New Delhi: We have heard about India’s highest military decoration Param Vir Chakra but are not aware of facts related to the awards. The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India’s highest military decoration bestowed for highest degree of valour and courage for the self-sacrifice while battling the enemy.
So far the medal has been awarded 21 times, 14 of which were awarded posthumously.
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously in 1971 was only Indian Air Force officer to date have been honoured with the Param Vir Chakra. Naib Subedar Sanjay Kumar and Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav are the only active duty PVC recipients in the Indian Army.
The medal was designed by Savitri Khanolkar who was married to an Indian Army officer, Vikram Khanolkar of Sikh Regiment.[6] This was done following a request from the first Indian Adjutant General, Major General Hira Lal Atal, who in turn had been entrusted with the responsibility of coming up with an Indian equivalent of the Victoria Cross by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the Indian Union. Coincidentally, the first Param Vir Chakra was awarded to her son-in-law Lt Gen Surinder Nath Sharma’s (ENC) elder brother, Major Somnath Sharma for his bravery in the Kashmir operations in November 1947. He died while evicting Pakistani infiltrators and raiders from the Srinagar Airport. This was when India and newly formed Pakistan had the first war over the Kashmir issue.
The medal is a circular bronze disc 1.375 inches (3.49 cm) in diameter. The state emblem appears in the center, on a raised circle. Surrounding this, four replicas of Vajra, the all-powerful mythic weapon of Indra, the ancient Vedic King of Gods. The motif symbolizes the sacrifice Rishi Dadhichi, who had donated his bones to the Gods for making Vajra to kill demon Vritra. The Indian General Service Medal 1947 which contained the Bhavani sword was withdrawn later. The decoration is suspended from a straight swiveling suspension bar. It is named on the edge. On the rear, around a plain center, are two legends separated by lotus flowers. The words Param Vir Chakra are written in Hindi and English.
A purple ribbon, 32 millimetres (1.3 in) long, holds the Param Vir Chakra.
Of the 21 awardees, 20 are from the Indian Army and one from the Indian Air Force. The Grenadiers have received the most number of Param Vir Chakras, with 3 awards. The various Gorkha Rifle regiments of the Indian Army have also received 3 awards, with the 1 Gorkha Rifles and 8 Gorkha Rifles and 11 Gorkha Rifles each having a PVC recipient.
The TV series, Param Vir Chakra (1990) directed by noted film director Chetan Anand was on the lives of Param Vir Chakra winners. The first episode of the series featured the first recipient of the award, Major Som Nath Sharma of Kumaon Regiment.[9]
The Bollywood movie LOC Kargil gives an account of all of the PVC recipients from the Kargil War where Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey is played by Ajay Devgan, Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav is played by Manoj Bajpai, Naib Subedar Sanjay Kumar is played by Sunil Shetty and Captain Vikram Batra is played by Abhishek Bachchan.
Recipients
ServiceNumber |
Rank |
Name |
Unit |
Branch |
Date |
Place |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SS-14246 |
Second Lieutenant |
Rama Raghoba Rane |
Bombay SappersCorps of Engineers |
Indian Army |
April 8, 1948 |
NausheraJammu & Kashmir |
|
JC-4547 |
Subedar |
Joginder Singh |
1st BattalionSikh Regiment |
Indian Army |
October 23, 1962 |
Tongpen LaNFA, India |
Posthumous |
JC-155825 |
Naib Subedar |
Bana Singh |
8th BattalionJammu and Kashmir Light Infantry |
Indian Army |
May 23, 1987 |
Siachen GlacierJammu and Kashmir |
|
IC-8947 |
Captain |
Gurbachan Singh Salaria |
3rd Battalion1st Gurkha Rifles |
Indian Army |
December 5, 1961 |
ElizabethvilleKatanga, Congo |
Posthumous |
IC-7990 |
Major |
Dhan Singh Thapa |
1st Battalion8th Gurkha Rifles |
Indian Army |
October 20, 1962 |
LadakhJammu & Kashmir, India |
|
IC-7990 |
Major |
Shaitan Singh |
13th BattalionKumaon Regiment |
Indian Army |
November 18, 1962 |
Rezang LaJammu & Kashmir |
Posthumous |
IC-57556 |
Captain |
Vikram Batra |
13th BattalionJammu & Kashmir Rifles |
Indian Army |
July 6, 1999 |
Point 5140, Point 4875Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir |
Posthumous |
IC-56959 |
Captain |
Manoj Kumar Pandey |
1st Battalion11th Gorkha Rifles |
Indian Army |
July 3, 1999 |
Khaluber/Juber TopBatalik sectorKargil, Jammu and Kashmir |
Posthumous |
IC-5565 |
Lieutenant-Colonel |
Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore |
17th Poona Horse |
Indian Army |
October 15, 1965 |
PhilloraSialkot Sector, Pakistan |
Posthumous |
IC-521 |
Major |
Somnath Sharma |
4th BattalionKumaon Regiment |
Indian Army |
November 3, 1947 |
BadgamJammu & Kashmir |
Posthumous |
IC-32907 |
Major |
Ramaswamy Parameshwaran |
8th BattalionMahar Regiment |
Indian Army |
November 25, 1987 |
Sri Lanka |
Posthumous |
IC-25067 |
Second Lieutenant |
Arun Khetarpal |
17th Poona Horse |
Indian Army |
December 16, 1971 |
Barapind-JarpalShakargarh Sector |
Posthumous |
IC-14608 |
Major |
Hoshiar Singh |
3rd BattalionThe Grenadiers |
Indian Army |
December 17, 1971 |
Basantar RiverShakargarh Sector |
|
4239746 |
Lance Naik |
Albert Ekka |
14th BattalionBrigade of the Guards |
Indian Army |
December 3, 1971 |
GangasagarAgartala Sector |
Posthumous |
2831592 |
Company
|
Piru Singh Shekhawat |
6th BattalionRajputana Rifles |
Indian Army |
July 17, 1948 |
TithwalJammu & Kashmir |
Posthumous |
27373 |
Naik |
Jadu Nath Singh |
1st BattalionRajput Regiment |
Indian Army |
February 6, 1948 |
NausheraJammu & Kashmir |
Posthumous |
2690572 |
Grenadier |
Yogendra Singh Yadav |
18th BattalionThe Grenadiers |
Indian Army |
July 4, 1999 |
Tiger HillKargil, Jammu and Kashmir |
|
2639885 |
Company
|
Abdul Hamid |
4th BattalionThe Grenadiers |
Indian Army |
September 10, 1965 |
Khem Karan SectorIndia |
Posthumous |
22356 |
Lance Naik |
Karam Singh |
1st BattalionSikh Regiment |
Indian Army |
October 13, 1948 |
TithwalJammu & Kashmir |
|
13760533 |
Rifleman |
Sanjay Kumar |
13th BattalionJammu & Kashmir Rifles |
Indian Army |
July 5, 1999 |
Area Flat TopKargil, Jammu and Kashmir |
|
10877 F(P) |
Flying Officer |
Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon |
No. 18 Squadron |
Indian Air Force |
December 14, 1971 |
SrinagarJammu & Kashmir |
Posthumous |