Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon
A commemorative postage stamp on Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC, an officer of Indian Air Force, posthumously received Param Vir Chakra for his defence of Srinagar Air Base during 1971 India-Pakistan War [a part of the series ‘50 Years of the Republic of India : Gallantry Award Winners‘] :
Issued by India
Issued on Jan 28, 2000
Issued for : The Golden Jubilee of the Indian Republic provides the appropriate occasion to pay a grateful nation’s proud homage to the courageous soldiers who have won these awards through their outstanding deeds. On this occasion, the Department of Posts issues a set of 5 stamps to pay tribute to Gallantry Award Winners of the Indian Armed Forces.
Design : The issue commemorates gallantry award winners of the armed forces, on the occasion of fifty years of the Republic of India. The first day cover depicts a section of the First Republic Day procession marching towards India Gate.
Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Sankha Samantha
Cancellation : Alka Sharma
Type : First Day Cover
Colour : Multi Colour
Denomination : 300 Paise
Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.
Printing size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in Sheets 50.8 x 53.5 cms.
Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million
Number per issue sheet : 35 (7 Sets)
Printing Process : Photogravure
Printer : India Security Press, Nashik
Name : Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon
Born on Jul 17, 1943 at Ludhiana, British India [now in Punjab, India]
Died on Dec 14, 1971 at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
About :
- The Indian Armed Forces, had an entirely different role to play, after India attained Independence. They now had the sacred purpose of defending the Motherland from aggression. Immediately after independence, they were called upon to safeguard India’s frontiers against the Pakistani invaders in Jammu and Kashmir. The jawans took up the challenge and performed remarkable deeds of valour, courage, endurance and self-sacrifice in repelling and defeating the invaders. In recognition of the supreme sacrifices made by the armed forces personnel, the Government of India instituted new Gallantry Awards for them, the highest being Param Vir Chakra.
- Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon PVC is remembered for the determination and valour with which he, along with his colleagues, fought off successive waves of Pakistani air attacks in December 1971. On the 14th of December, when the enemy surprised our airfield defences and aggressively attacked, the flying officer successfully attempted a daring take-off on a runaway under attack. Fully knowing the suiciding odds, he engaged the enemy in combat at tree-top level, six to one. Though he succeeded in shooting down two enemy air crafts, the sheer weight of numbers was beyond any mortal and his air craft finally crashed, killing him. He was posthumously awarded the ‘Param Vir Chakra’ in 1972.
- Text : Based on material furnished by the Army Postal Service Corps.
