Lieutenant General Harcharanjit Singh Panag, One of the Indian Army’s most upright and cerebral
generals, was born on 4th December 1948 at Fathegarh Punjab. His father, Colonel Shamsher Singh
was a distinguished personality of his times known for his high values and social activities. S. Panag
was commissioned into the 18th Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry (the then Sikh Regiment) on 21st
December 1969. He is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Indian
Military Academy, Dehradun, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Higher Command Course,
Mhow and the National Defence College, New Delhi. He is experienced in both counter-insurgency and
high-altitude operations. He also saw action in various wars and military operations. During his career he
has served in various positions. He is known for his patriotism, impartiality and level-headedness apart
from being an idealistic, hardworking and honest man with very strong likes and dislikes. He has authored
several publications concerning Indian defence forces and national security. Among the various honors
bestowed upon him, he received Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva
Medal. When he retired in December 2008 after serving as the GOC-in-C, Northern Command and GOCin-
C, Central Command, he was appointed as an Administrative Member of the Armed Forces Tribunal.
After that, he remained associated with India Against Corruption movement and later joined the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP). Although he refused to contest election due to lack of inclination for the same, he
participated in campaigns of Gul’s 2014 Lok Sabha Poll rallies in Chandigarh and is an active member of
AAP. He is an advisor to the Party on strategic affairs and national security. He has been a role model both as
an officer as well as a social worker. His entire family is highly patriotic and believes in the Sikh principle of
service of mankind. He has two children, one daughter and one son. His daughter, Gul Panag, an acclaimed
actress and social activist, is daughter-in-law of Col. Harinder Singh Attari and great-granddaughter-in-law
of General Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala. His son Sherbir Panag is an Associate with MZM Legal and has
specialist knowledge in areas of International White Collar Crime and Criminal Compliance.
