Col SS Rajan, The Bombay Sappers

1.             Bharathvarsh is a Punya Bhoomi, a sacred land, endowed with a number of holy
rivers and Theertha Kheshtras, ie pilgrimage centres, for people of all faiths.
Bharathvarsh has been home to a number of Sages, Saints, Gurus & Tapasvins born at
different periods of time and places to guide mankind on the path of Dharma.
Guru Nana Devji
2.            One such enlightened Soul was Guru Nanak Devji, born on 15 April 1469 at
Nankana Sahib, present day Pakistan. Guru Nanak Devji preached love, brotherhood &
compassion. He believed in Oneness of the Lord Almighty and Oneness of Man and asked
his followers to eschew bigotry by shunning differences on account of caste, creed &
religion. Guru Nanak Devji was an embodiment of piety & virtue and dedicated his life for
promoting Ekta & Sadhbhavana amongst the people.
Guru Teg Bahadurji
3.          With the passing away of Guru Nanak Devji, there followed nine more Gurus of
great piety & reverence who tread the hallowed path of Guru Nanak Devji. The Mughals
had gained ascendance and the Delhi Darbar was being ruled by the despicable Auranzeb
at the time of Guru Teg Bahadurji, the ninth Guru. Aurangzeb had let loose a reign of
terror and was hell bent on converting the Hindu populace to Islam by coercion; and if that
failed, then by the sword. Unable to withstand the tyranny of Aurangzeb, the Hindus led
by the Brahmins sought refuge and protection of Guru Teg Bahadurji, the ninth Guru. This
infuriated Aurangzeb and he ordered that Guru Teg Bahadurji be brought to Delhi and be
forcibly converted to Islam.  When Guru Teg Bahadurji was chained and brought to Delhi,
he was commanded to convert to Islam, failing which he would be put to death by the
sword. And when Guru Teg Bahadurji refused to eat Beef as a token of conversion to
Islam, the pious Guru was beheaded at Delhi on 24 November 1675, at the place where Sis
Ganj Gurudwara, today stands. Not being content with beheading Guru Teg Bahadurji, the
cruel Aurangzeb had the pious followers of the Guru roasted in raging fire and fried in
cauldrons of boiling oil. So much for Islam; the religion of peace, mercy & compassion. May
Allah be praised.

4.            When Guru Teg Bahadurji was put to the sword, his son, the young Gobind Rai, only
nine years of age, queried, “Was there none to stand up to fight the Mughal zulum when
Guru Teg Bahadurji was put to the sword?” Guru Teg Bahadur sacrificed his life to protect
the Honour of the Hindus, viz. their Janeoo (sacred thread worn mainly by the Brahmins)
and their Tilak (sindoor worn by womenfolk of Hindus).
Guru Gobind Singhji
5.            Gobind Rai, son of Guru Teg Bahadurji, was formally anointed as Guru Gobind Rai,
the tenth Guru, on Baisakhi, 1676.
6.            Come Baisaki, 13 April 1699 at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. It was on the auspicious
day of Baisaki, 13 April 1699 that, Guru Gobind Rai the tenth Guru, founded the Khalsa
Panth, an Army, calling its brave soldiers as Sikhs, the Lion hearted, the sword arm of
the Hindus, to fight against Mughal Zulum (tyranny). When he asked for volunteers, the
Panj Pyaras stood up. And who were the Panj Pyaras? 1. Bhai Daya Ram 2. Bhai Dharam Dass

