New Delhi: Honouring his legacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday released a stamp on first and only “five star” rank officer Marshal of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) here.
“This year we mark the birth centenary of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh DFC. As a tribute to his exemplary service to our nation, a stamp was released. May his courage keep motivating the people of our nation for years to come,” Mr Modi said in a tweet.
He also visited at an Indian Air Force (IAF) exhibition on self reliance through innovation and indigenisation at Air Force House here.
Mr Modi was at IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria’s residence to attend the 87th Indian Air Force Day At Home event here. The prime minister stayed there for about an hour and met senior defence officials, dignitaries from foreign nations among others.
On the occasion, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Vice Chief of Indian Army Lt Gen MN Naravane we’re present.
The At Home event was supposed to take place on October 8 —- the IAF raising day but due to Dusherra it was postponed by a day.
Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh was the senior most officer who served at various Key positions, namely; IAF Chief from 1964 to 1969.
For his distinguished service in commanding the IAF during the Indo-Pak war of 1965, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan and in 1966 became the first IAF officer to be promoted to Air Chief Marshal.
After retiring from the IAF, he served as a diplomat, politician and advisor to the government. He was LG of Delhi from 1989 to 1990.
In 2002, he became the first and only officer of the IAF to be promoted to five-star rank as Marshal of the Indian Air Force, equal to the army rank of Field Marshal.
