indian Armed Forces.[43] Accorded a state funeral by the Indian government, he was cremated at Brar Square in New Delhi on 18 September with full military honours, including a military flypast by IAF fighter jets and helicopters.[44] The National Flag flew at half-mast in Delhi.[45]

Legacy

Singh was the first officer to have kept his flying rank until he became CAS. He had flown over 60 different types of aircraft from Pre-WWII era biplanes to Folland Gnats and de Havilland Vampires. He also had flown in transports like the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation.[46] Singh remained active and worked for the welfare of air force veterans, contributing twenty million rupees from his personal wealth to set up a trust to this end. He was considered a father figure of the service.[47]

The Air Force Sports Control Board organises an annual Marshal Arjan Singh Memorial All India Hockey Tournament.[48][49][50] The IAF celebrated the birth centenary of the Marshal in April 2019. Events over a period of one year were planned across the country. The celebrations started with a seminar at Air Headquarters titled "Air Power in the 2040s: Impact of Technology", as a tribute to his vision of the Air Force. The then

United Services Institution of India (USI) conduct the Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Annual Lecture. The first lecture was delivered in December 2023 by former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal R. K. S. Bhadauria.[52]

Air Force Station Arjan Singh

On 14 April 2016, at an event to mark the Marshal's 97th birthday, the then

China Burma India Theater during World War II, the same theatre that Singh served in during the war.[53][54][55]

Awards and decorations

Padma Vibhushan General Service Medal 1947
Samar Seva Star
Raksha Medal
Sainya Seva Medal
Indian Independence Medal Distinguished Flying Cross
1939–1945 Star Burma Star War Medal 1939–1945 India Service Medal

Dates of rank

Rashtrapati Bhawan during India's republic day parade
, 2015.
Flag of the Marshal of Indian Air Force
Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Pilot Officer
Royal Indian Air Force 23 December 1939[57]
Flying Officer
23 June 1941
Flight Lieutenant
15 May 1942
Squadron Leader
1 April 1944 (acting)[58]
18 May 1945 (substantive)[59]
Wing Commander
February 1945 (acting)[59]
15 August 1948 (substantive)[59]
Group Captain
16 August 1947 (acting)[59]
Group Captain Indian Air Force 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[60]
15 August 1952 (substantive)
Air Commodore 12 December 1950 (acting)[19]
1 October 1955 (substantive)[59]
Air Vice Marshal 1 May 1958 (acting)[61]
16 June 1960 (substantive)[59]
Air Marshal

(CAS)
1 August 1964 (acting)[62]
1 December 1964 (substantive)[59]
Air Chief Marshal

(CAS)
15 January 1966 [63]
Marshal of the Indian Air Force 26 January 2002[64]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Indian military officers of five-star rank hold their rank for life, and are considered to be serving officers until their deaths.
  2. ^ Indian military officers of five-star rank hold their rank for life, and are considered to be serving officers until their deaths.

