Arjan Singh (English: Arjan Singh, born- 16 April, 1919, Punjab; died- 16 September, 2017, Delhi) was the most senior and the only Marshal of the Indian Air Force to reach the rank of five stars. He was awarded the rank of Marshal on the occasion of Republic Day in 2002. Arjan Singh is known for playing an important role in the Indo-Pakistani War in 1965. He was given the responsibility of leading the Indian Air Force at the age of 44, which he performed brilliantly. Arjan Singh, who flew more than 60 different types of aircraft, played an important role in making the Indian Air Force one of the most powerful air forces in the world and the fourth largest air force in the world.
Arjan Singh was born on 15 April 1919 in Lyallpur, Punjab (now Faisalabad, Pakistan) into a distinguished military family of British India. His father was a Risaldar. He served as ADC to a division commander. His grandfather, Risaldar Major Hukam Singh, belonged to the Cavalry between 1883 and 1917. His grandfather, Naib Risaldar Sultana Singh, was among the first two generations of the Guides Cavalry in 1854. He was martyred during the Afghan campaign of 1879. Arjan Singh was educated at Montgomery (now in Pakistan). He entered the RAF College Cranwell in 1938 and was commissioned as a pilot officer in December 1939. He then led the Indian Air Force’s No. 1 Squadron during the Arakan campaign in 1944.
The rank of Marshal is equivalent to Field Marshal, which was given only to Army officers. K.M. Cariappa and Sam Manekshaw were the two Army generals who were made Field Marshal. Arjan Singh was the first Air Force and non-Army officer to be given the rank of Marshal.
When the country became independent on August 15, 1947, Arjan Singh was given the responsibility of leading 100 Indian Air Force planes that flew over Delhi and the Red Fort.
On August 1, 1964, at the age of 45, Arjan Singh became the Chief of the Indian Air Force and was the first Air Force Chief who continued to fly aircraft and retained his flying category even while being the Chief of Air Staff.
Arjan Singh was not only a fearless pilot but also had a deep knowledge of the Air Force. In the 1965 war against Pakistan, Arjan Singh commanded the Indian Air Force and did not let the Pakistani Air Force win even though the Pakistani Air Force was better equipped due to American support.
Arjan Singh was admitted to the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital on Saturday morning. He was admitted to the hospital after suffering a heart attack.
