Legacy of valour: IMA witnesses fifth- and fourth-generation of families in uniform

As 525 newly commissioned officers took their first step out of Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun on Saturday, among them was a Lieutenant carrying forward five generations of military legacy. Two others came from families that have donned the uniform for four generations.

The passing out parade of the officers, forming the 157th Regular Course, 46th Technical Entry Scheme Course, 140th Technical Graduate Course, 55th Special Commissioned Officers Course and Territorial Army Online Entrance Exam 2023 Course, along with 34 officers from 14 friendly foreign nations, was reviewed by Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Upendra Dwivedi.

Commissioned into 20 Jat, the same unit as that of his father, Brigadier Upinder Pal Singh, Lt Sartaj Singh’s roots go back to 1897, when Sepoy Kirpal Singh of 36 Sikh took part in the Afghan campaign, setting the first stone of a lineage built on courage and sacrifice, according to information shared by IMA.

That spirit was strengthened by his great-grandfather, Subedar Ajmer Singh of 2 Field Regiment, who fought at Bir Hakeim in the Second World War and earned the rare Order of British India for gallantry. His grandfather, Brigadier Harwant Singh, added new chapters of valour in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, while his uncle, Colonel Harvinder Pal Singh, upheld the family tradition in Siachen during the 1999 Kargil war.

On the maternal side too, the story is equally inspiring — officers like Captain Harbhagat Singh, Captain Gurmel Singh (Retd.), Colonel Gursewak Singh (Retd.) and Colonel Inderjit Singh have all worn the uniform with distinction across World War I, World War II, the 1971 war and beyond.

“Growing up in such an environment, Sartaj absorbed service, discipline and patriotism not as ideas, but as a way of life. For him, commissioning is not just a personal milestone; it is the moment when a legacy becomes his responsibility. His journey reminds the youth that true honour is not inherited by name, but earned by living up to the values of those who came before — and then carrying them forward with pride, courage and humility,” a post by IMA said.

For Lt Harmanmeet Singh Reen, the heritage of olive green runs deep in his veins. The echoes of valour, pride and strength that have resonated through four generations of his family have now found a new voice in him.

His great grandfather served in the Sikh Regiment, setting the stage for a legacy that would span four generations. His grandfather joined the Signals and two of his brothers fought in the 1965 Indo-Pak war as officers of the Regiment of Artillery. One of them, Capt Ujagar Singh, was decorated with the Sena Medal for Gallantry.

Harmanmeet’s father, Col Harmeet Singh, is currently serving in the Maratha Light Infantry, the same regiment that he has joined. A Silver Medal winner at Cadet Training Wing of the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Harmanmeet has etched his name in history with outstanding academic performance, winning the Bayonet Pin and Six Star Torch. He’s also excelled in sports, earning Half Blue in Squash and Merit Card in Tennis.

His mother, Harveen Reen, an educationist with 26 years of experience, has been the pillar of strength for both Harmanmeet and his father. Her unwavering support and guidance have been instrumental in shaping Harmanmeet’s journey.

According to IMA’s information, two key moments defined Harmanmeet’s journey — as a three-year-old, he stood before Chetwode Building at IMA, dreaming of donning the olive green, and the day he met former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who prophesied his future as a soldier.

Lt Yuvraj Singh Nughaal is the fourth generation in his family to be a warrior. His commissioning signified more than the beginning of a professional journey — it was the continuation of a sacred family tradition rooted in honour, sacrifice and selfless duty.

His father was commissioned into 7 Mechanised Infantry and before him, the officer’s grandfather had served with distinction in 16 Grenadiers, a regiment celebrated for its valour and indomitable spirit. His stories of camaraderie, grit and battlefield honour became early lessons in leadership and the true meaning of command.

The lineage extended even further back to Yuvraj’s great-grandfather, who served in 7 Jat before India’s independence. That generation laid the foundation of this legacy, guided solely by duty and an unshakable sense of honour. “This commissioning was not an end but a renewal — a solemn passing of the mantle of service from one generation to the next,” IMA said.