By IANS,
New Delhi : “The Icon”, a biography of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, was released on his 91st birthday Wednesday, even as a demand was made to confer the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, on him.
The former IAF chief had played a stellar role in India’s decisive victory in the 1965 war against Pakistan.
Walking down memory lane, Arjan Singh told the gathering: “I called my squadron ‘the number one squadron’ because whenever they fought, they fight like tigers.”
Speaking on the occasion, former foreign secretary M.K.Rasgotra said: “Wisdom may dawn upon the political fraternity and they must confer the Bharat Ratna on him”.
No Indian armed forces’ officer has thus far been conferred the Bharat Ratna. Some have, however, been conferred the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second highest civilian honour.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major released Arjan Singh’s biography.