Gautam Singh’s childhood stories were filled with tales of bravery, starring his grandfather, IAF personnel Malkhan Singh. Decades later, the mortal remains of Malkhan, lost in a tragic aircraft crash near the Rohtang Pass 56 years ago, were finally returned to his native village Fatehpur, Saharanpur on Wednesday, marking an emotional homecoming that the family had waited for over half a century.
“I never had the chance to meet my grandfather, but we grew up hearing stories about his love for flying and his deep patriotism. We have heard so much about him that he gradually became a superhero in our imagination, someone we hoped would one day return. But today, when the IAF brought his mortal remains home, 56 years after he went missing in a crash, that hope was shattered. It felt like my superhero emerged from those childhood stories, but unlike others, he came wrapped in a shroud,” said Gautam Singh, grandson of IAF personnel Malkhan Singh as he bid farewell to his long-lost hero.
Who was Malkhan Singh?
Malkhan Singh’s younger brother, Isampal Singh, told News18 that his elder brother’s passion for the armed forces was evident from a young age. “Even as a child, Malkhan would talk about freedom fighters and dream of joining the army. He would often run after planes, fascinated by flying,” Isampal said while recollecting his childhood memories.
That childhood dream became a reality when Malkhan joined the Indian Air Force at the age of 20. However, tragedy struck when Malkhan, just 23, died in a plane crash near Rohtang Pass. “I was around 12 at the time, but I remember the grief that enveloped our family,” said Isampal, who is now 68.
‘Malkhan used to call me Chhotu’
The pain of not being able to see Malkhan one last time or perform his final rites weighed heavily on the family. His parents, sister-in-law, and others often cried in private, mourning the loss of a beloved son and husband, whose body could not be brought home for a proper farewell until 56 years later.
“56 years later, when Malkhan’s mortal remains were brought home, the pain resurfaced as if it had just happened. I didn’t know whether to mourn my brother’s death or be grateful that I could finally perform his last rites,” said Isampal, whom Malkhan used to call ‘Chhotu’.
The tragedy
On February 7, 1968, Malkhan Singh, went missing after the AN-12 aircraft he was on, crashed in the snow-covered mountains near Himachal Pradesh’s Rohtang Pass. The twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft, carrying Malkhan and others, disappeared during a flight from Chandigarh to Leh. For decades, the wreckage and the remains of its passengers were lost to the icy terrain until 2003 when mountaineers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering discovered the wreckage, bringing the 1968 aircraft crash back to light. Since then, multiple expeditions led by the Indian Army, particularly the Dogra Scouts, followed, with significant progress made by 2019, although only five bodies had been recovered due to the harsh conditions.
However, recently, a joint team from the Dogra Scouts and Tiranga Mountain Rescue made a breakthrough, recovering Malkhan Singh’s remains, which had been remarkably preserved in the snow.
56 years after the crash
Since Malkhan Singh’s death in the 1968 aircraft crash near the Siachen Glacier, much has changed for his family. At the time, he left behind his wife, Sheela Devi, and their 18-month-old son, Ram Prasad. After Malkhan’s death, Sheela married his younger brother, Chandrapal. Both Sheela and Ram Prasad have since passed away. Malkhan would have been 79 years old today, said Isampal.
His descendants include grandsons Gautam and Manish, who drive autos in Saharanpur, and granddaughters Sonia, Seema, and Monika. Sonia and Seema are married, while Monika, 19, is still studying. Among Malkhan’s siblings, only his younger brother Isampal and sister Chandrapali are alive; his other brothers, Sultan Singh and Chandrapal are also no more.
‘Grateful to IAF’
“It was something hard to believe for all of us when we got the call from IAF informing us about the mortal remains of our grandfather. We were told that the body was still intact and in good condition due to the icy conditions. His identification could be done through his badge number. We are grateful to IAF for the prolonged search operation and for bringing back the mortal remains of our grandfather for the last rites,” said Sonia Singh, Malkhan’s granddaughter.
On receiving the information from the IAF, Sagar Jain, additional superintendent of police, Saharanpur said, “All possible assistance was given to the family. Malkhan Singh had gone missing on February 7, 1968 after the AN-12 aircraft on which he was aboard crashed in the snow-covered mountains near Himachal Pradesh’s Rohtang Pass. Singh’s body reached the village around 2.30 pm.”
A real homage on the last day of Pitru Paksh
As news of Malkhan Singh’s homecoming spread, people from Fatehpur and nearby villages gathered to pay tribute and witness the historical moment. After 56 years of waiting, Malkhan’s cremation took place in the evening, with chants of “Malkhan Singh Amar Rahe” and “Malkhan Singh ki Jai” filling the air. Malkhan’s grandchildren said that performing his last rites on the final day of Pitru Paksh, a sacred 16-day period when Hindus honour their ancestors, was a real homage. However, the long-awaited farewell to their grandfather, who was martyred in 1968, brought both closure and reverence to the family and community.
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