Here is the list of 10 bravest of the brave Sikhs in Indian Armed forces that you all must know about.
Marshal Arjan Singh
Born in Lyallpur in Punjab on 15 April 1919. Arjan Singh the Marshal of the Indian Air force is the only Indian Air force officer who was promoted to the five-star rank, equivalent to the post of field marshal to which he was promoted in 2002. Arjan Singh is currently the only living Indian Military officer who holds a five-star rank. His father was a Naik in the Hodson’s Horse at the time of his birth. Not just his father but his grandfather and great grandfather also served Indian armed forces.
Arjan Singh joined RAF College Cranwell in 1938 and was commissioned as the pilot officer in 1939. He also led the No.1 Squadron, Indian Air force during the Arakan campaign in 1944. He was awarded Distinguished Flying cross (DYC) in 1944 and after that, he commanded the Indian Air force exhibition in 1945. He was awarded Padma Vibushan in 1965 when he was the chief of Air staff (CAS).
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon
Shaheed Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, the flying officer of Indian Air force was the one man army in the Pakistan attack on Srinagar Air Base during Indo-Pak war of 1971. He was born on 17 July 1943 and martyred at the age of 28 on 14 December 1971, while serving his country.
During the Indo-Pak war of 1971, he was serving with the No.18 Squadron. On 14th December 1971, Srinagar Airfield was attacked by 6 Pakistani Aircraft and it was very difficult for any aircraft to take off but the braveheart Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon doesn’t lose any hope and with all his bravery and love for his country he takes off and fought for his land. After the unimagined act of the bravery, he made supreme sacrifice on the same day. He was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest Indian Military award for his bravery and for his lone defense of Srinagar Air Base during that war.
Naib Subedar Bana Singh (later Subedar Major & Honorary Captain)
Bana Singh was born on 6th January 1949 in a Sikh family at Kadyal in Jammu and Kashmir. He joined Indian Army on 6 January 1969 and served 8th Batallion of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry.
It was under his leadership and bravery in which his team conquered the highest peak in the Siachen area. The peak was later named on his name and now is called as “Bana Top”. He was also awarded the Param Vir chakra Award for his outstanding leadership, unimagined bravery and determination for his country and Indian Army.
Gen (retd) JJ Singh
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and holder of a master’s degree in Defence Science, Singh was commissioned into the 9th Maratha Light Infantry on August 2, 1964.
In January, 2003, he was appointed as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) and took over as Army Commander – Western Command in January, 2004.
On January 31, 2005, Singh assumed the office of Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.
In 2007, he also held the appointment of Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of the three forces.
Working tirelessly for the enhancement of military cooperation between the Indian and French armies, he led an inter-services delegation to France that year.
It was during his tenure that he mooted the idea of holding joint army exercises at the level already existing between the two countries’ air forces (Garuda) and navies (Varuna).
“It was thus that the ‘Shakti’ inter-army exercise later came into being in 2011,” the statement said.
In 2009, he was invited as the Guest of Honour for the French National Day military parade in Paris in which an Indian Army contingent took part for the first time.
After his retirement in September 2007, Singh served as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh from 2008 to 2013. SAP KKM.
Singh was conferred the honor by French Ambassador to India, Francois Richier.
General (retd) Bikram Singh
General Bikram Singh is a former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army (COAS). He became the 25th Chief of Army Staff of Indian Army after the retirement of General V K Singh on May 2012. He was the second Sikh to be the COAS after General J J Singh.
General Bikram Singh was a graduate of 40th course of National Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry on 31st March 1972. He was awarded the “Best Young Officer” in the infantry school and not only this, He was honored with many awards in his entire career such as Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Legion of Merit.
Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora
Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Arora was the General Officer Commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C) of the Eastern command of the Indian Army during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. It was under his guidance due to which Indian field force defeated Pakistani force.
Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Arora was born on 13 February 1916 and died on 3 May 2005. He joined Indian Army 1939 when he graduated from Indian Military Academy and after that, he fought many battles for India like:
- Burma Campaign, World War 2
- Indo-Pak war of 1947
- Sino-Indian War
- Indo-Pak war of 1965
- Indo-Pak war of 1971
After all his contribution to Indian Defence, he was also awarded Param Vashisht Seva Medal and Padma Bhushan.
Subedar Joginder Singh Sahnan
Subedar Joginder Singh Sahnan was a true example of determination, courage, and leadership. He has commanded a platoon during the Sino war in 1962 against China. It was 23 October when his platoon noticed a heavy Chinese force ready to attack them but these men fought and killed many of them but Chinese force came back with a larger force. Subedar Joginder Singh Sahnan was wounded during the battle and he had very few men left with him but he refused to step back and kept on fighting for his land. Under his great leadership, his platoon killed many Chinese soldiers but unfortunately after a great battle he died from his wounds and frostbite as a PoW in Chinese custody.
He was awarded Param Vir Chakra highest wartime gallantry award which was given to his family for his inspiring leadership and steadfast courage.
Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri (Later Brigadier)
Kuldip Singh Chandpuri held the rank of major in the Indian Army’s 23rd Battalion, Punjab Regiment when the Pakistani army attacked the Longewala post in the state of Rajasthan, India, early in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Chandpuri and his company of 120 soldiers, defended the post, in spite of considerable odds, against the 2000-3000 strong assault force of the Pakistani 51st Infantry Brigade, backed by the 22nd Armored Regiment. Chandpuri and his company held the Pakistanis at bay for a full night until the Indian Air Force arrived in the morning.
Chandpuri inspired his men, moving from bunker to bunker, encouraging them to beat back the enemy until reinforcements arrived. Kuldip Singh Chandpuri and his men inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, and forced them to retreat, leaving behind twelve tanks. For his conspicuous gallantry and leadership, Chandpuri was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) by the Indian Army.
Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri retired from the army as a brigadier.
Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was born on 22 November 1940 at Montgomery in the Punjab region of undivided India.
Flying Officer Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh was born in September 1906 in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan. He was the first Sikh aviator and the first Solo Indian to fly from England to India. He did his B.sc course from Bristol and after that, he did a two-year course in flying and aeronautical for which Indian government gave him a scholarship.
He was a man of strong character and determination. He will always be remembered in the history for his exceptional contribution to Indian Air force. He was passionately in love with flying and his country and he never married but he was very fond of children.
During the outbreak of world war 2, Manmohan Singh joined Indian Airforce as a pilot officer. He was later promoted flying officer and deputed for operations in the Philippines and Indonesia and given the command of a Catalina aircraft. Man Mohan Singh was martyred in action in West Australia on 3 March 1942.
Lt Hardutt Singh Malik
Hardutt Singh Malik was born on 22nd November 1894 and he became the first Indian to fly into combat with the Royal Flying Corps. He was also the only Indian Aviator to survive the World War 1. After the war, he joined the Indian Civil Service and later the Indian Foreign Service. Malik eventually served as Indian Ambassador to France. And as long as he lived Malik proudly carried the remnants of the bullets firmly embedded in his leg.
Air Commodore Mehar Singh
Air Commodore Mehar Singh, was a fighter pilot in Indian Air Force, he was also affectionately known as “Mehar Baba” in Indian air force circle.
Although he gave his selfless service to Indian Air force, he resigned from his post on 27 September 1948 over differences with some senior officers on service matters. But When the gallantry awards were instituted the Maha Vir Chakra was given to Mehar Singh and he was the first Mahavir Chakra recipient.
Soon after his resignation, he became the personal advisor of Maharaja Patiala Yadvindra Singh.
There are so many Sikhs in the Indian Armed Forces and We know no one can ever complete this list.
