Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, India’s only IAF Param Vir Chakra awardee, remembered for his heroic stand during the 1971 war (Photo: Social Media)
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is among those eternal symbols of bravery that India has produced. His name crops up every time the country speaks of an act of bravery unparalleled, because he is the only officer of the Indian Air Force to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
Over five decades have passed since he died in the 1971 war, but his story has continued to inspire generations and now finds renewed focus with his portrayal in the upcoming film Border 2.
Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is an Indian Air Force fighter pilot remembered as a hero defending Srinagar's airbase during the Indo-Pak War of 1971. Outnumbered six to one, he fought until his final breath and downed enemy aircraft before being fatally hit.
Sekhon was born on 17 July 1945. He was only 26 when he lost his life in combat; thus, his courage becomes all the more striking.
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon died on 14 December 1971 in a fierce dogfight with a large number of enemy aircraft over Srinagar. Though he tried to eject, he did not survive and his remains were never recovered due to the difficult terrain.
Sekhon grew up in Isewal village in Ludhiana, Punjab, with a family whose background was steeped in service to the Air Force. His father was a Master Warrant Officer, and this was perhaps one of the earliest influences that instilled in him the desire to enter the IAF. Recognized for his discipline and concentration, he pursued flying with a lot of clarity.
He was commissioned into the Air Force in June 1967. After being posted with No. 18 Squadron, famously called “The Flying Bullets,” he flew the agile Folland Gnat. His squadron was known for quick take-offs, rapid interception and high-pressure missions.
Sekhon was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his valiant defense of the Srinagar airfield. Separated and losing visual contact with the lead aircraft, Sekhon engaged enemy Sabres all by himself, shooting down two of them in an almost impossible encounter.
His name is etched at the national war memorials and various tributes across India continue to uphold his legacy. His skill was acknowledged even by the pilot who engaged him in the final battle, further sealing his legacy in the annals of aviation history.
Various statues and memorial installations commemorate him. A decommissioned Folland Gnat stands in his honour in Ludhiana and at the Air Force Museum in Palam. A bust of Sekhon was unveiled in 2021 at his school in Isewal.
It has been chronicled in various books, episodes of TV serials and graphic novels from publishers such as Amar Chitra Katha and Roli Books. All these works keep his bravery alive among the young generation.
His character appears in Border 2, reliving the story of the 1971 war for the viewer. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh as Sekhon. The first-look poster captures him in the cockpit, reflecting the grit and calm that defined his final mission.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and aims to honour the legacy of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon accurately and respectfully.
