JAMMU, Nov 14: The Maharaja Gulab Singh Trust honoured distinguished military veteran Major General (Retd.) Govardhan Singh Jamwal, AVSM, with the prestigious Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Award in recognition of his lifelong dedication to preserving and promoting Dogra history, martial heritage, cultural traditions and the identity of the Dogra community.
The award was conferred by Maharaja Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman of the Maharaja Gulab Singh Trust and Head of the Dogra Royal Family, at a ceremony held at the historic Hari Niwas Palace in Jammu.
The ceremony was graced by M.K. Ajatshatru Singh and Rajkumar Ranvijay Singh, Trustees of the Maharaja Gulab Singh Trust, along with Lt Gen M.P. Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.
Addressing the gathering, Maharaja Dr. Karan Singh paid tribute to the extraordinary life and distinguished services of Major General Govardhan Singh Jamwal, describing his contributions to the preservation of Dogra heritage and martial traditions as deeply significant.
Recalling his long association with the veteran, Dr. Karan Singh shared that Major General Jamwal had joined the State Forces as an officer after being recruited by Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, an occasion he personally remembered witnessing during his childhood.
He also recalled Major General Jamwal's distinguished service as District Commissioner and subsequently as Military Secretary to the President of India. Following his retirement, the veteran continued his association with the Dogra Royal Family, serving in various capacities, including as Trustee and President of several institutions.
Expressing admiration for his remarkable dedication and continued public service at the age of 99, Maharaja Dr. Karan Singh announced that his centenary year would be celebrated next year with great pride and respect.
Accepting the honour, Major General Govardhan Singh Jamwal expressed his gratitude to the Maharaja Gulab Singh Trust and dedicated the award to the entire Dogra community, particularly those committed to preserving Dogra identity, promoting the Dogri language and advancing the Dogra cause. He said the recognition had further strengthened his resolve to continue working with renewed dedication for the welfare of the community and the preservation of its glorious heritage.
The ceremony was attended by other Trustees of the Maharaja Gulab Singh Trust, including Neeraj Rohmetra, Executive Editor, Daily Excelsior; B.D. Sharma, IAS (Retd.); G.R. Bhagat, IAS (Retd.); Prof. Suman Jamwal, Head of the Department of History, University of Jammu; Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal (Retd.); Dr. Neeraj Sharma; Dr. Rajeshwar Singh Jasrotia, IFS (Retd.); Balwant Singh Thakur; Raghbir Singh, SSP (Retd.); Rajan Singh Happy, former President, YRS and family of Brig Rajinder Singh.
The occasion also witnessed the release of a song dedicated to the heroic saga of Brigadier Rajinder Singh, commemorating his valour and contribution to the military history of Jammu and Kashmir.
The ceremony reflected the Maharaja Gulab Singh Trust's commitment to recognising distinguished personalities whose lifelong contributions have helped preserve the rich historical, cultural and martial legacy of the Dogra community for future generations.
