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| WHAT
'S RIGHT ABOUT INDIA |
‘If IAF
people suffer, I suffer’
Former air force
chief donates Rs 2 crore to his retired staffers who have no money
Shruti Kohli
New Delhi
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Joy
of Giving: Marshal Arjan Singh with wife Teji Singh photo by
sharad saxena |
He was honoured as
Marshal of the Indian Air Force in 2002. Legendary chief of the Indian Air
Force during the 1965 war with Pakistan, the former fighter pilot last week
sold of an old property in South Delhi and donated Rs 2 crore of his hard
earned money for the welfare of retired air force staffers who are still
struggling without financial means or resources in remote parts of the country.
Arjan Singh spoke to Tehelka on his dream fulfilled and
the gift of gratitude to the force he still so deeply loves
Why did you decide to donate such a huge amount?
I have always thought that whenever I have the means to pay back something
to the Indian Air Force, I would do that. It was my life. It has given me
a lot of happiness, adventure and mental satisfaction. It gives a lot of
satisfaction when you fight in the war and achieve success. We tasted success
in the 1965 war also. I was chief of the IAF then. All these things make
you deeply attached to the IAF.
When the air force people suffer, then I suffer too. I had told myself that
whenever I have the means I would look after the retired people and their
families, their wives and children. In 1961, I bought a piece of land near
Delhi’s Mehrauli in Godaipur, where there are farmhouses and people
live in style. We grew an orchid of mangoes and berries on the land. I have
been feeling the urge to do something for the IAF people who have been suffering
with no one to share their sorrows or help them. I thought of selling the
land six months ago. I have given most of the money that I got from the
land.
So will you and your family be directly involved in the distribution
of the fund?
My family and I have no control over the money. It is the Air Force Association
which is managing it. It’s an organisation of retired people. The
president is a retired IAF chief. At the moment, it’s former air chief
Marshal Tipnis. He was the last chief. When the next chief comes in, he
will take over. The association is managed by 5-6 retired and three serving
IAF personnel. Serving people in the IAF has been included as they know
the ground conditions, they have the records. An air marshal is in-charge
of the administration. He’s also on the trust. My wife, son and me
are life trustees. But we have no overriding authority. Money was transferred
from my account to their account. I have no control over it. That money
has been invested in RBI bonds. These bonds are going to give us eight percent
interest. That means Rs 16 lakh can be given to the needy people.
The Air Force Association has its head office here in Delhi, but every state
capital has a branch and they are in touch with the people in the villages.
They will ask the people who can apply.
‘The
money has been
invested in RBI
bonds. It will give us
eight percent interest.
That means Rs 16
lakh for the needy’ |
In this material
world, people aren’t ready to part with money.
(Laughs) Well, in my case, my family, my wife Teji, and son and daughter,
agreed 100 percent. Money has created all the problems. It has given comfort,
but it has also created problems like that of the Ambanis. A lot of businessmen
in Delhi are facing similar money problems. Families are broken up. That
doesn’t apply to us because I have no business. I get my pension and
that is enough for me and by the way I don’t drink, I am a vegetarian
for the past 20 years. It goes for the family too. I have always shunned
hard drinks.
The fund has given a lot of satisfaction to my family. We are trying to
help people. They are our colleagues, our associates. This amount is not
very large but it will help around 50 people in a year. The trust will give
a maximum grant of Rs 50,000 at a time. I think that soon other air force
people will also spare some money for their colleagues. It need not be for
this fund, they can surely help in their own way.
What would you say about reports of corruption in the armed
forces?
The armed forces is an epitome of discipline. The armed forces will always
maintain a good standard. There are good people there. Occasional mishaps
are bound to happen. Perhaps, there are personal temptations. It may really
be weakness of character, but that applies to the society as a whole.
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January
01, 2005
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