Bhai Mokham Chand 4. Bhai Himmat Rai 5. Bhai Sahib Chand. These Panj Pyaras after
being baptized by partaking of the sacred Amrith were christened Singhs, the Lion
Hearted. It was on Baisakhi, 13 April 1999 that Guru Gobind Rai christened himself as
Guru Gobind Singh after partaking the Amrith. He baptized ordinary Hindus by asking
them to partake the sacred Amrith and turning them into Sikhs, the Lion hearted,the
Saviours of Dharma.
Panj Pyaras
7.            Life sketch of Panj Pyaras.
(i)           Bhai Daya Singh Ji (Daya Ram) was born in Lahore (now Pakistani Punjab) in
the year 1669 A.D.. He was Khatri by Caste. He offered his head to Guru Gobind
Singh on the Baisakhi day 1699 A.D., at the age of 30 years. He remained with Guru
Gobind Singh till he left his mortal coil in Nanded in the year 1708 A.D.
(ii)         Bhai Dharam Singh Ji (Dharam Dass). He was Jat by caste and belonged to
Hastinapur (Delhi). He was born in 1666 A.D. He also passed away in Nanded in the
presence of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
(iii)       Bhai Mokham Singh Ji (Mokham Chand) He belonged to Dwarka in Surashtra
region of Gujarat. He was born in 1663 A.D. in low caste family of Chheemba
(Washermen). He sacricficed his life in battle of Chamkaur Sahib in 1704 A.D.
(iv)        Bhai Himmat Singh Ji (Himmat Rai) He was born in the year 1661 A.D. in a low
caste Jhiwar (Water bearer) family. He belonged to Jagannath Puri in Orrisa. He also
became a martyr in a battle of Chamkaur Sahib in 1704 A.D.

(v)          Bhai Sahib Singh Ji (Sahib Chand) He Was born in Bidar (Andhra) in 1662
A.D. in low caste Nai (Barber) family. He also sacrificed his life in the Battle of
Chamkaur Sahib in 1704 A.D.
8.            Thus it will be seen that the Panj Pyaras were all Hindus and were from both High
and Low caste; and they came from all parts of India. Likewise, the Indian Army too,
comprises soldiers of all castes & creeds, from all parts of India
9.            Who formed the Khalsa Panth, the Sikhs (the Lion Hearted), the sword arm of the
Hindus to fight Mughal Zulum? It was one son, mostly the eldest son of each & every Hindu
family who were baptized and christened as Sikh. It must be remembered that Sikhs are
no different from Hindus. Bharath is Punya Bhoomi in which numerous Saints & Tapaswins
have taken birth. Each Guru came at various points of time to guide mankind on the path of
Dharma; and each Guru taught or preached a way of life most conducive to betterment of
society, at that point of time. So also, Guru Nanak Devji, the first Guru and down the line
to Guru Gobind Singhji, the tenth Guru.
Are Sikhs a separate ‘Race’ or ‘Koum’?
10.         Starting from Guru Nanak Devji, the first Guru, to Guru Gobind Rai (Singh), the
tenth Guru, all of them were Hindus. Yet, to say, Sikhs are NOT Hindus, displays lack of
understanding. It is akin to saying that Soldiers of the Indian Army wearing OG uniform on
their commissioning or after their Kasam Parade are not Indians; but are a separate ‘Race’
or ‘Koum’. No soldier of the Indian Army is born donning the uniform with a weapon in hand;
but becomes a Soldier, ie. dons the Uniform and bears arms only after Commissioning or
Kasam Parade, on completion of Military training. So also, no one is born a Sikh sporting
the five Ks, ie. Kachcha, kada, Kes, Kanga & Kirpan. All Sikhs are born Hindus; and it is only
a Hindu on being baptized, ie. on partaking Amrith and on sporting the five Ks, ie. Kachcha,
kada, Kes, Kanga & Kirpan, that he is called a Sikh, the Lion hearted, the protector of the
oppressed, in other words, Saviour or upholder of Dharma.
Baptising of a Hindu Male child as a Sikh as fulfillment of Mannath.
11.          Even today, there is a custom among Hindu families, that when there is no male
progeny in the family, the family observes a Mannath or offers prayers, that in case
blessed with a male child, the child would be baptized as a Sikh and would sport the five
Ks, viz. Kachcha, Kada, Kes, Kanga & Kirpan. The Question that needs to be asked is: When
the boy’s father is a Hindu and his mother is a Hindu, just because on account of a
‘Mannath’ the young boy has been baptized as a Sikh, does that boy cease to be a Hindu
and now forms part of a different religion called Sikhism?

