Principal and Staff of DEI Technical College Visit IAF Heritage Centre on 17 July 2024

New Delhi: Last year the D.E.I. Technical College, Dayalbagh, had celebrated the 78^th birth anniversary of its most distinguished student, Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC with great fervour and enthusiasm in the college. This year the college planned to present a Citation on Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC to the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre, Chandigarh on the occasion of his 79^th birth anniversary. Permission had been duly taken from the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari.

The Principal Shri Vijay Prakash Malhotra accompanied by Shri Majer Singh, Officiating Head of the Automobile Department, Shri Mayank Agrawal, Lecturer Mechanical Engineering, and Captain Manish Kumar, ANO, 7/1 Coy, 1 UP Bn, NCC, Agra reached the Air Force Station Chandigarh on 16 July itself. Arrangements for their stay had been made in the Officer’s Mess at Air Force Station, Chandigarh.

On 17^th morning, first the team was taken around the Air Force Station and shown various transport aircraft of the Air Force. They then gathered in the office of the AOC Air Commodore K S Lamba, VM.

Here, the Principal first gave a presentation in which he described the foundation of Dayalbagh and education in Dayalbagh, the establishment of the Technical School in 1927, its merger into the Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed to be University) and so on. He stated that the college had produced very good engineers and technocrats who were holding high positions in government and industry. He then said that the most distinguished alumnus of the college was Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC whose 78^th birth anniversary they had celebrated last year on 17 July 2023. He explained how they came to know about Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC being a student of Technical College.

Actually, last year the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre, Chandigarh was opened on 8^th  May 2023. One of his friends, Mr Vinod Pathak along with his wife, Mrs Anita Pathak had visited the Center and there his wife saw the college blazer of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC which was displayed. This was reported to the Principal and everybody was filled with joy and emotion.

Thus they came to know about the distinguished alumnus of their college. Be it known that 21 Param Vir Chakras have been given till date and Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC is the lone recipient from the Indian Air Force to receive the Param Vir Chakra. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC was given the Param Vir Chakra for displaying sublime heroism, supreme gallantry, flying skill, and determination, above and beyond the call of duty in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 when he single-handedly, in his Gnat aircraft, fought with 6 Pakistani Air Force Sabre jets and was killed in action. The highlights of the function held on 17 July 2023 to celebrate the 78^th birth anniversary of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC was also shown.

The team and officers then moved to the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre. Here, the Principal read the Citation on Flying Officer Nirmal jit Singh Sekhon PVC and then presented it to the Air Commodore K S Lamba VM. At the end, mementos were presented to the Air Commodore K S Lamba VM and Mr Pradhuman Singh, Director Tourism, Chandigarh.

The function refreshed memories of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon in everybody’s mind and filled everybody’s heart with respect and admiration for the brave heart. Jai Hind!