GALLANTRY AWARDS

“There is nothing higher in the three worlds than Heroism”

 

History defines GALLANTRY as commanded respect and recognition. Gallantry Awards have been instituted by the Government of India to honour the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted Forces and civilians. The art of appreciating the brave and gallant is not new. They form one of the most important constituents of a nation's stability.
 These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year - first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day.

Here, we are discussing Gallantry awards in terms of the Face of Enemy:

  • Wartime Gallantry Awards/Gallantry in the Face of Enemy
  • Peacetime Gallantry awards/Gallantry Other than in the Face of Enemy

First Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards

  • Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
  • Mahavir Chakra (MVC)
  • Vir Chakra(VrC)

Second Category of Gallantry Awards Comprises of the following Awards

  • Ashok Chakra(AC)
  • Kirti Chakra(KC)
  • Shaurya Chakra(SC)

 

ELLIGIBILTY FOR GALLANTRY AWARDS

Eligibility

The Param Vir Chakra, The Maha Vir Chakra & The Vir Chakra

The following categories of persons shall be eligible for the Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir Chakra:

  • Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Naval, Military and Air Forces, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted Armed Forces.
  • Matrons, Sisters, Nurses and the Staff of the Nursing Services and other Services pertaining to Hospitals and Nursing, and Civilians of either gender serving regularly or temporarily under the orders, directions or supervision of any of the above-mentioned Forces.

Conditions of Eligibility:

  • The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
  • The Maha Vir Chakra is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy whether on land, at sea or in the air.
  • The Vir Chakra is awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land or at sea or in the air.

The Ashoka Chakra, The Kirti Chakra & Shaurya Chakra

The following categories of persons shall be eligible for the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra:

  • Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.
  • Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
  • Civilian citizens of either gender in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force.

Conditions of Eligibility:

  • The Ashoka Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
  • The Kirti Chakra is awarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
  • The Shaurya Chakra is awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.

Description of the awards in the Order of precedence

PARAM VIR CHAKRA

“Most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy

 

The Param Veer Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. Param Veer Chakra translates as the "Greatest of the Ultimate Brave", and the award is granted for "Most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy".

Only 21 military personnel have received this award to date. Of the 21 awardees, 20 have been from the Indian Army, and one has been from the Indian Air Force. A number of central and state governments and ministries of India provide allowances and rewards to recipients of the PVC (or their family members in case of the recipient's death).

 

First Recipient of the award:

 

Major Somnath Sharma, son of Major General Amarnath Sharma, was born on 31 January 1923, in Himachal Pradesh. He was commissioned in the Kumaon Regiment on 22 February 1942. During the Second World War, he had fought in the Arakan Operations.

 

MAHA VIR CHAKRA

“SECOND Most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy”

 

The Mahavir Chakra (MVC) is the second-highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. The Mahavir Chakra was instituted on 26 Jan 1950 to recognise the act of gallantry in the presence of the enemy.

The most MVCs awarded in a single conflict were in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 when eleven awards are given to the Indian Air Force alone.

Till 2020, there are around 223 personnel have been awarded from this medal.

 First Recipient of the award:

 

Wing Commander Jag Mohan Nath, was an officer in the Indian Air Force. He is the first of the six officers to have been decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest war time military decoration, twice. He was decorated for his operations in the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

 

 VIR CHAKRA

“THIRD Most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy”

The Vir Chakra (VrC) is the third-highest military award in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. So far this award has been conferred to 1336 warriors, in which 958 people have been given posthumously.

First Recipient of the award:

Gp Capt Ranjan Dutt is awarded Vir Chakra on 26 Jan,1950. his officer had on three occasions led, with distinction attacks on KISHENGANGA Bridge. The first attack resulted in temporary stoppage of movement of enemy troops and supplies over the bridge. When movement again resumed after the bridge had been repaired, reinforced with heavy protective medium he led another formation for the second time. To facilitate his formation to attack, he went low to straff and silenced the gun positions. In spite of his aircraft being hit by enemy fire, he attacked with precision and knocked out one of the gun positions.

Leading a formation of four aircraft, he again attacked the Kishenganga Bridge, undeterred by the fact that his aircraft had been shot up badly the day before. Although his aircraft was damaged by heavy anti-aircraft fire in this sortie also, he attacked with precision and determination and scored a direct hit on the bridge, causing considerable damage to it. After the mission, by great skill, he brought his badly damaged aircraft back safely to the base. He also carried out highly successful reconnaissance sorties and attacks on Gilgit and Skardu.

 

ASHOK CHAKRA

“Most conspicuous bravery in the presence of other than in the face of the enemy”

 

The Ashoka Chakra is India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy. The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel. So far this award has been conferred to  91 warriors.

 

First Recipient of the award:

Suhas Biswas AC, was a flight lieutenant in the Indian Air Force who was the first Air Force Officer to be awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest military award, in peacetime.

 

KIRTI CHAKRA

“SECOND Most conspicuous bravery in the presence of other than in the face of the enemy”

The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards; it comes after Ashoka Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II. So far this award has been conferred to  496 warriors.

First Recipient of the award:

MWO Oruganti Sunderesiya On 1st May, 1950 Flt. Sgt. O. Sundaresiya, having noticed that a fire had broken out in one of the compartments of the 603 Down Jhansi Lucknow Passenger between Chirgaon and Moth Stations. As pulling the emergency communications cord failed to stop the train, he climbed out of his carriage and working his way along the foot boards at great personal risk, got as near to the engine as possible, attracted the attention of the engine crew and thus succeeded in bringing the train to a stop. But for his timely action, there might have been many causalities among the passengers and heavy damage to Railway property. He had been awarded on 26 Jan,1951

 

SHAURYA CHAKRA

“THIRD Most conspicuous bravery in the presence of other than in the face of the enemy”

The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously. It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards and comes after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra. It precedes the Sena Medal. So far this award has been conferred to2147 warriors.

First Recipient of the award:

Flt Lt .Brian Joseph Cannell is awarded by Shaurya Chakra on 26 Sep,1956 because on the morning of 27th November, 1955, Flt. Lt. Cannel left in an Auster aircraft for Mechukha and, after carrying out a difficult landing, had the patient placed in the aircraft. Flt. Lt. Cannel now faced the most difficult part of the rescue operation. He fully appreciated the fact that the take-off run was extremely short particularly as he was carrying heavy load for his light aircraft and operating from a high altitude. On his first take-off run he realised that he had failed to build up sufficient flying speed and immediately abandoned the attempt. He pushed the aircraft back to the take-off point with the aids of local tribesmen who also helped in clearing and levelling the ground further. On his second attempt he again realized that possibility of the aircraft not getting airborne in time, but acting with firm determination, although the under carriage of his aircraft struck a ditch beyond the small strip, he managed to get airborne by skilful piloting. He then flew back to base and landed safely with the patient who was immediately transferred to a hospital. Such acts of courage and disregard of personal danger to save others are in the best traditions of the I. A. F.

 

“RESPECT all your opponents, but FEAR none…”

 

“This world rests on the arms of heroes like a son on those of his sire. He, therefore, that is a hero deserves respect under every circumstance. There is nothing higher in the three worlds than heroism. The hero protects and cherishes all, and things depend upon the hero.”