12. A Hindu would always remain a Hindu even when he turns a Sikh and sports the five
    Ks. Only thing is, he is guided by different set of rules or way of life. It is just like a
    Soldier on wearing the uniform, is guided by a different set of rules or a way of life,
    different from his compatriots; but in no way does he cease to be an ordinary citizen.
    Calling Sikhs a separate ‘Race’ or ‘Koum’, not in consonance with basic tenets of
    Sikhism
13. The secessionist sentiments or feelings that Sikhs are a separate ‘race’ or a
    separate ’koum’ have been fanned or accentuated by self seeking politicians adept at
    exploiting human follies & weaknesses; to the detriment of National Unity and goes against
    the very grain of Philosophy preached by Guru Nanak Devji. Oneness of God and Oneness
    of Man is the fundamental tenet of Sikhism.

ABOUT WRITER COL SS RAJAN

Col SS Rajan, born 13 Oct 1944, was commissioned in the Corps of
Engineers (The Bombay Sappers) on 30 June 1963. During the 1971 War,
he commanded 182 Engineer Construction Company (of 268 Engineer
Regiment) in Boyra-Jessore-Khulna sector in the Eastern Theatre;
culminating in the liberation of Bangladesh on 16 Dec 1971.

He was Commander 24 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) in Mizoram during the period Dec
1984-May 87; and, commanded a Training Battalion in Bombay Engineer Group & Centre,
Kirkee, Pune, thereafter. Having done Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC) in
1988-89 from the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, he was Col incharge
Administration, HQ UP Area (1989-90), Col incharge Administration, HQ Delhi Area
(1990-93) and Additional Chief Engineer & Engineer Advisor to AOC-in-C Training
Command (IAF), Bangalore (1993-96); from where he retired on 31 Oct 1996.

About 35 years after the last troops of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) stepped off Sri Lankan soil, the Army, for the first time officially paid tributes to those who had laid down their lives in the three-year operation, with Chief of Army Staff, Gen Upendra Dwivedi laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on Tuesday.

It was on November 25, 1987, that Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran of the 8th Battalion of the Mahar Regiment made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Pawan, the most significant operation undertaken by the PPKF in Sri Lanka. He was decorated with Param Vir Chakra (PVC), the highest award for gallantry and was the sole IPKF recipient of this award.

Sri Lanka was India’s first major overseas military campaign post-Independence. While it is considered to be tactically successful, albeit as a heavy human cost, the political, diplomatic and intelligence aspects continue to be debated. By the time the last Indian troops withdrew from Sri Lanka, the force had lost 1,171 troops with another about 3,500 being wounded.

Over the years, veterans have been holding private remembrance ceremonies to honour the war dead of India’s military intervention in Sri Lanka. For long, veterans have been campaigning for official recognition and commemoration of the Sri Lanka operations.

The IPKF was deployed in Sri Lanka from July 1987 to March 1990, under a bilateral accord to disarm Tamil militant groups, particularly the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and end the civil war in that country.

Initially envisioned as a quick and low intensity operation with little armed engagements, it quickly escalated into intense combat after strong resistance from militant groups, resulting in grueling battles involving jungle warfare, urban assaults and counter-insurgency operations and throwing up some hard lessons.

Operation Pawan was the code name for the IPKF campaign to take control of the Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka from the LTTE and to enforce its disarmament as a part of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord. In brutal fighting lasting about three weeks, the IPKF took control of the Jaffna Peninsula from the heavily armed LTTE, something that the Sri Lankan Army had earlier tried but failed to do.

As part of the operation, Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran of the 8th Battalion of the Mahar Regiment, was returning from a search operation in Sri Lanka, late at night on November 25, 1987, when his column was ambushed by a group of militants.

“With cool presence of mind, he encircled the militants from the rear and charged into them, taking them completely by surprise. During the hand-to-hand combat, a militant shot him in the chest. Undaunted, Major Parameswaran snatched the rifle from the militant and shot him dead. Gravely wounded, he continued to give orders and inspired his command till he breathed his last. Five militants were killed and three rifles and two rocket launchers were recovered and the ambush was cleared,” the citation for his award reads.

“Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran displayed the most conspicuous gallantry and thought nothing of dying at his post,” the citation adds. He was the only PVC recipient of the campaign. In addition over 250 decorations, including three Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award, were conferred on IPKF personnel.

Operating under the aegis of the Southern Command, the IPKF deployment peaked at around 100,000 troops involving the Army’s 4 Mountain Division, 36 Infantry Division, 54 Infantry Division and 57 Infantry Division along with para-military forces as well as Special Forces, Air Force and Navy elements.

Jaffna, Palaly, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara and Mannar were along areas in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka where the IPKF was deployed.

While Indian involvement in the Sri Lankan civil strife had been continuing at the political and diplomatic level since the tenure of Indira Gandhi as prime minister, the induction of the IPKF had been preceded by the first overt military operation, Poomalai, when five IAN An-32 transport aircraft escorted by Mirage 2000 flew over Jaffna to airdrop 25 tons of supplies in June 1987.

Operation Viraat, Operation Trishul, Operation Checkmate, Operation Main Road, Operation Tiger Hunt and Operation Thrividra are among other major anti-insurgency operations and strike missions undertaken by the IPKF in different areas. Sri Lanka was also the first combat exposure for the Navy’s newly formed Special Forces unit, the Indian Marine Special Force, now known as the Marine

Amidst a push for indigenisation and self-reliance, the Army on Thursday flagged the negligible contribution of Punjab in the country’s defence industry and urged the state government to facilitate an eco-system to encourage industries to venture into the defence domain.

Pointing out that out of the thousands of industries listed in the Army’s database, only 18 are in Punjab, the Additional Director-General, Army Design Bureau, Maj Gen CS Mann, said that the state’s share was barely 0.01 per cent in the military industry.

“A compendium of problem definition statements released by the Army contained in total about 152 problem statements. And we have received 1,327 responses to this from across the country out of which only seven came from Punjab. This includes four government institutes and one student,” he said in a virtual address at ‘Defence Dialouge: How Can North India Contribute to the Growing Military Industrial Complex in India’, organised by the Gyan Setu Think Tank in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry in Chandigarh on Thursday.

He said that in the past two years, about 116 contracts worth about Rs 1,08,000 crore have been signed by the Indian Army, out of which there is only one contract from Punjab. The ongoing research and development projects being handled by the Army Design Bureau are worth Rs 2,10,000 crore, in which Punjab has just one project valued at less than Rs 1 crore.

Stressing upon the need to move out from traditional domains and comfort zones, Maj Gen Mann said that the defence industry will procure what is required by them and not just what the industry has to offer the armed forces. “So, therefore, there may be a need to modify whatever is being done by the industry, customise it for the defence applications,” he said.

On the changing nature of warfare and the required platforms, he said that today the armed forces were looking at advanced materials along with autonomous and AI-enabled systems with multiple sensors and the ability to fuse their data for decision making and precision targeting.

Maj Gen Mann said that the industry in Punjab needs to venture out into these technology domains of these emerging technologies, which can very well be done by established industries by diversifying their existing domains.

There is also a lot of scope for startups that can also play an important role and the government has adequate funding schemes for them to venture into the defence domain. Academic institutes in Punjab need to focus on these technologies, which are dual-use technologies.

He also suggested that the Punjab Government can provide grants and financial assistance to startups, special incentives to the industry like loans, some patents, subsidised land and subsidised electricity rates.

Col RS Bhatia (retd), president of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers said that Indian industry has the competence and capability to design and develop indigenous weapon systems and the government should provide accelerators and the requisite infrastructure for its expansion. He pointed out that the average growth of the military-industrial complex in India is 18 percent, which is expected to continue.

Former Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen JP Singh (retd) stressed on greater focus and budgetary allocation for research and development and said that government policies must favour indigenisaion and procedures should be fast tracked.

The Punjab Government and state-owned defence sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are looking at manufacturing aircraft components in the state.

A three-member HAL team, including two Deputy General Managers from Bengaluru, is scheduled to arrive in Chandigarh on Friday for discussing the modalities of this venture. A prospective list of products that the HAL wants to manufacture in Punjab has been drawn up.

