Param Vir Chakra which honoured to the one whose most conspicuous bravery or some daring and pre eminent acts of valour or self sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, in the sea or in air, which saved his nation`s pride was introduced along with the Victoria Cross and other gallantry awards was formally introduced in 26th January 1950 which is to be personally received from the Indian President. The second highest award which is handed over to the enlisted personals of Indian Military is Maha Vir Chakra
Param Vir Chakra was designed by Savitri Khanolkar, born as Eva Yuonne Linda Maday-de-Maros with Hungarian father and Russian mother married to Vikram Khanolkar , an officer of Indian National Army. The medal which is a circular bronze disc with 1.375 inches in diameter holds the state emblem at the centre on a raised circle. Surrounded with colourful ribbons the metal short of the symbol is a piece of metal which has been decorated with the signs of Vajra (thunderbolts) which shall serve the purpose of Param vir Chakra. The Param Vir Chakra of present day is supposed to reflect the great mysterious weapons of the Vedic origin which should as effective as the Amogha Astra( unfailing weapons) used by Indra to kill Vitra , the demon of drought, to release the water for the benefit of people. Formally introduced on the republic day of India this award is one the great prides of Indian Military forces which shall grant Rs 1500 pm to its recipients.
Param Vir Chakra has included the most valuable soldiers of India every year. Along with others who received Param Vir Chakra due to their exemplary fearless fight in Kargil in 1999; Major Somnath Sharma who was the first recipient of Param Vir Chakra and Captain Vikram Batra who received the award during his fight in Kargil, belonged to the same village from the state of Himachal Pradesh. The others have been enlisted in the following table.
Number | Name | Regiment | Date | Place |
IC- 521 | Major Somnath Sharma | 4th battalion, Kumaon Regiment | 11/3/1947 | Badgam, Kashmir |
IC- 22356 | Lance Naik Karam Singh | Ist battalion, Sikh regiment | 10/13/1948 | Kashmir |
SS-14246 | Second Lieutenant Rama Raghobe Rane | Corps of engineers | 4/8/1948 | Kashmir |
27373 | Naik Jadu Nath Singh | Ist battalion, Rajput regiment | February 1948 | Kashmir |
2831592 | Company Havildar major Piru Singh Shekhawat | 6th regiment Rajputana rifles | 7/17/1948 - 7/18/1948 |
Kashmir |
IC-8497 | Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria | 3rd battalion Gurkha rifles | 12/5/1961 | Congo |
IC-7990 | Major Dhan Singh Thapa | Ist battalion , 8th Gurkha rifles | October 1962 | Ladakh India |
JC-4547 | Subedar Joginder Singh | Ist battalion , Sikh regiment | October 1962 | Northeast Frontier Agency India |
IC-7990 | Major Shaitan Singh | 13th battalion, Kumaon Regiment | November 1962 | Rezang la |
2639885 | Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid | 4th battalion, The grenadiers | September 1965 | Chima Khem Karan sector |
IC- 5565 | Lieutanent Colonel Ardeshir Burzoji Tarapore | 17th Poona Horses | October 1965 | Sialkot sector , Pakistan |
4239765 | Lance Naik Albert Ekka | 14th battalion, Brigades of the gaurds | December 1971 | Ganga sagar |
10877 F(P) | Flying officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon | No.18 Squardon, Indian Air Force | December 1971 | Srinagar, Kashmir |
IC- 25067 | 2/ lieutanent Arun Khetrapal | 17th Poona Horses | December 1971 | Shakargarh sector |
IC -14608 | Major Hoshiyar Singh | 3rd battalion , The grenadiers | December 1971 | Shakargarh sector |
JC-155825 | Naib Subedar Bana Singh | 8th battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry | 6/23/1987 | Siachin glacier Jammu and Kashmir |
IC 32907 | Major Ramaswamy Paramesharan | 8th battalion, Mahar regiment | November 1987 | Srilanka |
IC- 56959 | Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey | Ist battalion, 18th Gurkha rifles | 7/3/1999 | Kargil Kashmir |
2690572 | Grenedier Yoginder Singh Yadav | 18th battalion, The Grenadiers | 7/4/1999 | Kargil Kashmir |
13760533 | Rifleman Sanjay Kumar | 13th battalion Jammu and Kashmir rifles | 7/5/1999 | Kargil Kashmir |
IC- 57556 | Captain Vikram Batra | 13th battalion, Jammu and Kashmir rifles | 7/6/1999 | Kargil Kashmir |