New Delhi – A routine day at Moolchand Hospital turned into a remarkable story for Dr Rajeev Sharma, a senior orthopaedic surgeon, when a senior citizen couple requested something he had never encountered in his decades-long career. The couple, requiring knee replacements, wanted to undergo the procedure together—on the same day, in the same hospital.

What made the request even more extraordinary was the identity of the patients. Just two days before the scheduled surgery, Dr Sharma discovered that the couple was none other than General Joginder Jaswant Singh (Retd), popularly known as General JJ Singh, India’s first Sikh Chief of Army Staff, and his wife, artist Anupama Singh.

Speaking to HT City, Dr Sharma recalled, “I’ve performed countless knee surgeries in my career, but I’ve never seen a request like this. At first, I didn’t even know he was a former Army Chief. They came to the OPD like regular patients—humble and unassuming. I only learned their identity from my assistant shortly before the operation.”

The couple, both in their 70s and 80s, had their surgeries in August, with General Singh undergoing a right knee replacement and his wife having her left knee replaced. “We were compelled to be together,” General Singh explained, reflecting the bond that inspired the unique arrangement.

Dr Sharma noted that, despite his initial surprise, the surgeries went smoothly, and the couple quickly returned to their daily routines. The former Army Chief, who led troops in India’s most challenging zones and later served as Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, is now focusing on his new book, while Anupama Singh has resumed her artistic pursuits.

Commenting on their recovery, Dr Sharma said, “When they first came, I told them they were walking with willpower, not their knees. Now, post-surgery, they’re moving freely, without any limp.” The story of the Singh couple not only highlights medical innovation but also the enduring companionship that guided their decision to undergo surgery side by side.