People
General Bikram Singh:
The New Indian Army Chief
RAVI KRISHNAN KHAJURIA
General Bikram Singh has taken over as the 25th Chief of the Army Staff
Youngest among six siblings, Bikram Singh, affably called “Bikki” by his friends, spent his early childhood in the Exchange Road area of the old city in Jammu in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
“The only son of his parents, he was very sharp in studies and see what he did today. He has become Chief of the Indian Army,” recalled an old woman, who now lives in the same decrepit house where General Bikram Singh once lived with his five sisters and parents.
He, however, was sent to Nabha, Punjab, for his schooling, she added.
One of his sisters, Balbir Kaur, is married to a police officer, and live in Trikuta Nagar.
Son of Sardar Piara Singh and Sardarni Jeet Kaur, his family has lived in Jammu for nearly 20 years.
The General’s brother-in-law, I.P.S. Bali (retired Superintendent of Police) said, “I feel on top of the world today. He (General Bikram Singh) has scaled the pinnacle of success. I really feel happy and I think every Jammuite should take pride in his remarkable feat.”
By sheer dedication and hard work, the Army Chief has made it to the top, said Bali.
Bikram Singh did his schooling at Punjab Public School, Nabha, before joining the Army. His father was a surveyor by profession.
Dalbir Singh, a retired engineer, who lives in the Exchange Road area, recalled his brief rendezvous with General Bikram Singh. “I had an inkling that he will carve out a niche for himself,” he said.
[Courtesy: Tribune. Edited for sikhchic.com]
June 1, 2012
Conversation about this article
1: Paramjit Singh Grewal (Auckland, New Zealand), June 01, 2012, 5:38 PM.
Congratulations to General Bikram Singh on his appointment.
2: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), June 01, 2012, 5:48 PM.
Sikh generals are a product of the 'Saint-Warrior' ideology and are the best in their field because they follow in the footsteps of the great Sikh General Hari Singh ... the only one ever to defeat the Afghans!
3: Balbir Singh (Montreal, Ontario, Canada.), June 01, 2012, 9:32 PM.
Wish you all the best, Gen. Bikram Singh .. from one who shares your birth-place.
4: Capt.. Amarinder Singh Brar (Chandigarh, Punjab), June 02, 2012, 6:40 AM.
He is the 27th COAS and the 25th Indian as a COAS.
5: Narinder Singh (England), June 02, 2012, 7:37 AM.
Congratulations, General sahib. We are proud of you. Hope you will help clear the bad air which now clouds over India's armed forces.
6: Tajinder Singh Chhabda (Aurangabad, India), June 02, 2012, 3:49 PM.
We are proud of you, veer. May waheguru bless you with a long, brave, fruitful life.
7: Harinder Singh 1469 (New Delhi, India), June 03, 2012, 3:09 PM.
He's got the right expressions - charm - smile - air of responsibility - good body language - and surely does good bhangra too. Look forward to hear him speak publicly soon. He mentioned the word 'modernization' in a press release; hope he succeeds to pull the forces out of the doldrums.
8: P.S. Gill (Chandigarh, Punjab), June 04, 2012, 10:52 AM.
It's a matter of pride and honour for all of us Nabha-ites to see our seniors scale pinnacles of glory. Congratulations, General, for living up to the school motto, "Onwards and Upwards."
9: Jasbir Singh (Chino Hills, California, USA), January 23, 2013, 7:01 PM.
It is a matter of pride for all Sikhs in India and throughout world. He seems to be a smart and intelligent man. May God bless him.
10: Raghav (Jammu, J & K), December 17, 2013, 12:20 AM.
We all Jammuites are proud of this great Sikh general.
11: Preeti Yadav (Pune, India), March 07, 2014, 5:36 AM.
Gen Bikram Singh ji ... Hamesha Waheguru ji di kirpa rahe aap ji tey.
12: Bachan Nagiyal (Jammu, J & K), July 30, 2014, 8:35 AM.
We all feel proud of General Sahib, especially we Jammu-ites. May Waheguru bless you and give you a happy retired life.