Puran Singh Bajwa

Air Marshal Puran Singh Bajwa, PVSM (retired)October 25, 1925-November 30, 2009Dr. Bajwa was born at his maternal grandparents home at Chak 94, Toba Tek Singh, Tehsil, District Lyallpur, India on October 25, 1925 to his parents, Captain Kartar Singh and Narinder Kaur (ne Cheema).Pursuing his lifelong dream to become a physician, Dr. Bajwa joined King Edward Medical College, Lahore in 1942. He married Harvant Kaur (ne Dhindsa) on September 28, 1945. As a result of the withdrawal of the British from India, the partition of India took place in August 1947. Dr. Bajwa had to leave his medical studies and walk with his large family in a caravan of over a million people to East Punjab. Untold hundreds of thousands or more lost their lives in this process and the Bajwas witnessed unspeakable civil strife during their forced relocation.Dr. Bajwa was able to finish his medical studies and pass his final M.B.B.S. exam from Amritsar Medical College in 1948. He completed his senior house job (residency) at Victoria Jubilee Hospital, Amritsar.As with many members of his family before him and after, Dr. Bajwa joined the Indian Army in September 1948 as a Lieutenant, and then transferred to the Indian Air Force after one month. Dr. Bajwa's final promotion was to the rank of Air Marshal (a three-star general rank) in October 1984 as Director, Medical Services of the Indian Air Force, which is the highest military rank available to physician officers. During his final postings in Delhi Dr. Bajwa was an honorary physician to the President of India. He retired as Air Marshal in 1985. Air Marshal Bajwa received India's Param Vashist Seva Medal in January 1985. The P.V.S.M. award is India's highest military decoration for distinguished peacetime service.Dr. Bajwa and his wife, Harvant Kaur, spend more time with their two daughters, Parminder Kaur and her husband Dr. Tejpal Singh Dhillon (of Raleigh, North Carolina) and Satinder Kaur and her husband Dr. Daljit Singh Caberwal, of Asheboro, North Carolina. Air Marshal Bajwa was also noted throughout his career for his dignity and his proud practice of the Sikh faith, serving as an inspiration to many generations of military personnel who followed him. In his retirement, the advanced study and practice of Sikhism and teaching it to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was Dr. Bajwa's chief pursuit in life. As a physician, highly decorated military officer, and community leader Dr. Bajwa literally touched tens of thousands of lives and made a lasting impact on the lives of many people.Dr. Bajwa survived four of his of his brothers. He has three sisters in IndiaIn addition to his daughters, sons-in-law and extended relations including dozens of nieces and nephews, Dr. Bajwa is survived by five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Parminder and Tejpal Dhillon's daughter, Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, resides in San Francisco, California; the Dhillons' son Mandeep Singh Dhillon, Mandeep's wife Parveen Kaur and their son Tegh Zoraver Singh Dhillon and daughters Hazuri Kaur Dhillon and Nivaaz Kaur Dhillon all reside in Redwood City, California.Satinder and Daljit Caberwal's daughter Sumeet Kaur Bal, her husband Jugdeep Singh Bal and their son Hargobind Singh Bal reside in New York, NY. The Caberwal's daughter Jasmeet Kaur Sidhu and her husband Amandeep Singh Sidhu reside in Washington DC. The Caberwal's son, Sandeep Singh Caberwal and his wife, Dilpreet Kaur Caberwal, reside in Arlington VA.Air Marshal Bajwa was the senior member of his extended family and will be deeply missed by all of them.Funeral service will be at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro NC.Final religious services will be held from 2:00-4:30 p.m., on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at The Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, 3214 Banner Street, Durham NC. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Education fund of the Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina.