Arunachal: 'Honorary Colonel' conferred to J J Singh

Itanagar, Oct 25: The Indian Army has conferred the title of 'Honorary Colonel' of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment for life time on Arunachal Pradesh Governor General (Retd) J J Singh. ''It was a rare gesture and honour to the governor who served the nation as a soldier for 43 long years in the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment,'' Raj Bhawan sources informed on Saturday, Oct 24.

The parchment ceremony was conducted on Wednesday, Oct 22 at a glittering function at Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre, Belgaum, in the presence of all senior commanders of the regiment, including Air Marshal T S Randhawa, Commandant of National Defence Academy sources disclosed.

General Singh is the only officer from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment to rise to the rank of Chief of Army Staff and also to become governor of a state.

In an emotionally charged speech, Gen Singh gave full credit for his success to the brave Maratha soldier. He remembered his first day at Belgaum centre in 1964.

All senior officers remembered the day when Gen Singh, as a young captain, received the regimental flag from the then president of India, Late Dr Zakir Hussain.

The governor also appealed to the new recruits to devote their life for the cause of the nation, the sources added.

UNI