Editor’s Note

I doubt if there is a more daunting challenge for a soldier than to take off on a fighter aircraft to bomb and destroy an airfield in a well defended air force station in the enemy territory. Only those who have seen the pilots ‘scramble’ and then take off at an interval of a few seconds to join the formation can appreciate the skill required and the precision needed for the mission. It needs supreme physical fitness and psycho-motor coordination to perform this act. The slightest error can lead to a disaster, and the price to pay is life! When you reach the target and get into the ‘dogfight’ only the bravest of the brave can muster the courage to fight to the end. The attacker is at a disadvantage, because a great deal of his fuel has already been expended in the process of flying up to the target.

Today, we bring you the story of a 22 year old pilot, Flying Officer Jaggi Brar, who flew one such sortie, exactly fifty years ago, on 7th Sep 1965. He was based at Halwara (near Ludhiana) and the task given to his squadron was to attack and destroy the Sargodha air base in Pakistan. Jaggi accomplished the mission, but when he pulled out of the dive, he was sighted by a CAP (combat air patrol). What happened after that is uncertain. But the fact is that he did not return. He made the supreme sacrifice, in the best traditions of the Indian armed forces. The story is narrated by his brother, Brig SS Brar (Retd)

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Remembering Jaggi Brar

by

 Brig Surjit Singh Brar (Veteran)

My 22 year old brother Jaggi (Flying Officer Jagdev Singh Brar) flew over Sargodha (Pakistan) on Sept 7, 1965 in a sortie that took off from Halwara (near Ludhiana). He, along with four other Hunter aircraft, successfully bombed the target. On their way back, Jaggi (also nick-named Small Ben in the squadron) along with Sqn Leader Bhagwat peeled off from the formation to engage the pursuing enemy fighter aircraft.  Unconfirmed news reported that probably Jaggi’s aircraft was hit in a midair dog fight with Pakistani fighter aircraft. There were also unconfirmed reports of his bailout. He was then officially declared ‘Missing in Action’. He never came back.

Painting of Jaggi Brar, couple of months before his disappearance in action.

Faridkot 1947.  Four  year old Jaggi, standing between the chairs, with siblings.

Patiala 1953. Family photo of Jaggi sitting in front row (with turban) , with siblings.

This full family photo in early ’65, is the last picture we have with him. Jaggi standing in the middle, clearly the most handsome at 6’2″. He was the most charming of the Brar clan, with immediate family consisting of one sister and five brothers, and the parents. Jaggi was a shy, well behaved person, who was never seen quarreling  with anybody. His good nature and pleasant behavior made him the darling of the family.

In September ’65  my eldest brother  was Superintendent police at Amritsar, also on the edge of action. One brother was serving as Captain in 1st Dogra Regt. of the Army,  in the thick of battle somewhere between Amritsar and Lahore. Brother in law was serving as Major and myself was a Captain in the Army at that time. My father (Mr Ajaib Singh Brar) and mother (Mrs Balwant Kaur) were having tough time in Sept 65 with four of their  sons and the son in law in uniform, doing their duty to the Nation.

In mid ’65, while on leave , I travelled on my elder brother’s Royal Enfield Bullet from Jallandhar to Halwara to meet Jaggi. I waited for almost half an hour , when I saw Jaggi , fully drenched in sweat with a badminton racket in hand. He was a good badminton player. He also liked tennis and table tennis. He was beaming from ear to ear, when we embraced. We exchanged family news and chatted while taking tea. I left after this brief meeting, least realizing that this would be the last time we were meeting, before the ’65 operations.

Our family took the loss of Jaggi, in our stride, without asking the Govt for special compensation/favours, though it was not difficult to do that at that time. This is a tribute to Jaggi . We still remember him fondly as the darling of Brar clan. In fact the colleagues of Jaggi in Air Force have genuine good things to say about him. Air Marshal Inamdar (course mate of 83rd course of 1963) is still in touch with the family and misses him as a dear friend, like many others. Perhaps such people are also in great demand in heaven! 50 years after that fateful day of 7 September, we still miss Jaggi and wonder if he straight bailed out to heaven from his Hunter aircraft that day.

We lost Jaggi in ’65, but he still lives in our hearts. There are many other Jaggies who are lost by the country, while serving  with dedication, but their dying wish and message to the Nation would be ‘Look after my family after me’ . The Nation salutes these unsung heroes, who served with complete commitment and devotion and asked for nothing in return.

We miss you Jaggi. With love from brothers – Surinder, Amarjit, Surjit, Sukhdev, Harpal and sister Davinder.

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THE PAKISTANI SIDE OF THE STORY. HERE IS WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER

The pilot who probably shot down Jaggi, Sqn Ldr MM Alam, PAF

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The Tailpiece (from the Editor)

I consider it appropriate to say a few words about my connection with the Brar family. We met in the IMA in 1961, where we were one course apart. After that our service paths crossed so often, that we were together nearly all through our lives. On several occasions, we shared houses, and spent days together, even when some of us had no bed to sleep on! The two daughters of Surjit Brar, Simrit ( born 1971 ) and Manpreet (b. 1973)  are nearly the same age as our boys, Divjyot (b 1971)  and Jasdev (b 1974). Once, when we were staying  together in Naraina in 1978, Manpreet asked her mother, “In what way are we related with Surjit uncle?” Manju Brar replied, “Oh well…we are really not related. They are very good friends” The question which Manpreet asked was profound as well as poignant, “If they are not our relatives, then how do they dare to fight with us???”

  I think we are all agreed that Manpreet resembles Jaggi the most in the Brar family. To her dashing looks, she has added the bold attitude inherited from her father, Surjit. The resultant ‘bold and beautiful’ combination helped her to ’go places’ in life!