Besides, representatives of BrahMos, the firm that produces the supersonic precision cruise missile, are also expected to hold talks with the state government to examine the feasibility of producing weapon components in Punjab.

This was brought out at a seminar, ‘Defence dialogue: How can North India contribute to the growing military industrial complex in India’, organised by the Gyan Setu Think Tank in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry here on Thursday.

The Punjab Government is establishing a 1,200-acre industrial park in Rajpura in partnership with the Centre, which will provide 85 per cent funding for the project. About 200-250 acres in the park will be earmarked for the defence industry.

As part of its sectoral thrust on the aerospace and defence sector, Punjab is also developing drone testing infrastructure at the flying club in Patiala and establishing a Remote Pilot Training Organisation for drone operators.

Though Punjab has introduced several sops for defence manufacturers as part of its industrial development policy of 2022, the contribution of the state towards the military-industrial complex is “negligible”, as was highlighted by the Additional Director General, Army Design Bureau, Maj Gen CS Mann in his virtual address at the seminar.

He said out of the thousands of industries listed in the Army’s database, only 18 were in Punjab accounting for barely 0.01 per cent in the military industrial complex. He added that of the 1,327 responses received to the Army’s compendium of problem definition statements issued this year, only seven came from Punjab, which included four government institutes and one student.

He said in the past two years, about 116 contracts worth about Rs 1,08,000 crore have been signed by the Army, out of which only one was from Punjab. The ongoing research and development projects being handled by the Army Design Bureau are worth Rs 2,10,000 crore, in which Punjab has just one project valued at less than Rs 1 crore.

He added the industry in Punjab needs to move out of traditional domains and comfort zones and venture into emerging fields of advanced materials and autonomous and AI-enabled systems, which also require adequate support from the state government.

Col RS Bhatia (retd), president of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, said the Indian industry had the competence and capability to design and develop indigenous weapon systems and the government should provide accelerators and the requisite infrastructure for its expansion. He pointed out that the average growth of the military-industrial complex in India is 18 per cent, which is expected to continue.

Former Deputy Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen JP Singh (retd) stressed on greater focus and budgetary allocation for research and development and said government policies must favour indigenisation and procedures should be fast-tracked.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Thursday listed four distinct targets to transform the force and make it future-ready, while the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said technology would define outcome of future wars.

The two were speaking at separate sessions at the inaugural day of the two-day Chanakya Defence Dialogue in New Delhi.

General Dwivedi termed the four targets for transformation as ‘springboards’ that will drive the Indian Army’s change in the upcoming years. These four targets will be a part of the three-phased graded plan to transform till 2047.

He said the first target was self-reliance, empowerment through indigenisation. He said, “It remains our first springboard. Its results are visible in the field of defence manufacturing, space achievements and rapid absorption of military technology. Yet much more remains to be done as we deepen our self-reliant capability base.”

According to General Dwivedi, having accelerated innovations is the second ‘springboard’. “We must move on from experimentation to enterprise-scale impact at a much faster pace in the fields of AI, cyber, quantum, autonomous systems, space and advanced materials,” he said.

The third ‘springboard’ is adaptation, reforming the ecosystem. General Dwivedi said the fourth and last ‘springboard’ is the military-civil fusion. The development of warfighting capabilities is a multi-agency, multi-modal endeavour wherein the troika of academia, industry and the military must achieve deep cross-domain synergy, he added.

Talking about a three-phase plan to transform the Army, he said, “The Army has envisioned Phase-1 till 2032. It includes comprehensive framework under the decade of transformation or accelerated transition. The phase-2, which will be undertaken between 2032 and 2037, will focus on consolidated gains from phase 1. During the phase -3 from 2037 to 2047, we will graduate to the next level of integrated and future-ready force design.”

The Army Chief said ‘5-S approach — Sammaan, Samvaad, Saiyog, Samridhi and Sulaksha (respect, dialogue, cooperation, prosperity and security)’ would drive the Army’s progress.

