Farewell to IAF Marshal Arjan Singh with state funeral
What's the story
The funeral of Arjan Singh, the only officer to hold the title of Marshal of the Indian Air Force, is being held in Delhi this morning. Top dignitaries including PM Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and the three service chiefs have visited his 7, Kautilya Marg residence since he passed away on 16th Sep. The IAF patriarch is being accorded a state funeral.
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Watch the last rites ceremony live
#WATCH Live: Last rites ceremony of Marshal of Air Force #ArjanSingh at Delhi's Brar Square. https://t.co/oBXshXJDsJ
— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2017
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A look at Arjan Singh's prolific journey
Singh was the longest-serving IAF chief (1964-1969) and the only person to be conferred the title Marshal of Air Force. He fought the Japanese forces in Burma as a pilot officer in the British-Indian forces during WWII. Singh was also IAF chief during the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Post retirement, he served as ambassador to Kenya and Switzerland and as the Delhi LG.
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What's been planned for his funeral?
Singh's mortal remains left his house in a gun carriage. At 9:30am at Brar Square, he was given a state funeral. If weather permits, there will be a flypast of military aircraft. The tricolor will fly at half-mast at all government buildings in Delhi.
Tributes
Top luminaries pay their last respect to the Marshal
A rush of tributes poured in. "What he's left behind is something everyone who aspires to be in the armed forces will try to emulate," said Col VN Thapar. "The world (doesn't) produce legends like him anymore," said Lt. Gen. (retd.) BS Jaswal. At the venue, former PM Manmohan Singh and Chief of Naval staff Sunil Lanba were among the many to pay respects.
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Modi writes in condolence book at Singh's residence
PM @narendramodi wrote for Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh in the condolence book at the latter's residence pic.twitter.com/hTS2d68Gvw
— Aviator Anil Chopra (@Chopsyturvey) September 18, 2017