Retired IPS officer Jagjit Singh Bawa, a towering figure of the 1951-batch Punjab cadre, marked his 100th birthday on Saturday with quiet grace and thunderous official acclaim. The Punjab Police, under Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, led the celebrations, honouring a man who laid the bedrock of professional, fearless policing in the state and beyond.

Bawa served with distinction as SSP Ferozepur, IGP Punjab, and later as Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation. During one of the CBI’s most vulnerable moments, he personally persuaded Prime Minister Indira Gandhi not to disband the premier investigative agency — an intervention that preserved an institution vital to India’s justice system.

Even at 100, Bawa remains remarkably active. He plays bridge five times a week and regularly meets friends at Chandigarh’s Golf Club. The centenarian credits his longevity to a simple diet, daily exercise, and an unwavering commitment to honesty and positivity.

On Saturday, a high-level delegation including Special DGP SS Srivastava and DIG Personnel Amneet Kondal visited Bawa’s Chandigarh residence to present the force’s greetings. In a heartfelt message, DGP Yadav described him as “a generation of officers who laid the strongest foundations of professional, principled, and fearless policing,” adding that Bawa’s life continues to inspire serving officers across the country.

For Punjab Police, the milestone is more than a birthday — it is a living testament to institutional memory, integrity, and service that spans a full century.