Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon: Indian Air Force Hero PDF

नभ: स्पृशं दीप्तम् Touch the sky with glory. This phrase taken from the 11th chapter of the Srimad Bhagvat Gita forms the motto of the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force aims to overwhelm their adversaries with application of aerospace power in defence of our Motherland....

नभ: स्पृशं दीप्तम् Touch the sky with glory. This phrase taken from the 11th chapter of the Srimad Bhagvat Gita forms the motto of the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force aims to overwhelm their adversaries with application of aerospace power in defence of our Motherland. Spreading their wings wide , soaring to greater heights and redefining their limits , they reflect this divine lesson in all their deeds. ON 14TH DECEMBER,1971,IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE , A YOUNG FLYING OFFICER ALL OF 28 YEARS , SHOWED EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY WHICH ILLUMINATED THE DARKEST OF TIMES. TODAY I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A BRAVEHEART FLYING OFFICER NIRMALJIT SINGH SEKHON -THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE INDIAN AIR FORCE TO BE HONOURED WITH THE PARAM VIR CHAKRA. Born on July 17, 1943 TO MASTER WARRANT OFFICER Tarlok Singh Sekhon, and Smt Harbans Kaur, in Ludhiana, Punjab, Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon grew up amidst simplicity and humility.His father retired as a Flight Lieutenant in the Indian Air Force. His early years were marked by a passion for adventure and a strong sense of duty towards his nation. Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon's upbringing shaped his values of courage and patriotism, which later defined his actions in combat. HE STUDIED IN KHALSA HIGH SCHOOL AND LATER JOINED DAYALBAGH ENGINEERING COLLEGE IN AGRA IN 1962 HOWEVER,HE LEFT THE COURSE MID WAY TO JOIN THE INDIAN AIR FORCE. DRIVEN BY A DESIRE TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY, HE WAS COMMISIONED INTO THE IAF ON 4TH JUNE 1967 AS A FIGHTER PILOT. NIRMALJIT’S TRAINING AND EARLY CAREER ILLUSTRATE HIS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND READINESS FOR THE CHALLENGES AHEAD HIS FRIENDS FROM THE IAF DESCRIBE HIM AS A GEM OF A PERSON , WITH TREMENDOUS GRIT AND DETERMINATION. NOT ONLY WAS HE A TOPPER OF HIS COURSE. , BUT ONE WHO WOULD GO ALL OUT TO HELP ANYONE IN NEED. SUCH WAS HIS REPUTATION. SEKHON RIGOROUSLY TRAINED WITH THE IAF TILL HE FOUND HIMSELF AT THE FOREFRONT OF ONE OF THE FIERCEST BATTLES IN THE HISTORY OF AVIATION : THE 1971 INDO-PAKISTAN WAR IN NOVEMBER THAT YEAR WHEN SEKHON HAD COME HOME ON LEAVE , HIS FAMILY MEMBERS SAW AN UNUSUAL DETERMINATION AND AURA ABOUT HIM. HE KEPT SAYING ACCORDING TO HIS SISTER, THAT IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO DO SOMETHING WORTHY FOR HIS COUNTRY. WHEN HIS MOTHER TOLD HIM TO BE CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS, HE MERELY BRUSHED AWAY HER CONCERNS, FOR, HE USED TO SAY”EVEN IF I DIE, IT WIILL BE OTHERS AND NOT I , WHO WOULD CRY” AND SURE ENOUGH, EXACTLY AFTER A MONTH,THE FAMILY RECIEVED THE MUCH DREADED TELEGRAM  As the war began on December 3, 1971, the risk of attacks on important defense targets increased. Srinagar airbase was very important for the security of the border with Pakistan. There was a nagging apprehension of an attack which proved to be true. Nirmaljit Singh was stationed at the Srinagar Air Base. He was with the 18 squadron also known as THE FLYING BULLETS THE 18 SQUADRON ALSO KNOWN AS THE FLYING BULLETES IS AN AIR DEFENCE UNIT OF THE INDIAN AIR FORCE BASED OUT OF SULUR AIR FORCE STATION IN TAMIL NADU. IT WAS FORMED ON 15TH APRIL 1965, HAVING THE MOTTO - THEEVRA AUR NIRBHAYA(FAST AND FEARLESS). WHEN ESTD IT HAD 5 FOLLAND GNAT FIGHTER AIRCRAFTS AND 11 FIGHTER PILOTS , IT OPERATED OUT OF THE SRINAGAR AIR FORCE STATION.THE COMMAND OF THE SQUADRON FLYING BULLETS WAS IN THE HANDS OF FLYING LIEUTENANT B.S GHUMMAN. NIRMALJIT WAS FLYING THE ‘GNAT’ OVER WHICH HE HAD ABSOLUTE MASTERY.THE STRENGTH OF THIS SUBSONIC JET LAY IN ITS SMALL SIZE , LOW WEIGHT AND HIGH MANOEURABILITY. THE SQUADRON FIRST SAW ACTION DURING THE 1971 INDO- PAKISTAN WAR AND WAS ENTRUSTED WITH THE TASK OF DEFENDING THE KASHMIR VALLEY. ON 7TH DECEMBER FLYING OFFICER NIRMALJIT SINGH SEKHON ALONG WITH FLIGHT LIEUTENANT BOPAYA SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT A RAID IN THE POONCH SECTOR OF THE KASHMIR VALLEY. ON 14TH DECEMBER , NO PATROLS WERE HAD TAKEN PLACE DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. PROBABLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS THE ENEMY SABRES LOOMED OVER THE HORIZON AND FLIGHT LIETENANT GHUMMAN AND AND SEKHON WERE AIRBORNE IN TWO MINUTES WITHOUT ANY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCE. SIX PAKISTANI SABRES HAD ATTACKED THE SRINAGAR AIRFIELD WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT. THE SABRES MANAGED TO BOMB THE RUNWAY AND TURNED BACK.  