Kirti Chakra Gallantry Awards-2014
Kirti Chakra is
the second highest peace time gallantry award i.e. awarded for valour,
courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. The
President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee presented gallantry awards to defense
personnel for their distinguished services at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Wing Commander Darryl Castelino: Awarded
posthumously for his role in operation Rahat in Uttarakhand where his chopper
crashed with 20 personnel on board after he had helped in rescuing lives of
more than 80 people.
Major Mahesh Kumar (Punjab Regiment): Awarded for his
gallant acts in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir where he
killed 4 terrorists in three separate incidents.
Caption Abhilash Tomy: Awarded for
completing world voyage on his sail ship non-stop and without any external
support in 151 days.
Param Vishist seva medals (15): Lt Gen Ashok
Singh of Infantary, Air Marshal Jaswinder Singh Chauhan of Air Force and Vice Admiral
Niranjan Kumar Nadella, etc.
Two Uttam Yudh seva medals and ten Shaurya Chakra awards were also
conferred to the defence personnel.
GALLANTRY AWARDS
The
art of appreciating the brave and gallant is not new. They form one of the most
important constituents of a nation’s stability. History defines gallantry
as commanded respect and appreciation. The concept of emancipation of the brave
is cognizant in our Epics too. In the Mahabharata, the merit of dying as a
martyr in the cause of Dharma is all along appreciated as the easiest way to
heaven. In fact, any kind of death on the battlefield was considered glorious.
Whether
being the appointed head of a clan, raised memorials in honour of the
martyrs/brave souls or granted titles, robe of honour, cash awards or medals
etc., recognition of bravery has always been a very prestigious affair. The
conclusion of British Rule in India saw the end of the old institution of
British honours and awards. Independent India saw the introduction of awards
such as Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir
Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra etc.
Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
Param
Vir Chakra (PVC) is the highest gallantry award for officers and other enlisted
personnel of all military branches of India for the highest degree of valour in
the presence of the enemy. Introduced on 26th January 1950, this
award may be given posthumously.
Literally,
Param Vir Chakra means 'Wheel (or Cross) of the Ultimate Brave'. In Sanskrit,
'Param means Ultimate, 'Vir (Pronounced veer) means Brave and 'Chakra means
Wheel.
The
PVC is the equivalent award of the Medal of Honour in the United States, and
the Victoria Cross in the United Kingdom.
One
amongst the luminous recipients of this honour was Flying Officer Nirmal
Jiit Singh Sekhon, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously in the
year 1971. He is the lone Indian Air Force officer to have been honoured with
the Param Vir Chakra till date.
Maha Vir Chakra
The Maha Vir
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. It may be awarded posthumously. Literally Maha
Veer means great warrior.
The medal is
made of standard silver and is circular in shape. Embossed on the obverse is a
five pointed heraldic star with circular center-piece bearing the gilded state
emblem of India in the center. The words "Mahavira Chakra" are
embossed in Devanagari and English on the reverse with two lotus flowers in the
middle. The decoration is worn on the left chest with a half-white and
half-orange ri-band about 3.2 cm in width, the orange being near the left
shoulder.
Ashok Chakra
The
Ashok Chakra series of awards are open to civilians also. Recommendations
received in respect of civilians from the State Governments/Union territory
Administra-tions and Ministries/Departments of the Central Government are
processed by the Ministry of Defence for the consideration of the Central
Honours and Awards Committee chaired by the Defence Minister. These awards are
biannual and are given on the Republic Day and Independence Day.
Kirti Chakra
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.
Shaurya Chakra
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 the peacetime equivalent
of the Vir Chakra. It is generally awarded for Counter-Insurgency operations
and actions against the enemy during peace-time. 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. Before 1967, the award was known
as the Ashoka Chakra, Class III.
Since July, 1999, it also being given to
Civilians of either sex in all walks of life, other than members of Police
Forces and of recognized Fire Services. From 1 February 1999, the central
government set a monthly stipend of Rs. 750 for recipients of the award. Jammu
and Kashmir awards a cash award of Rs. 700 (ca. 1960) for recipients of the
Shaurya Chakra.
Bravery Awards
The national awards for bravery was started in 1957 by the
Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) (External website that opens in a new
window) to recognise and honour children who have performed outstanding deeds
of bravery and selfless sacrifice. Every year the ICCW confers these awards to
children below 16years of age.
Applications
for these awards are acknowledged from Central/State government departments,
Panchayats, Zila Parishads, school authorities as well as state and Union
Territory councils for child welfare. The selection is made by a committee
constituted by the ICCW, comprising of representatives from the Secretariats of
the President and the Vice-President, various ministries, as well as the
Central Social Welfare Board, police, All India Radio, Doordarshan and leading
NGOs such as the National Bal Bhavan, SOS, Children's Villages of India, R K
Mission and experienced ICCW members.
The
awards are announced on November 14 (Children's Day) and the Prime Minister
presents the awards on the eve of Republic Day. The awardees receive a medal,
certificate and cash as a token of their indispensable courage.
In
addition to this, some of them are also granted financial assistance to
complete their schooling (ICCW's sponsorship programme) and professional
courses such as medical and engineering (under the Indira Gandhi scholarship
scheme). Assistance is also provided to some till they complete their
graduation.
Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards
The
Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of awards are given for courage and promptitude
under circumstances of great danger to the life or bodily injury of the
rescuer, displayed in an act or a series of acts of humane nature, in saving
life from drowning, fire, rescue operations in mines, etc. Recommendations for
Jeevan Raksha Padak series of awards are received from the State
Government/Union Territory, Administrations and Ministries /Departments of the
Government of India.
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