CM Bhagwant Mann Pays Tribute to PVC Hero Flying Officer Sekhon
Synopsis
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on 17 July 2026 paid homage to Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, the only IAF recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, on his birth centenary. Sekhon was awarded the honour posthumously for defending Srinagar Airfield during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann paid tribute to Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon on 17 July 2026 , the occasion of his birth centenary.
Sekhon is the only member of the Indian Air Force ever to receive the Param Vir Chakra , India's highest wartime gallantry award.
He was awarded the honour posthumously for single-handedly defending Srinagar Airfield against Pakistani aircraft on 14 December 1971 .
Mann described Sekhon as an 'unparalleled warrior' ( adutee yodha ) and offered koti-koti pranam — countless salutations — in his memory.
Punjab has a historically high per-capita contribution to India's armed forces, giving such tributes strong political and social resonance in the state.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday, 17 July 2026 paid tribute to Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, the only Indian Air Force recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, on the occasion of his birth centenary. Mann posted his tribute on X, offering koti-koti pranam (countless salutations) to the fallen hero who sacrificed his life defending the nation.
Context
In his post, Chief Minister Mann described Flying Officer Sekhon as an adutee yodha — an 'unparalleled warrior' — who laid down his life in service of the country. The tribute, written in Punjabi, called Sekhon a Param Vir Chakra recipient and honoured his supreme sacrifice with the words koti-koti pranam, a traditional expression of deep reverence.
Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon remains one of the most celebrated military figures from Punjab. He is the sole member of the Indian Air Force ever to have been awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest wartime gallantry decoration.
Policy Backdrop
The Param Vir Chakra was instituted by the Government of India in 1950 as the nation's highest award for valour in the face of the enemy. Flying Officer Sekhon received it posthumously for his extraordinary courage during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, when he single-handedly took on a formation of Pakistani aircraft to defend the strategic Srinagar Airfield in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sekhon scrambled his Folland Gnat fighter aircraft and engaged multiple enemy jets despite being vastly outnumbered, preventing serious damage to the airfield before he was shot down. His actions on 14 December 1971 are studied as an example of individual gallantry in Indian military history.
Stakeholders and Impact
Punjab has one of the highest per-capita contributions to India's armed forces, and tributes to its military heroes carry deep political and social resonance in the state. Families of martyrs, veterans' organisations, and defence communities across Punjab regard Sekhon as a symbol of the state's martial heritage.
Public commemorations by senior political figures reinforce the connection between civilian leadership and the sacrifices of defence personnel. Chief Minister Mann's tribute reflects a broader pattern among Punjab's political class of honouring Param Vir Chakra awardees from the state on significant anniversaries.
What's Next
State-level commemorative events marking the birth centenary of Flying Officer Sekhon may follow, potentially including wreath-laying ceremonies, school and college programmes, or announcements related to memorials honouring 1971 war veterans. Vijay Diwas, observed on 16 December each year to mark India's victory in the 1971 war, typically sees renewed attention to heroes like Sekhon, and the centenary year is likely to amplify such observances across Punjab and at national defence institutions.
Point of View
Such gestures serve a dual purpose: affirming institutional respect for the armed forces while connecting with a voter base that has deep familial ties to military service. The timing also places the AAP government visibly within a broader national conversation about 1971 war veterans as the centenary year draws attention. Whether the tribute is followed by concrete state-level commemorative action will determine whether it registers as policy intent or ceremonial acknowledgment.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon?
Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon was an Indian Air Force pilot and the only IAF officer to receive the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military gallantry award. He was honoured posthumously for defending Srinagar Airfield against Pakistani aircraft during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Why is Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon famous?
Sekhon is famous for single-handedly engaging multiple Pakistani fighter jets to defend the strategic Srinagar Airfield on 14 December 1971, despite being vastly outnumbered. His extraordinary courage earned him the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously.
What is the Param Vir Chakra?
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest wartime gallantry decoration, instituted by the Government of India in 1950. It is awarded for the most conspicuous acts of bravery or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy.
Why did Bhagwant Mann pay tribute to Sekhon?
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann paid tribute to Flying Officer Sekhon on the occasion of his birth centenary on 17 July 2026, honouring his sacrifice in defending the nation during the 1971 war.
What happened at Srinagar Airfield in 1971?
On 14 December 1971, during the Indo-Pakistani War, Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon scrambled his Folland Gnat aircraft and engaged a formation of Pakistani jets that were attacking Srinagar Airfield. He prevented serious damage to the base before being shot down, and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his gallantry.
