India’s first and only Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh died here on Saturday at the age of 98. The end came at 7.47 pm at the Research and Referral Hospital. He was admitted earlier in the day following a cardiac arrest. With his demise, the glorious era of the Air Force culminated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and three Services chiefs visited the air warrior at the hospital soon after he was admitted.
In his message soon after the demise of Singh, Modi tweeted, “India mourns the unfortunate demise of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh. We remember his outstanding service to the nation.”
President Ram Nath Kovind also condoled the demise of the war hero.
“Sad at demise of a great air warrior & Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh. Condolences to his family & IAF community. Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh was a WW II hero & won our nation's gratitude for his military leadership in 1965 war,” Kovind said in a series of tweets.
BJP president Amit Shah, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad and Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala condoled the death of Singh.
Born in 1919 in Sahiwal in Pakistan, Singh graduated from Government College, lahore and then joined the Royal Air Force(RAF) in 1938. He saw action in World War II in Burma and was awarded gallantry medal Distinguished Flying Cross(DFC) for his performance and daring against the invading Japanese forces. After India gained Independence, Arjan Singh led the fly-past on August 15, 1947.
Subsequent years in IAF saw Singh gaining operational and administrative experience at various positions and took charge as the youngest IAF chief at the age of 45 in 1964. The third IAF Chief after Independence, his leadership during the India-Pakistan war in 1965 stood out as it was the first time India used its air power.
In fact, under his directions the IAF fighter jets and bombers attacked Pakistan airbases as far as in Peshawar. Moreover, the IAF carried out daring raids in Chamb during that war thereby denying any advantage to Pakistan to launch a land or air offensive after it initiated Operation Grand Slam with an armoured thrust with tanks at the vital town of Akhnoor near Jammu.
Incidentally, when the then Defence Minister asked Singh how much time the IAF will take to get ready when Pakistan attacks, Arjan Sigh replied, “One hour.”
He retired in 1969 and was made the first and so far the only Marshal of the Air Force in 2002 in recognition of his stellar role. Marshal of the Air Force is the highest ceremonial rank like Field Marshal in the Army and is a five-star rank. The Indian Army, so far, has had two other Field Marshals KM Cariappa and SHFJ Manekshaw.
Singh used to often tell reporters that the uniform which he wore after getting commissioned still fit him years after he retired. His grip till the last few years despite old age was firm and very soldierly. However, age finally caught up with Singh last year when he had to get up with help during the annual At Home ceremony at the IAF chief’s residence on the occasion of Air Force Day on October 8. But, his mind and speech was still clear.