{"id":5802,"date":"2017-10-04T13:02:45","date_gmt":"2017-10-04T07:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.barusahib.org\/?p=5802"},"modified":"2025-01-30T13:18:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T07:48:45","slug":"major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces\/","title":{"rendered":"Major Gurdial Singh Jallanwalia &#8211; A Century of Service and a Family Legacy in the Armed Forces"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces\/#A_Legacy_of_Valor_and_Service\" >A Legacy of Valor and Service<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces\/#A_Family_Tradition_of_Military_Service\" >A Family Tradition of Military Service<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces\/#Honors_and_Recognition\" >Honors and Recognition<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces\/#Memories_from_the_Battlefield\" >Memories from the Battlefield<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces\/#Secrets_to_a_Healthy_and_Long_Life\" >Secrets to a Healthy and Long Life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces\/#A_Message_for_the_Youth\" >A Message for the Youth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces\/#Generations_of_Warriors\" >Generations of Warriors<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/major-gurdial-singh-jallanwalia-a-century-of-service-and-a-family-legacy-in-the-armed-forces\/#Carrying_the_Torch_Forward\" >Carrying the Torch Forward<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Legacy_of_Valor_and_Service\"><\/span>A Legacy of Valor and Service<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Major (Retd.) Gurdial Singh Jallanwalia, a 100-year-old war veteran and the oldest artilleryman in Punjab, has a distinguished military career spanning four wars. He was recently honored for his service, a day before the Indian Army celebrated Artillery Day.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Family_Tradition_of_Military_Service\"><\/span>A Family Tradition of Military Service<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Jallanwalia and 13 of his family members have fought in every war since World War I, making their service a testament to courage and patriotism. He served in the Indian and British armies for over three decades, dedicating his life to defending the nation.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Honors_and_Recognition\"><\/span>Honors and Recognition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In recognition of his contributions, the Director General (Artillery) presented Jallanwalia with a silver salver. Brigadier (Retd.) JS Arora, Director of the Sainik Welfare Board, Punjab, also felicitated him with a memento for his lifelong service.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Memories_from_the_Battlefield\"><\/span>Memories from the Battlefield<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Jallanwalia vividly recalls being shot in Burma during World War II while fighting the Japanese army. Despite being injured, he led his men in a counterattack, eliminating enemy soldiers hidden in the bushes. His bravery and leadership were instrumental in many battles.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Secrets_to_a_Healthy_and_Long_Life\"><\/span>Secrets to a Healthy and Long Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>At 100, Jallanwalia remains active and independent, attributing his long life to discipline, a vegetarian diet, and homegrown organic food. He enjoys traditional Punjabi meals like \u2018parantha\u2019 with butter and maintains a teetotaler lifestyle.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Message_for_the_Youth\"><\/span>A Message for the Youth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Jallanwalia emphasizes the importance of discipline and integrity in life. He actively supported the One Rank One Pension (OROP) agitation and donated \u20b91 lakh for the cause, proving that his commitment to the armed forces extends beyond his years of active service.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Generations_of_Warriors\"><\/span>Generations of Warriors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Born in 1917 to Risaldar Duleep Singh, who fought in World War I, Jallanwalia continued the family tradition of military service. After Independence, he fought in the 1948 war in Jammu &amp; Kashmir and participated in the 1962 and 1965 wars, losing his nephew Major Bhupinder Singh (Mahavir Chakra) in 1965. His nephew, Colonel Ajmer Singh, fought in the 1971 war.<\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Carrying_the_Torch_Forward\"><\/span>Carrying the Torch Forward<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>Jallanwalia\u2019s sons, Harmanderjeet Singh and Harjinderjeet Singh, served in the Indian Army and Air Force, both fighting in the Kargil War (Operation Vijay) in 1999. The legacy continues with his grandson, Colonel Gurminder Singh, currently posted in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, and his granddaughter-in-law, Lt. Col. Mandeep Kaur, serving as an Army doctor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Legacy of Valor and Service Major (Retd.) Gurdial Singh Jallanwalia, a 100-year-old war veteran and the oldest artilleryman in Punjab, has a distinguished military career spanning four wars. He was recently honored for his service, a day before the Indian Army celebrated Artillery Day. A Family Tradition of Military Service Jallanwalia and 13 of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Major-Gurdial-Singh-13-of-his-Family-Members-have-the-distinction-of-having-fought-all-wars-since-the-WWI..jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-5802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5802"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5804,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5802\/revisions\/5804"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5802"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=5802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}