Arjan Singh DFC: Marshal of The Indian Air Force
Wednesday, 14 August 2002
MIAF Arjan Singh DFC's brief and inspiring biography.
In April 2002, one of the legends of the Indian Air Force was honoured with the first five star rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force. No one has deserved the honour more than the famous flyer, Arjan Singh.
When Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh, DFC stood up to the dais to receive the Marshal’s baton from the President of India, it was the crowning glory of a brilliant career.
From facing the Japanese during World War II, to leading the Indian Air Force during the war of 1965 — Arjan Singh and his men always ruled the skies. Then followed years of distinguished service as a diplomat, Ambassador and High Commissioner.
He was later also appointed Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. This is the inspiring story of a leader who transformed the Air Force into a professional fighting force.
Title
Look Inside
The famous flyer, Arjan Singh who was honoured with the first five-star rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force. He was an exemplar for Indians and this picture-heavy book chronicled his career and life.
Celebrating the Book
Arjan Singh DFC, Marshal of the Indian Air Force was released by Defence Minister George Fernandes in the presence of Air Chief Marshal Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy, PVSM AVSM VM and Bar and former Air Chief Marshal Anil Yashwant Tipnis, PVSM AVSM VM ADC and other dignitaries, who gathered at the FICI auditorium in Delhi where R K Mehra, the publisher, had arranged the evening.
MIAF Arjan Singh DFC and Teji Arjan Singh were, of course, the stars of the show. Other notables included Brigadier Gurbax Singh, Khushwant Singh’s brother; Mrs. Raminder Kaur, Sardar Hukam Singh’s daughter; Nitya Ramakrishnan, her mother and her aunt… My teachers, Dr R K Gupta and Dr Vijay Tankha and their spouses, Urmila Gupta and Upinder Singh; old friend Jyoti Singh; Gurpreet Singh, Inderdeep Singh, Reena, Jasmer Sarna, were there in full force, as were other friends from college who I had been out of touch with for such a long time.
Family was expected to be there, and it was. My parents, Giani Gurdit Singh and Mrs Inderjit Kaur had travelled from Chandigarh as had Kishie Singh, Neena, Drish and Bunny. Pirara Singh and my cousin Darshan Kaur; Kajal Nalwa, Salina and Ravi; Brig Arvninder Singh and Indu…they were all there. It was a big event to herald the release of a (physically) small book on a great man.
R K Mehra, started with a tribute to the officers and soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces, and said” “We are gathered here today to salute one of the most shining stars of the Indian Armed Force.” The book is a pictorial biography that is a part of Rupa’s Chritravali series.
