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Marshal of IAF Arjan Singh dead; nation mourns loss, pays glowing tributes (Roundup)
New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, who led the air operations in the 1965 war with Pakistan and was the nation’s oldest serving warrior in his five star rank, died here on Saturday after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 98.
Arjan Singh, the first and the only five star rank officer with the Indian Air Force, was admitted in a critical condition on Saturday to Army Hospital (R&R) after a heart attack. The end came at 7.47 p.m.
Tributes poured in for the legendary air warrior, who was a role model and an inspiration to generations of servicemen. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and several former servicemen were among those who recalled his long and distinguished service to the nation.
Modi, Sitharaman and the three service chiefs had earlier visited the Army hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where he was undergoing treatment.
Appointed Chief of Air Staff on August 1, 1964, Arjan Singh, then 45, led the Indian Air Force effectively in the 1965 war with Pakistan, leading the air operations that pushed back the enemy offensive.
That was the pinnacle of the career of a pilot, who grew up in the annals of the Air Force as the first Indian chief to lead the force into a war.
He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his astute leadership of the Air Force during the war and was conferred the rank of Marshal of the Air Force in January 2002.
In his many firsts, one was leading the fly-past of over 100 aircraft over the Red Fort on August 15, 1947 — on the morning of the day India got Independence.
Arjan Singh had flown over 60 different types of aircraft from pre-WW-II era biplanes to the more contemporary Gnats and Vampires besides transport aircraft like the Super Constellation and was the first Air Chief to keep flying even when heading the force.
After his retirement in 1969, he was appointed ambassador to Switzerland. He was Lt Governor of New Delhi from December 1989 to December 1990.
President Ram Nath Kovind, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said the late Marshal was a WW II hero and “won our nation’s gratitude for his military leadership in 1965 war”.
Modi, in his tributes, said India will never forget Arjan Singh’s “excellent leadership” in the 1965 war.
“India mourns the unfortunate demise of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh. We remember his outstanding service to the nation.”
Modi also lauded his “determined focus on capacity building” in the IAF which “added great strength to our defence capabilities”
Sonia Gandhi described Arjan Singh as an outstanding soldier and a diplomat who led from the front.
“He will be particularly remembered for his successful operation tenure on the Burma Front during World War II. He was a jewel in the throne of our Armed Forces and his extraordinary contribution to as an Air warrior would always be a source of inspiration to us.”
Sitharaman said it is very rare for any country to have a warrior of this potential and his demise was “great loss for the country”.
“He was active, was present at most public functions…He never thought he was a retired soldier. He was mentally and physically all around. Generations have seen him and that was the kind of energy that he carried with him.”
She said he took his achievements very lightly.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Defence Minister A. K. Antony, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee and several Union Mministers were among those who paid tributes to Arjan Singh.
Born in Lyallpur (now Pakistan’s Faislabad) on April 15, 1919, Arjan Singh hailed from a family where three generations before him had served the Army.
He was selected to the Empire Pilot training course at RAF Cranwell when he was 19. Promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader in 1944, he led the squadron against the Japanese during the Arakan Campaign and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1944.
Immediately after Independence, he commanded Ambala Air Force Station in the rank of Group Captain. Towards the end of the 1962 war, he was appointed as IAF’s Deputy Chief and Vice Chief in 1963, before rising to head the force.
–IANS
ps-mak/vd
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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