Captain Amarinder Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab, celebrated his family’s old bond with the 2nd battalion of Sikh Regiment on Saturday evening at Chandimandir. Regiment’s jawans, JCOs and officers were present to mark 100 years of the Patiala family’s association with the battalion and the Indian Army.
The evening included a cultural programme, which witnessed CM Amarinder Singh cheering on the jawans. He even briefly joined them in a Bhangra performance. Captain Amarinder Singh visited the JCO’s Mess, and later joined the regiment officers and guests for dinner at the Officers mess.
The Chief Minister met with the families of the second battalion of the Sikh Regiment, known as 15 Ludhiana Sikhs, earlier. These were the emotional moments for him. He said that the Army had always been his “first love” and would always remain so. Capt said that it was a matter of pride and honour for him and his family to have served the nation as a soldier of the Indian Army.
Capt Amarinder had served in the 2nd battalion of the Sikh Regiment for Seven year from 1963 to 1969. He left for a short period in between, to take care of some family’s issues but his first love for the Army brought him back during India – Pakistan war which boke out in 1965.
Captain Amarinder’s father Lt. Gen Maharaja Yadvinder Singh served in the Sikh Regiment in 1935. He was the Colonel of the 2/11 Royal Sikhs from 1938 to 1950 and with 2nd Sikhs from 1950 to 1971.
Captain Amarinder’s grandfather, Major General Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was the colonel of the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs from 1918 to 1922 and after that he served 2/11 Royal Sikhs for 16 years, 1922 to 1938.
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh presented a silver memento to the battalion. This is a replica of a Sikh regiment soldier in full battle attire, which will be displayed in the Officers Mess.
Captain Amarinder was accompanied by his family, including his brother, Malwinder Singh, his sisters and brothers-in-law, Heminder Kaur, her husband, K. Natwar Singh and Roopinder Kaur, her husband, Major KS Dhillon from the Armoured Corps. Captain Amarinder’s son, Raninder Singh, his daughter, Jai Inder Kaur, and his grandson, Nirvan Singh was also present.
