Surjit Singh Majithia (1912-1995) was an Indian politician, diplomat and air force officer. He was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India from the Tarn Taran constituency of Punjab as a member of the Indian National Congress.[1][2][3]

Surjit Singh Majithia
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
1952-1967
Succeeded byGurdial Singh Dhillon
ConstituencyTarn Taran Punjab
Union Minister of state for Defence
In office
1952—1962
9th President of BCCI
In office
1956–1958
Preceded byMaharajkumar of Vizianagram
Succeeded byR. K. Patel
Personal details
Born(1912-08-08)8 August 1912
Shimla, Punjab, British India
Died27 September 1995(1995-09-27) (aged 83)
Delhi, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
SpouseKushalpal Kaur
Children3 sons
Parent
RelativesHarsimrat Kaur Badal (granddaughter)
Bikram Singh Majithia (grandson)
Majithia Sirdars
Residence(s)Majithia House, Amritsar, Punjab, India
Military career
Allegiance British India
 India
Service / branch Indian Air Force
Years of service1939–1944
RankWing Commander
Battles / warsSecond World War
Source: [1]

Biography

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Majithia was born into the prominent Sher-Gill Jatt Sikh landholding Majithia family.[4] His father was Sundar Singh Majithia who served in the Punjab government.[5]

Majithia was commissioned a pilot officer in the flying branch of the Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 8 November 1939, two months after the start of the Second World War.[6] He rose to command a fighter squadron until he left the Air Force in 1944 to pursue a political career.[7] From 1945 to 1947, he was member of Central Legislative Assembly, served on the Defence Consultative Committee and was principal of Khalsa College, Amritsar.[7] After independence in 1947, he was promoted to honorary wing commander in the (Royal) Indian Air Force and appointed ambassador to the neighbouring country of Nepal, where he remained until 1949.

He served as the President of Board of Control for Cricket in India, All India Tennis Association, Yachting Association of India and Wrestling Federation of India; Vice-president of National Rifle Association of India.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lok Sabha Debates. Lok Sabha Secretariat. 1995. p. 5. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  2. ^ J. C. Aggarwal; S. P. Agrawal (1992). Modern History of Punjab: A Look Back Into Ancient Peaceful Punjab Focusing Confrontation and Failures Leading to Present Punjab Problem, and a Peep Ahead : Relevant Select Documents. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 75–. ISBN 978-81-7022-431-0. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  3. ^ Surjit Singh Majithia a Politician, Parliamentarian and Diplomat
  4. ^ Rekhi, Gurnam Singh (1999). Sir Sundar Singh Majithia and His Relevance in Sikh Politics (PDF). Har-Anand Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 15. ...the small village of Majithia (near Amritsar)—which the family of Sir Sundar Singh, of Shergill clan among the Jat Sikhs—had adopted as their surname, could also be proud of its illustrious Sardars.
  5. ^ The Indian Journal of Political Science. India, Indian Political Science Association, 1974.
  6. ^ Indian Air Force - Air Force List. HM Stationery Office. 1941. pp. 1192–1199.
  7. ^ a b "Two Honorary Wing Commanders in the RIAF" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 17 September 1947. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
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