Five generations in uniform: Young officers carry forward storied military legacies at IMA

New Delhi, December 14. As 525 officer cadets marched out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) on December 13, beginning their careers in the Indian Army, the moment held special meaning for a few who were not just stepping into service – but continuing proud family legacies forged over generations.

Among them was Lt Sartaj Singh, a fifth-generation Sikh officer whose family’s association with the Army dates back more than a century, The Tribune reported. Commissioned into 20 Jat – the same unit as his father, Brigadier Upinder Pal Singh – Lt Sartaj represents a lineage that began in 1897, when Sepoy Kirpal Singh of 36 Sikh participated in the Afghan campaign, laying the foundation of a tradition steeped in courage and sacrifice.

The legacy was further strengthened by Sartaj’s great-grandfather, Subedar Ajmer Singh of 2 Field Regiment, who fought in the Battle of Bir Hakeim during World War II and was awarded the rare Order of British India for gallantry. His grandfather, Brigadier Harwant Singh, distinguished himself in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, while his uncle, Colonel Harvinder Pal Singh, upheld the family’s reputation for valour during the 1999 Kargil conflict in Siachen.

The tradition of service extends to Lt Sartaj’s maternal side as well, with several relatives – including Capt Harbhagat Singh, Capt Gurmel Singh (Retd), Col Gursewak Singh (Retd) and Col Inderjit Singh – having served with distinction across World War I, World War II, the 1971 war and later operations.

“Growing up in such an environment, Sartaj absorbed service, discipline and patriotism not as ideas, but as a way of life,” the IMA said in a post. “For him, commissioning is not just a personal milestone; it is the moment when a legacy becomes his responsibility.”

Two other officers commissioned on the same day also carried forward multi-generational military traditions.

Lt Harmanmeet Singh Reen, a fourth-generation officer, joined the Maratha Light Infantry – the same regiment in which his father, Col Harmeet Singh, is currently serving. His great-grandfather served in the Sikh Regiment, while his grandfather joined the Signals and two of his brothers fought as officers of the Regiment of Artillery in the 1965 war. One of them, Capt Ujagar Singh, was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry.

A silver medallist at the Cadet Training Wing of the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Lt Harmanmeet distinguished himself at the IMA by winning the Bayonet Pin and Six Star Torch, and by excelling in sports, earning a Half Blue in squash and a Merit Card in tennis. His mother, Harveen Reen, an educationist with over two decades of experience, has been a key pillar of support in his journey.

According to IMA records, two moments shaped Harmanmeet’s aspirations – standing before the Chetwode Building at the age of three, dreaming of the olive green, and later meeting former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who predicted his future as a soldier.

Lt Yuvraj Singh Nughaal, commissioned as a fourth-generation warrior, marked another continuation of family tradition. His father was commissioned into 7 Mechanised Infantry, while his grandfather served with distinction in 16 Grenadiers. The roots of the legacy go back to his great-grandfather, who served in 7 Jat before Independence.

“This commissioning was not an end but a renewal – a solemn passing of the mantle of service from one generation to the next,” the IMA noted.

The Passing Out Parade, which included cadets from the 157th Regular Course, 46th Technical Entry Scheme Course, 140th Technical Graduate Course, 55th Special Commissioned Officers Course and the Territorial Army Online Entrance Exam 2023 Course, along with 34 officers from 14 friendly foreign nations, was reviewed by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi.

For these young officers, the parade marked not just the start of a military career, but the continuation of histories defined by honour, sacrifice and an unwavering commitment to the nation.