President felicitates 1965 war veterans

The president felicitated Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, who was chief of the IAF at that time, along with three others.

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday felicitated veterans of Indian armed forces as part of the on-going commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

In an impressive but brief function here at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the president felicitated Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, who was chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at that time, along with three others.

Arjan Singh is the only officer alive, who were honoured by the president as part of the commemoration of the 1965 war with Pakistan.

As his name was announced, the tall Arjan Singh, who is in his late 90s, walked towards the president with his back straight and saluted as Mukherjee greeted him. He then slowly moved back to his seat in the hall.

The other three, who died in the field while serving the nation were, Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Tarapore and Chaman Lal, a fireman who saved a train with lots of goods on it and several lives by detaching the burning bogies.

Their relatives received the honour from the president on the occasion.