Jaswinder Singh Khaira was born in 1959 in a small village called “Khaira Dona” in Kapurthala, Punjab. Jassi was one of three siblings. Jassi studied initially at Kunjpura Sainik School Karnal and later he completed his schooling from Sainik School Kapurthala in 1976. He joined National Defence Academy 56 Course Delta Squadron and completed his basic cadet training. He was good in sports specially boxing and Hockey during his time in NDA. Jassi was commissioned into 3 PUNJAB from Indian Military Academy (IMA) on 7th Jun 1980.

 

When Jassi was posted as Adjutant at 3 Punjab Infantry Regiment at Hashimara, West Bengal, he got married to Gurveen Kaur Grewal, daughter of Lt. Col. Shahminder Singh Grewal of 12 Mahar Regiment in 1984. Soon after marriage he was blessed with two kids, a son and a daughter.

 

He served ably as part of IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) during 1987-89 as Adjutant of 3 Punjab. His postings included as DS in HAWS (High Altitude Warfare School) at Gulmarg, J&K, DQ 32 Inf, 22 RR. He was CO of 4 Bihar NCC Battalion from 2000 to 2003. His last tenure in Indian Army was from Dec 2010 to Sep 2013 at Station Headquarter, Raiwala, Dehradun, UP as Commandant. 

 

In Sept 2013 he retired from the Indian Army after 33 years of service. He thoroughly enjoyed his time in the army and remembered every bit of it in his last days specially the NDA days and his friends from NDA. After retirement he resided with his wife at their home in Ludhiana, Punjab. He and his wife visited USA and Canada multiple times during 2010-2021 as their kids moved to foreign countries to pursue their higher education.

 

During his stay in Canada, Jassi started showing signs of severe fatigue and weakness and swelling in ankles and legs. His son took him to Emergency room in April and on May 17 he was diagnosed with this rare and deadly blood disorder called Light Chain Amyloidosis. This is a terminal disease and life expectancy is 3 months- 10 years depending on stage of diagnosis and organs affected. Jassi travelled back to India with family in June 2021 and succumbed to this disease on 17 July 2021 at the age of 61 years. In his last days in hospital the family remembers when asked about his best time of life and he said undoubtedly his time with his buddies in NDA. Jassi lived a peaceful and content life achieving most of his dreams. Jassi can be described as the perfectly unselfish man. He never asked for anything and wanted nothing in return for his good deeds. He believed that good deeds come back to you multiplied by thousand folds.

 

His Delta Squadron type Manjeet Mehta remembers his experience with Jassi during the basic course at HAWS, Gulmarg. Jassi was always cooperative and helpful. They as a course were camping on snow clad mountain just overlooking Gulmarg Township. The camp was wound up by the evening and the march back to the HAWS started under the guidance of HAWS Instructors. Due to their bad luck, a snow blizzard started as soon as they commenced the return journey. Everyone had to move in a single file and the instructions were that no one to miss the steps of the person ahead or else one may get lost. The wind speed was unbelievable at around 100km plus and it was mixed with snowflakes. They had icicles formed on their moustache and beard, the snow goggles were covered with snow, visibility was almost nil and movement was tough and dicey. Jassi was just ahead of Manjeet in the file and he had a tin can tied to his back pack, which continued to rattle and make some funny sound. Almost every fifty steps or so Jassi would call Manjeet and check on him whether he is following or not. This drill carried on for good four hours till they reached HAWS because it took them that long to cover three odd kms. Most of them experienced the snow blizzard for the first time in their lives and each one of them was frightened for life. Jassi would tell Manjeet jokingly, if they go to heaven at least both of them would be together. This he said perhaps because they had been next to each other since Academy days at OTA, then at NDA and IMA.

 

Another Squadron mate Ranbir Singh Salaria recalls an episode to tell which epitomizes the most humble nature of Jassi. In fact it put him in a very embarrassing position and he cursed himself for being so oblivious to the surroundings. When Ranbir was GOC Arty Div in Ambala, he had visited Corps HQ in Jullundur for a briefing. Jassi was posted there that time and he was detailed to guide Ranbir around. Of course, the people who detailed him were not aware of their umbilical connection, nor were Ranbir aware because it was routine. They met in a fleeting moment before Ranbir was to meet the Corps Cdr. Jassi’s appearance was totally changed since he was clean shaven and had put on lot of weight. Jassi was sitting behind Ranbir in the open jeep during his whirlwind tour. While they were talking and Jassi very hesitantly, introduced himself. Ranbir was totally shaken to his innermost core, asked the driver to stop. They both jumped out, and just kept hugging each other. They cried too during their happy reunion. Ranbir could only mutter some apologies for not recognising him. So that was Jassi.

 

He is survived by lady wife Gurveen Kaur who is currently settled down at Winnipeg, Canada. Their Children also settled down abroad. Harminder Khaira is working as Hotel General Manager, Winnipeg and Depinder Khaira is a Senior Scientist for a pharma company, San Diego, USA.

 

Penned with inputs from family, Urvinder Singh, Manjeet Mehta and Ranbir Singh Salaria.

 

May his soul rest in peace