At the same event, the Chief of Defence Staff said military affairs were witnessing a second revolution, which is about net-centric warfare. He said technology was making geography a bit irrelevant. “Technology is going to be one of the most defining factors of future war,” the CDS said.

“Besides, a number of technologies are converging together to define a war winning strategy. Integrated networks, automation, robotics and cognitive tools now shape the tempo and outcomes of combat,” the CDS said, adding how unprecedented advances in stealth, precision and long-range missiles are shaping battles.

The battlefield is now transparent as sensors read electro-optical, infrared, magnetic, seismic, acoustic and chemical signatures.

India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is on its maiden overseas deployment to Sri Lanka.

The carrier has onboard fighter jets, the MiG 29K and helicopters. The INS Vikrant, along with indigenous stealth frigate INS Udaygiri, is representing the Indian Navy at the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2025 being hosted by the Sri Lanka Navy in Colombo from November 27 to 29.

At 47,000 tonnes, the INS Vikrant is the biggest warship to be made in India. It was commissioned in September 2022.

The IFR is part of the Sri Lanka Navy’s 75^th anniversary celebrations and features participation from naval ships, delegations and observers from several countries.

The carrier and both the ships and underscore India’s commitment to strengthening regional maritime cooperation. The maiden participation of INS Vikrant for an International Fleet Review highlights India’s continued engagement with partner navies in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and reflects India’s emphasis on promoting peace, stability and security through collaboration and interoperability.

During their stay in Colombo, the ships will participate in key IFR events including the ceremonial fleet review, city parade, community outreach activities, and professional naval interactions.

As part of public outreach initiatives, the ships were opened to visitors during IFR 2025. A number of school children and Sri Lankan authorities were shown the carrier.

Security forces recover two hand grenades, a detonator, and explosive-like material

Security forces on Friday busted a hideout linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit in Pulwama district, and arrested a terrorist associate involved in supporting terrorists, police said.

In a major success against the terror network, Police in Awantipora, along with security forces, busted the hideout and arrested a terrorist associate, a police spokesman said.

The arrested terrorist associate has been actively involved in providing logistic support and facilitating transportation of arms and ammunition to JeM terrorists operating in the Tral and Awantipora areas, he said.

He further informed that, acting on a credible input regarding the presence of terrorists in the Naner Midoora area of the south Kashmir district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation there.

During the search, a terrorist associate identified as Nazir Ahmed Ganai, a resident of Ganai Mohalla Nanar, affiliated with JeM, was arrested, the spokesman said.

During sustained questioning, and on his disclosure, a terrorist hideout located in the orchards belonging to the accused was uncovered and subsequently busted, he said.

From the hideout, security forces recovered two hand grenades, a detonator, and explosive-like material, all of which were seized for further analysis. The hideout was destroyed on the spot, the spokesman added.

A case has been registered, and further investigation has been initiated, he added.

The Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025, organised by the Army in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, brought together military leaders, global strategic experts, diplomats, industry leaders and young scholars to examine India’s security challenges and technological frontiers in an increasingly contested global landscape

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India believes in peace and dialogue, but when it comes to the nation’s sovereignty and the security of its people, “we do not compromise”.

“Our armed forces are a driving force that enables India to address neighbourhood challenges while contributing to regional stability,” the minister said while speaking at the two-day Chanakya Defence Dialogue, which concluded today.

India, he said, has emerged as a voice of balance and responsibility in the current global environment. “India’s economic growth, technological capabilities and principled foreign policy have made it a voice of balance and responsibility in the changing global scenario, with countries across the Indo-Pacific and the Global South viewing us as a reliable partner,” he added.

Reforms, Singh said, have become a strategic necessity rather than a choice. “We are strengthening border and maritime infrastructure to support security and connectivity,” he added.

The armed forces were being equipped with new platforms, technologies and structures, he noted. Procurement processes were being revamped to ensure speed, transparency and accountability.

“We are investing in startups, deep-tech capabilities and R&D that will shape the battlefields of the future,” he said.

The Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025, organised by the Army in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, brought together military leaders, global strategic experts, diplomats, industry leaders and young scholars to examine India’s security challenges and technological frontiers in an increasingly contested global landscape. The two-day event aimed to create a comprehensive platform for strategic deliberation on India’s future security architecture.

Major Simratpal “Simmer” Singh, deputy commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers – Japan Engineer District (JED), was promoted to lieutenant colonel during a ceremony November 26 at District headquarters on Camp Zama.

Col Patrick Biggs, JED commander, presided over the event and administered a reaffirmation of the oath of office, reports army.mil.

Singh’s parents, Sukhbir Singh and Jasvir Kaur, pinned on their son’s new rank in front of family, friends and colleagues.

Singh reflected on his journey during remarks at the ceremony, crediting mentors, friends and Army leaders for their support throughout his career. “The Army and this Nation have given this village kid from Punjab far more than he deserves, and my hope is to be able to give even a tenth of it back,” he said.

“Good leaders throughout my career have lifted me up and helped remove barriers. This is what I hope to emulate.”

As deputy commander, Singh helps oversee a diverse portfolio of engineering missions that support the U.S.–Japan Alliance and contribute to regional stability across the Indo-Pacific. His promotion represents a significant endorsement of his leadership and ability to manage complex operations on behalf of the United States.

Over the course of more than 15 years in uniform, Singh has built a career as a combat engineer and leader in key command and staff roles. He began his service with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, where he served as an assistant brigade engineer and platoon leader. He deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, leading more than 180 combat patrols to clear routes, strengthen base defenses, and support the establishment of the first medical facility in Shah Wali Kot Province.

After returning from deployment, Singh served as brigade finance officer, preparing annual budget estimates and helping allocate $15 million for a National Training Center rotation while overseeing financial support to more than 20 enabling units.

Following the Engineer Captain’s Career Course, he joined the 249th Engineer Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. There, he helped plan and execute 23 critical national-defence power-generation missions supporting strategic facilities worldwide. He also contributed to real-world hurricane response efforts—including during Hurricanes Matthew, Harvey and Maria—and coordinated major disaster-response exercises with FEMA, USACE Headquarters and multiple state emergency agencies.

Singh later commanded the battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, managing the Army’s only industrial-scale generators deployed globally. He subsequently served as an instructor and assistant professor of economics and finance at the US Military Academy at West Point, teaching future Army officers and contributing to academic research.

A native of Kent, Washington, Singh is a 2010 graduate of the US Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in engineering management from Missouri University of Science and Technology, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Operational Studies from the US Army Command and General Staff College.

His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Service Medal, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge and Ranger Tab.

Projects announced in memory of martyrs in Himachal Pradesh have seen slow progress. Despite being one of the states with the highest representation in the armed forces, Himachal continues to lose soldiers in militancy operations in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and the North East. During Operations Parakram, Rakshak and Vijay, the state lost 85, 54 and 174 personnel respectively.

Six years after Sepoy Tilak Raj of Dhewa village in Jawali subdivision, Kangra district, was martyred in the Pulwama attack, several commitments made to his family remain pending. The government had announced the construction of a memorial gate, naming the road to his home and improving access to the cremation ground, along with renaming the village school. While his widow, Savitri Devi, received a government job and the school was renamed, the remaining assurances have not been fulfilled. The family eventually installed a statue of the martyr using their own resources.

A similar situation exists in the case of Kargil martyr Havildar Surinder Kumar of Dann village in Nurpur. His widow, Veena Devi, says that apart from renaming the local ITI in Jawali after him, other assurances made during his cremation on July 20, 1999, including an LPG agency and a memorial gate, were never realised. “When my husband laid down his life, my sons were just 11 and 8. We were promised support, but many commitments remain unaddressed,” she said.

In earlier years, under former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the government often reached out to bereaved families with financial assistance and jobs for widows. This practice, families say, has gradually declined and even the presence of elected representatives at funerals has become less frequent.

As the nation observes Kargil Vijay Diwas with pride, many martyr families in Himachal continue to wait for the honours and support they were promised, feeling that much of it remains limited to paperwork.