Capt celebrates a century of family ties with Army

Chandigarh, June 23

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh tried to strengthen his family’s century-old camaraderie with the Army by joining jawans and officers of the Sikh Regiment at a formal gathering in Chandimandir on Saturday evening.

The occasion was to mark 100 years of the Patiala royal family’s association with the battalion and the Army.

The Chief Minister visited the junior commissioned officers’ mess and later joined the regiment officers and guests for dinner.

A military historian, he had served as an Army Captain during the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

Going around meeting the jawans and their families, the CM engaged freely with 2 Sikh Regiment (erstwhile 15 Ludhiana Sikhs).

It was a matter of pride and honour for him and his family to have served the nation as a soldier of the Indian Army, the CM said, adding that the Army had always been his first love and would always remain so.

Capt Amarinder served in 2 Sikh from 1963 to 1969, though he left for a short period in between to take over his family responsibilities.

His father, Lt Gen Maharaja Yadavinder Singh, served in the regiment in 1935 and was the Colonel of 2/11 Royal Sikhs from 1938 to 1950 and of 2 Sikhs between 1950 and 1971.

His grandfather, Maj Gen Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, was the Colonel of 15th Ludhiana Sikhs from 1918 to 1922 and then of 2/11 Royal Sikhs from 1922 to 1938.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister, whose book “Honour and Fidelity: India’s Military Contribution to the Great War 1914-1918” talks about the massive contribution of Indian soldiers, presented a replica of a Sikh Regiment soldier in full battle attire to the battalion.

Capt Amarinder Singh was accompanied by his family, including his brother Malwinder Singh, his sisters and brothers-in-law — Heminder Kaur, her husband K Natwar Singh and Roopinder Kaur and her husband Maj KS Dhillon from the Armoured Corps. — IANS/TNS