When top bureaucrats, war veterans join to felicitate a soldier on his 100th birthday

Rare are the occasions when civil bureaucracy and top brass of the Army gets together to felicitate one of its war veterans. The occasion was the 100^th birth anniversary celebrations of Brig S.S. Chaudhary (retd), who after a distinguished career in the Indian Army, served the Punjab Government as Director of Youth Services.

Those who joined the celebrations included some of the top retired bureaucrats of Punjab like Dilsher Singh Kalha (who recently completed his assignment as Member of Pay Commission), Geetika Kalha, Gurjit Singh Cheema, Ashok Goel besides former Director-General of Police, Anil Kaushik. Also, part of this rarest of rare centenary birthday celebration ceremony were Dan Dhanoa – actor, sailor & Collector of art, antiques, porcelain, art deco furniture & marine artefacts – and his wife, Sangita Puri, an eminent classical dancer. Some years ago, they relocated to Chandigarh after living in Rio in Brazil.

Satinder Cheema, whose husband served 5 Assam Regiment, and who is presently associated with the Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh, was also part of the celebrations.

Incidentally, Jivtesh Singh Maini, who superannuated as Secretary to Government of India, is one of son-in-law’s of Brigadier Chaudhary. His other son-in-law CS Pruthi had retired as Chief Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise.

Cookie Maini, eldest daughter of Brigadier Chaudhary, retired as Professor of English and used to contribute to various newspapers, including The Tribune.

A number of senior defence officers from 5 Assam Regiment, both retired and serving, also made the ceremony special. Popularly known as Rhinos after their regimental insignia, they not only presented an Order of the Regiment to the centurion Brigadier Chaudhary but also made the occasion musical by singing the Regimental anthem and songs.

Lieut-Gen Prem Puri, a former Colonel of the Regiment, made the presentations to Brigadier Chaudhary besides recalling his great contributions.

Brigadier Chaudhary was commissioned in the 8^th Punjab Regiment in 1945 and remained posted in Iraq with the British troops. During the 1947 portion of the country, he served in the Boundary Force to protect migrants. He later served the Punjab Government on deputation as Additional Superintendent of Police. Then he served at the Army Headquarters to deal with the important issue of division of the Army before he got transferred to the Assam Regimental Centre in Shillong.

Brigadier Chaudhary is also credited with raising Fighting Fifth Battalion which was deployed in Dera Baba Nanak sector. Later, he commanded 190 Mountain Brigade at Sela. He retired as Deputy Director-General Punjab, Haryana Himachal NCC Directorate. After retirement he served the Punjab Government as Director Youth Services.

Prabhjot Singh