Arjan Singh Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Full Name: Arjan Singh

Profession: Marshal of Indian Air Force

Date of Birth: 15 April 1919

Age (at the time of death): 98 Years

Zodiac sign/Sun sign: Aries

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Montgomery, British India (now Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan)

Religion: Sikhism

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EDUCATION

School: Not Known

College/university: Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Lincolnshire

Educational Qualification: Trained Pilot

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): in centimeters – 170 cm in meters – 1.70 m in feet inches – 5’ 7”

Weight (approx.): in kilograms – 70 kg in pounds – 154 lbs

Eye Colour: Black

Hair Colour: White

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Family: Father – Kishan Singh (Army Officer) Mother – Name Not Known Brother – Not Known Sister – Not Known

Marital Status: Widower when died

Wife/Spouse: Late Teji Arjan Singh

Children: Son – Arvind Singh (Professor in the United States) Daughter – Asha Singh (Lives in Europe)

OTHER INFORMATION

Place of Birth: Lyallpur, Punjab, British India (now Faisalabad, Pakistan)

Date of Death: 16 September 2017

Place of Death: Army’s Research and Referral Hospital, Delhi

Death Cause: Cardiac Arrest

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Arjan Singh was born into a lineage steeped in military tradition, with his great-grandfather, Sultan Singh, being one of the earliest members of the Guides Cavalry, enlisted in 1854. Tragically, Sultan was martyred during the Afghan campaign in 1879. Following in this proud heritage, Arjan’s grandfather, Hukam Singh, served as a Risaldar Major in the same cavalry unit between 1883 and 1917. By the time Arjan entered the world, his father had already established a military career as a Lance Daffadar in Hodson’s Horse, a cavalry regiment of the Indian Army. This rich familial connection to the defense sector undoubtedly laid the groundwork for Arjan’s illustrious career in aviation.

In 1938, Arjan’s ambition found him at the Royal Airforce College, where he honed his skills before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer in late 1939. His valor was soon put to the test during the Arakan Campaign in 1944, where he led No.1 Squadron, affectionately known as “The Tigers,” of the Indian Air Force. For his extraordinary efforts during this campaign, Arjan was bestowed with the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), a high military honor awarded by the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force. However, his career wasn’t without its challenges; in 1945, he faced the possibility of a court-martial due to an incident involving a trainee pilot, where he defended his encouragement of bold maneuvers as essential training for future fighter pilots.

By 1947, Arjan had risen through the ranks to become a Wing Commander in the Royal Indian Air Force, taking command at the Air Force Station in Ambala. His leadership skills were further recognized when, on January 2, 1955, he was appointed Air Commodore of Western Air Command in Delhi. His ascent continued, and from August 1964 to July 1969, he served as Chief of Air Staff, ultimately gaining the rank of Air Chief Marshal due to his exemplary contributions to the Indo-Pak war of 1965. In 1965, the Indian government honored him with the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award, acknowledging his significant service to the nation.

After retiring from military service in 1970, Arjan Singh transitioned into diplomacy, becoming the Indian ambassador to Switzerland and concurrently serving as ambassador to the Vatican. His commitment to public service extended further when he was appointed High Commissioner to Kenya in 1974. Between 1975 and 1981, he contributed to the National Commission of Minorities and also held the position of Lieutenant Governor of Delhi from December 1989 to December 1990. In recognition of his unparalleled service, Arjan was honored with the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force in 2002, making him the only officer in the Indian Air Force to reach this five-star rank. Even in his later years, as he struggled with health issues, he demonstrated his enduring respect for fellow military leaders, offering his final tributes to A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in July 2015. To commemorate his lasting legacy, the Indian Air Force announced in April 2016 that a station in West Bengal would bear his name, ensuring that Arjan Singh’s influence would not be forgotten.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.