MIAF Arjan Singh takes last flight

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18

A solemn military ceremony marked the final rites of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh at Delhi Cantonment this morning.

His son Arvind Singh, who flew in from the US, lit the funeral pyre amidst an “ardas” recited by a Sikh priest. Family members of the IAF patriarch, members of the civil society and politicians were present at the cremation.

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Minutes before the final rites, a 17-gun salute was accorded to the veteran officer. It was followed by a fly-past by three Mi17 V5 helicopters. Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets gave the final salute in what is called “missing man formation” for Marshal Arjan Singh’s “final flight”. The “missing man formation” flying is marked to signify the loss of a fallen comrade. It is reserved as a high honour in the IAF.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Deputy  Prime Minister LK Advani, Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri were among the mourners who paid their respects. A wreath was laid on the mortal remains by IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa.

President Ram Nath Kovind had yesterday led the nation in paying tributes by visiting the home of the Marshal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also met his family members.

The Marshal was accorded a state funeral and the National Flag flew at half-mast in New Delhi on Monday.

The rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force is equal to a Field Marshal of the Indian Army. The Marshal had died on Saturday.

Earlier, the mortal remains were carried in a gun carriage procession that started from his residence at 8.15 am. As the funeral pyre was lit, the tri-services guard ‘lowered arms’ — holding the rifle close to the left side of the chest while standing in a static position. In July 2008, then Defence Minister AK Antony and the three Service Chiefs had not attended the state funeral of Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, and had faced a barrage of criticism.

On the Republic Day in 2002, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had elevated Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh to the five-star rank. He is the first and the only Air Force officer to have been decorated with the five-star rank. He is also the third military officer, after former Army Chiefs SHFJ Manekshaw and KM Cariappa, to hold that rank.

Last year, the Panagarh Air Force station in West Bengal was renamed Air Force Station Arjan Singh after the veteran officer.