Citations

  1. ^ "IAF pays tribute to Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh on 101st birth anniversary". DNA India. 15 April 2020.
  2. ^ "When Arjan Singh sold off his farm for IAF personnel". The Tribune. 17 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Timeline of the life of IAF Marshal Arjan Singh". The Indian Express. 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Air Marshal Arjan Singh dies at 98". The Statesmen. 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  5. ^ DelhiSeptember 18, Prabhash K. Dutta New; September 18, Prabhash K. Dutta New; Ist, Prabhash K. Dutta New. "Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh was actor Mandira Bedi's uncle and a fourth generation soldier". India Today.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. .
  7. ^ a b "New Chief of Air Staff" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 13 May 1964.
  8. ^ Force, Indian Air (12 April 2019). "#ArjanSingh100 – MIAF Arjan Singh has been a sports achiever. As an ace swimmer, he held an all-India record in freestyle swimming in one mile and half mile events. He was the vice-captain of swimming, athletics and hockey teams during his training at RAF College Cranwell.pic.twitter.com/wUIX1WkJH9". @IAF_MCC.
  9. ^ a b Sapru 2014.
  10. ^ "Arjan Singh The man who was our Marshal". tribuneindia.com.
  11. ^ "A GLORIOUS ERA COMES TO AN END: THE MARSHAL OF THE INDIAN AIR FORCE ARJAN SINGH A LEGEND BREATHES HIS LAST AT ARMY HOSPITAL (R&R), NEW DELHI". pib.gov.in.
  12. ^ a b c "Arjan Singh, Indian Air Force Marshall and War Hero, Dies at 98". Loksatta. 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  13. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Arjan Singh The man who was our Marshal". Tribuneindia News Service.
  14. ^ "No. 36542". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1944. p. 2534.
  15. ^ a b c d "Arjan Singh: an epitome of military leadership". Manorma Online. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Both of us were part of first flypast over Red Fort on August 15, 1947: Air Marshal Randhir Singh reminisces about Arjan Singh". The Indian Express. 17 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Two Air Commodores Become Air Vice-Marshals" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 23 May 1958.
  18. ^ "ARJAN SINGH'S NEW APPOINTMENT" (PDF). archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  19. ^ a b "WESTERN AIR COMMAND | Indian Air Force | Government of India". indianairforce.nic.in.
  20. ^ "IAF Station New Delhi celebrates its 6th anniversary" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 15 September 1953.
  21. ^ "Two Air Commodores Become Air Vice-Marshals" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 23 May 1958.
  22. ^ "MILESTONES | Indian Air Force | Government of India". indianairforce.nic.in.
  23. ^ "New Air Chief" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 13 May 1964.
  24. ^ "New Air Chief calls on prime Minister" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 31 July 1964.
  25. ^ a b c "Arjan Singh, Marshal of Indian Air Force, passes away". The Times of India. 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  26. ^ Subramaniam 2016, p. 332.
  27. ^ "GALLANTRY AWARDS TO DEFENCE PERSONNEL" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 22 November 1965.
  28. ^ "Arjan Singh, Marshal of Indian Air Force, Dies at 98". NDTV. 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  29. ^ "HIGHER RANK FOR AIR CHIEF" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 20 January 1966.
  30. ^ "AIR CHIEF MARSHAL ARJAN SINGH TO TAKE SALUTE AT THE ROYAL AIR FORCE COLLEGE, CRANWELL" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 15 May 1967.
  31. ^ a b "Arjan Singh, Marshal of the Indian Air Force and key figure in 1965 Pak war, dies at 98". Hindustan Times. 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  32. ^ "Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh presented his credential" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 3 April 1971.
  33. ^ "Arjan Singh Envoy to Kenya" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 14 March 1974.
  34. ^ "PIB". pibarchive.nic.in. 25 January 2002.
  35. ^ "PRESS COMMUNIQUE" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 12 December 1989.
  36. ^ "Press Communique" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 14 December 1990.
  37. ^ "INDIA'S FIRST MARSHAL OF THE AIR FORCE". pibarchive.nic.in. 25 January 2002.
  38. ^ "World War II, 1965 India-Pakistan War: A look at Arjan Singh's distinguished career". Hindustan Times. 16 September 2017.
  39. ^ a b c Singh 2002.
  40. ^ a b "Mandira Bedi remembers uncle Arjan Singh: Even at 98, he used to play golf twice a week". The Hindustan Times. 17 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  41. ^ "The last journey of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam - Dr Abdul Kalam's funeral". The Economic Times.
  42. ^ "Arjan Singh, Marshal of the Indian Air Force, critically ill, PM Modi visits him at Army R&R hospital". The Indian Express. 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  43. ^ "State funeral for Arjan Singh; flag to fly at half mast in Delhi". The Hindu. 17 September 2017. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  44. ^ "Marshal Arjan Singh cremated with military honours". The Hindu. 18 September 2017. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  45. ^ "National Flag will fly half-mast tomorrow in Delhi". pib.gov.in.
  46. ^ "Arjan Singh Padma Vibhushan, DFC CAS | Indian Air Force | Government of India". indianairforce.nic.in.
  47. ^ "Marshal of The Air Force | Indian Air Force | Government of India". indianairforce.nic.in.
  48. ^ "Marshal Arjan Singh Memorial All India Hockey Tournament". pib.gov.in.
  49. ^ "Marshal Arjan Singh memorial All India Hockey Tournament held at Chandigarh from May 7–12". uniindia.com.
  50. ^ "2nd Marshal Arjan Singh Memorial International Hockey Tournament 2019 Kicks off at Chandigarh". pib.gov.in.
  51. ^ "IAF Celebrates Birth Centenary of Late Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh DFC". pib.gov.in.
  52. ^ "IAF AND USI CONDUCT THE FIRST MARSHAL OF AIR FORCE ARJAN SINGH ANNUAL LECTURE". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  53. ^ a b Sen, Sudhi Ranjan (15 April 2016). "India's Oldest Serving Soldier, Marshal of Air Force, Gets Rare Honour". NDTV. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016. To honour India's oldest serving soldier, Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh – who turned 97 on Thursday...
  54. ^ a b "Bengal air base named after Arjan Singh". The Tribune. 15 April 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  55. ^ "Panagarh airbase to be renamed after Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh". ANI News. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  56. ^ a b Pandey, Saurabh (15 April 2017). "Meet Marshal Arjan Singh, Who Made IAF A Nightmare for the Enemies And Guardian of Our Skies". Storypick. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  57. ^ The Air Force List: October 1940. HM Stationery Office. 1940. p. 702.
  58. ^ "Service Record for Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh 1577 GD(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak.
  59. ^ a b c d e f g "Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  60. ^ "New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India – Archive.
  61. ^ "Senior Air promotions in IAF" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 23 May 1958.
  62. ^ "New Air Chief calls on prime Minister" (PDF). pibarchive.nic.in. 31 July 1964.
  63. ^ "Only Marshal of IAF, hero of 1965, Arjan Singh shaped the force". The Indian Express. 17 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  64. ^ "Latest Releases". pibarchive.nic.in. 25 January 2002.
  65. ^ "President Pranab Mukherjee honours Arjan Singh, others on golden jubilee of 1965 war triumph". India.com. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.

References

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Surendra Nath Goyal
Commanding Officer No. 1 Squadron IAF

1943–1944
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding Officer, RAF Station Kohat
1947–1947
Partition of India
Preceded by
Air Officer Commanding Operational Command

1950–1952
Succeeded by
Atma Ram Nanda
Preceded by
Atma Ram Nanda
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Operational Command

1955–1959
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (India)
1963–1963
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chief of the Air Staff (India)
1963–1964
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Air Staff (India)
1964–1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee

1966–1969
Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
M A Hussain
Ambassador of India to
The Holy See & Liechtenstein

1971–1974
Succeeded by
Avtar Singh
Preceded by
K C Nair
High Commissioner of India to the
Republic of Kenya

1974–1977
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi

1989–1990
Succeeded by
Markandey Singh