It was a poignant moment when the Marshal rose from his wheelchair using a walking stick to walk slowly to lay a wreath at the coffin carrying the mortal remains of former President APJ Abdul Kalam and the smart salute thereafter, will remain etched on the mind of the entire nation
Air Marshal (Retd) PK Roy
It is hard to write a tribute to a legend whom you worshipped and tried to emulate during your entire service career. I am at a loss for words on how to articulate coherently this role model of Indian Air Force.
News of the passing away of first and legendary Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh on September 16 was received with grief not only by his family and the Indian Air Force but by the entire nation. He was admitted to the Research and Referral Hospital, New Delhi following a cardiac arrest, and breathed his last soon after. He was 98.
I first met him as the Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, New Delhi in 2005 and came to know that he was much more than just being a soldier. 
My charter of duties included providing administrative services to the Marshal. Very few people outside the Air Force know that he also turned into a philanthropist by establishing the “Marshal of the Air Force & Mrs. Arjan Singh Trust” in 2004 with his own money, obtained through the sale of own ancestral landed property. The trust provides grants/assistance for rehabilitation to the wards of service personnel particularly those who are in dire need. It is said that the land that he sold was the last piece of land he was left with. As the Ex-officio Trustee, the author is witness to his generosity and concern for his fellow personnel.
The Legacy
This is the legacy that he leaves behind. In his life, he inspired at least three generations of personnel in the Indian Air Force. He was also a household name in the in the entire country. In his passing away India has lost a great leader—a hero for the Indian Air Force as well as for the nation. A true gentleman with a generous heart, he will remain a legendary figure in the annals of Indian Military history.
Never before has an armed forces man received as much love and affection as Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh did in his life. The Government of India also honoured him with a state funeral and a 17- gun salute that he truly deserved. The IAF’s Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft in the ‘Missing Man’ formation along with the Mi-17V5 choppers in “insignia” formation made the fly past and paid their last respects to the Military Legend.
The ‘Missing Man’ formation is an aircraft maneuver used to honour the dead or missing. It consists of a flypast performed over a fellow pilot’s funeral. In very basic terms, one of the types of ‘Missing Man’ formation four aircrafts flying in a V-shaped formation, approach the designated area and as the V passes overhead, one pilot sharply peels away into the sun, sometimes trailing a cloud of smoke.
The national flag was flown at half-mast at all government buildings in Delhi in his honour. The President and Prime Minister of India led the entire nation in paying tribute to the ‘icon.’ Defence Minister, Union Finance Minister, MoS for External Affairs and former Army Chief General V K Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, Chief of Naval staff, Chief of the Army Staff and political leaders form various parties including LK Advani, A K Antony, Karan Singh and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former service chiefs, relatives, and friends were also present.
Winner of a Distinguished Flying Cross in World War II, youngest Chief of the Air Staff at the age of 45 years and leader par excellence, Arjan Singh was the hero in every sense. As the youngest Chief of Air Staff, he played a pivotal role in leading the Indian Air Force in the 1965 Indo-Pak war and saved the day for the nation. The intervention by the Indian Air Force at an anxious point in the war was mainly responsible for tilting the balance in favour of India. The Indian Gnats proved very successful against the Pakistani F-86 Sabres, earning the nickname “Sabre Slayer”. The Marshal was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his leadership during the 1965 war.
The Distinction
He has the distinction of flying over 60 types of aircraft during his career. On August 15, 1947, he was given the rare honour of leading 100 aircraft fly-past over the Red Fort in New Delhi. He also distinguished himself in various diplomatic and administrative assignments that he held after his retirement in 1969. He served as the Ambassador to Switzerland and Vatican (concurrently) and as the High Commissioner to Kenya. Thereafter he served as a member of the National Commission for Minorities and Lt. Governor of Delhi. The poignant moment of the aged Marshal was rising out of his wheelchair and using a walking stick to slowly walk to lay wreath of flowers at the coffin carrying the mortal remains of former President APJ Abdul Kalam and the smart salute thereafter will remain etched in the mind of the entire nation.
(The writer is a PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM and a Member Council, USI )