BOMBS WERE FALLING FROM EVERYWHERE, THE DANGER WAS PHENOMENAL. SEKHON SINGLE-HANDEDLY FACED SIX ENEMY FIGHTER PLANES AND DROVE THEM AWAY. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR FLYING OFFICER SEKHON , THE RESULT OF THIS WAR WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTATALLY DIFFERENT.LET US GET MORE INFORMATION OF THIS BATTLE. SEKHON CHASED THEM RELENTLESSLY,AND IN THE PROCESS THE HE MOVED OUT OF THE VISUALS OF GHUMMAN AND THE GROUND CONTROL. THE SABRES WERE RENOWNED FOR THEIR DOG FIGHTING PROWESS. SEKHON targeted one enemy aircraft and set the other one on fire.The entire airfield was filled with smoke and dust It was difficult to see far. but sure enough the enemy's first sabre jet felL PREY. The flight commander squadron leader Pathania saw that two airplanes were ready for an encounter. Then the voice of Nirmaljit Singh was heard from the radio communication system- 'I'M BEHIND TWO SABER JETS... I WON'T LET THEM GO...' A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE SOUND OF INVASION FROM THE GNAT ECHOED IN THE SKY. A SABER JET WAS SEEN BURNING IN A BURST OF FLAME. THEN NIRMALJIT SINGH SEKHON BROADCASTED HIS MESSAGE: I AM ON MATCH. I AM ENJOYING.THERE ARE TWO ENEMY JETS AROUND ME. I AM FOLLOWING ONE, THE OTHER IS WALKING WITH ME. EVEN THOUGH ALONE, FLYING OFFICER SEKHON ENGAGED THE ENEMY IN AN UNEQUAL COMBAT. BY THEN THE REMAINING PAKISTANI JETS HAD ARRIVED TO HELP. NOW ONE WAS COMPETING AGAINST FOUR. DESPITE BEING SURROUNDED IN AN AMBUSH,AND BEING VASTLY OUTNUMBERED , FLYING OFFICER NIRMALJIT SINGH SEKHON KEPT THE FOUR ENGAGED. THEY WERE REPEATEDLY FAILING AND WERE UNABLE TO TARGET SEKHON'S AIRCRAFT. WHEN SEKHON'S JET WAS HIT ONCE, SQUADRON LEADER VIRENDRA SINGH PATHANIA, HANDLING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, ADVISED HIM TO RETURN TO THE BASE BUT SEKHON CONTINUED TO REPEL THE ENEMY. FLYING OFFICER NIRMAL JIT SINGH SEKHON’S JET CRASHED. SEEING THIS THE PAKISTANI’S RETREATED.SEKHON TRIED TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT AT THE LAST MOMENT BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL, HIS CANOPY WAS SEEN FLYING OFF. HE WAS FINALLY OVERCOME AND SHOT DOWN.HE BREATHED HIS LAST IN THE DEBRIS OF THE FALLING GNAT AND DIED A HEROES DEATH. Even the surviving Pakistani Air Force officers were surprised by the magic shown by Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon in the sky that day. Wing Commander Salim Baig Mirza of Pakistan Air Force ,the man fated to bring down Nirmaljit has saluted his bravery. He has given complete details of the war in an article. He also writes that the pilot had informed the base that his plane had been hit but he continued defending his motherland. Flying Officer Sekhon’s unwavering courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds serve as a shining example of bravery for aspiring military personnel. His willingness to confront danger head-on, despite being outnumbered and outgunned, exemplifies the spirit of selflessness and service to the nation. His unassailable commitment to duty, even at the cost of his own life, serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces for the security and integrity of the nation. Flying Officer Sekhon’s legacy continues to inspire and motivate individuals to uphold the highest ideals of valour, bravery and sacrifice.For his indomitable spirit and priceless balidaan Flying officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon was awarded the highest military honour and the Young Air Force Officer became the first and only officer of the Indian Air Force till date ,to be awarded the PARAM VIR CHAKRA.The PVC awarded posthomously was received by his widow Mrs. Manjit Kaur from the then President of India, Sh. V.V. Giri. On September 22, 1972. No. 18 squadron is the only unit of he Indian Air Force to have been awarded the esteemed Param Vir Chakra , all because of one brave officer who refused to give up though the odds were against him.  OUR LORD SRI AUROBINDO SAYS:- HAPPY IS HE, FOR HIS MOTHER HAS ACCEPTED HIS SERVICE AND GIVEN IT THE HIGHEST REWARD FOR WHICH A PATRIOT CAN HOPE, THE PRIVILEGE OF NOT MERELY SERVING BUT SUFFERING FOR HER. WHEN INDIA RAISES STATUES TO THE HEROES AND MARTYRS OF HER EMANCIPATION, IT WILL INSCRIBE ON HIS THE SIMPLE AND EARNEST PHRASE WHICH REMAINS BEHIND TO US AS HIS MODEST BOAST AND HIS SUFFICIENT MESSAGE. * NIRMAL JIT SINGH SEKHON: "I HAVE NO REGRETS. I AM JUST DOING MY DUTY AS A SOLDIER." WITH UTMOST REVERANCE AND HEARTFELT GRATITUDE,I SALUTE THE BRAVE HEART AND THE MANY OTHERS WHO SACRIFICED THEIR TODAY SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER TOMORROW. JAI HIND