AP Singh Delivers Keynote at Air Force Association’s AVM Harjinder Singh Memorial Lecture in Kanpur
The Air Force Association held the Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh Memorial Lecture in Kanpur, bringing together serving and retired air force personnel, aviation experts and guests to honour one of the early figures associated with the development of Indian aviation and the Indian Air Force.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, delivered the keynote address at the event and paid tribute to AVM Harjinder Singh for his pioneering role and the influence he left on aviation in India. The lecture was framed as both a remembrance of Harjinder Singh’s contribution and a wider reflection on the evolution of Indian aviation and the IAF.
The programme revisited the journey of Indian aviation through the lens of the people who helped shape it, with particular emphasis on the professional ethos and operational capabilities that emerged as the Indian Air Force grew over time. Organisers used the occasion to highlight how individual initiative, innovation and dedication contributed to the service’s development.
Among the speakers were Mr K Sree Kumar, Air Marshal Yalla Umesh, Air Marshal PV Athawale (Retd), Dr Asim Tewari and Air Marshal Jagjeet Singh (Retd). They spoke on themes ranging from aviation and military history to the enduring legacy of AVM Harjinder Singh, offering perspectives that linked past achievements to the present-day identity of the air force community.
The event also served as a gathering point for members of the wider air force fraternity and aviation enthusiasts, creating space for professional interaction and collective remembrance. By bringing together serving officers, veterans and invited guests, the lecture reflected the continuing interest in the people and ideas that laid the foundations for the IAF’s later evolution.
Beyond the tribute to AVM Harjinder Singh, the memorial lecture was intended to inspire younger generations by recalling the innovation, commitment and pioneering spirit associated with the early builders of Indian aviation. The Air Force Association’s initiative also reinforced the value of preserving institutional memory and the achievements of distinguished air warriors, while drawing lessons from their service for the future.
