Sikhs carry a long history of service in the country’s armed forces. While those who battled in the jungles are often remembered, the equally vital role played by those flying the skies is less acknowledged.
Among the earliest was the late Jaswant Singh of the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force, believed to be the first pilot to have flown Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country’s first prime minister.
To date, many Sikhs have left their mark in the military, with five rising to the rank of brigadier general. However, only one Sikh reached that rank within the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
Ranjit Singh Gill, 78, served the nation for 36 years as a helicopter pilot in the RMAF, retiring in 2003. Distinguished in his career, he remains the first and only Sikh in the RMAF to have attained such heights.
He joined the RMAF in 1968, a decade after its formation. Over the years, he has clocked more than 3,500 flying hours, and gained extensive experience in military operations.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Ranjit, who was raised in Kuala Lumpur, recalled how he found his way into the air force.
“I initially wanted to study medicine, but my parents couldn’t afford it,” he said. Wanting a career that commanded respect in society, he turned to the armed forces.
After spotting a newspaper advertisement to join the air force, he applied several times before finally being accepted.
“As a helicopter pilot, I saw a lot of action in Sabah, Sarawak, and peninsular Malaysia, operating in many hot communist areas like Gerik and Sibu.
“It was quite rewarding because we helped to defend the country against our enemies indirectly by supporting our armed forces and the police field force.”
Ranjit was involved in troop deployments, delivering rations to soldiers, and carrying out emergency evacuations.
He said he was grateful for having completed his career without any accidents, noting that some of his batchmates had lost their lives either in crashes or to communist gunfire.
His missions weren’t limited to military operations: he also flew civilians on rescue missions. “Back then, only the RMAF had aircraft, unlike today, where the Bomba and police have their own,” he explained.
Ranjit’s years of service brought many dramatic encounters. One that stands out took place in Segamat, Johor, when he rescued a pregnant woman in distress.
“We landed at the kampung and found out that the patient had not been brought there because the area was cut off by flood waters.
“After getting some information from people on the ground, we took off again at night, flying blindly three or four miles in a northeasterly direction from that kampung. Finally, we spotted a lot of people shining torchlights.
“When I wanted to land, the place was so small that I could only put my main wheels on the ground, and my tail wheels were hanging over the floodwaters.”
The mission not only saved the lives of the mother and her baby, but also earned Ranjit numerous awards and medals.
‘I served the nation’
He shared that his rise in rank was in part thanks to the extensive training he underwent in New York and the United Kingdom.
It was a proud moment for the Sikh community when he was promoted just a year before his retirement and conferred the title of Dato’ by the Sultan of Pahang.
For Ranjit, it was especially meaningful to have been the only turbaned general in the armed forces. “As you know, that is our identity. They say you can pick a Sikh among a thousand people because of his turban.”
Ranjit’s uniform may be retired, but his pride remains. “I had the option to retire earlier but I said no, I will serve until the compulsory retirement age because of my patriotism.
“Joining the air force meant we were doing something good for the defence of our country. That’s why, when people ask, ‘how long did you work in the air force?’, I don’t say I ‘worked’ in the air force. I served the nation.”
