Vir Chakra Explained

Vir Chakra
Presenter: Republic of India
Country: Republic of India
Type:Medal
Eligibility:Military Personnel Only
Awarded For:Acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land or at sea or in the air.
Status:Currently Awarded
Post-Nominals:VrC
Firstawarded:1947
Lastawarded:2021
Total Awarded Posthumously:362
Total Recipients:1335 [1]
Higher: Ati Vishisht Seva Medal[2]
Same: Shaurya Chakra
Lower: Yudh Seva Medal

The Vir Chakra (pronunciation: ʋiːɾa tʃakɾa,) is an Indian wartime military bravery award presented for acts of gallantry on the battlefield, on land or in the air or at sea.[3]

It is third in precedence in wartime gallantry awards and comes after the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.[4]

Origin

It was established by the President of India on 26 January 1950 (with effect from 15 August 1947). The statutes were amended on 12 January 1952 to readjust the order of wearing as new decorations were established.[5]

It replaced the British Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Military Cross (MC) and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Award of the decoration carries with it the right to use Vr.C. as a postnominal abbreviation [note the care to distinguish this abbreviation from that for the [[Victoria Cross]] (V.C.)

Appearance

The medal is inch circular silver medal.[6] A five pointed star, with the chakra in the centre, and, on this, the domed gilded state emblem. The decoration is named on the rim and suspended from a swiveling straight-bar suspender. The decoration is almost always named and dated on the edge. Around a plain centre, two legends are separated by lotus flowers; with Vir Chakra in Hindi above and in English below. The ribbon is 32 mm, half dark blue and half orange-saffron; dark blue 16 mm, saffron 16 mm.[7]

The award carries with it a cash allowance and, in some cases, a lump sum cash award. This has been a rather controversial issue throughout the life of the decoration. From 1 February 1999, the central government set a monthly stipend of Rs. 850 for recipients of the award. In addition, many states have established individual pension rewards for the recipients of the decoration.

List of Vir Chakra recipients

A total of 1327 personnel received Vir Chakra. Some of the notable Vir Chakra awardees include:[8]

Key
align=center style="width:50px;background-color:#e3d9ff;"†Indicates posthumous honour
Rank Recipient Service Date
LieutenantTGN PaiIndian Army19501947 Indo-Pakistan War[9]
JemadarKanikasamiIndian Army19471947 Indo-Pakistan War[10]
BrigadierHarbaksh SinghIndian Army1 May 19481948 Operation Polo[11]
Subedar Major and Honorary CaptainBhim ChandIndian Army23 August 1948 and 27 December 1948 (2)1947 Indo-Pakistan War[12] [13]
Air Vice MarshalRanjan DuttIndian Air Force26 Jan 19501947 Indo-Pakistan War[14]
MajorTirath Singh OberoiIndian Army26 Jan 19501947 Indo-Pakistan War[15]
Major GeneralAshwani Kumar DiwanIndian Army18 Nov 1962 1962 Sino-Indian War
Wing CommanderKrishan Kant SainiIndian Air Force18 Nov 19621962 Operation Leg Horn[16]
Lieutenant GeneralZorawar Chand BakshiIndian Army05 Aug 19651965 Operation Ablaze[17]
Wing CommanderTrevor KeelorIndian Air Force03 Sep 19651965 Operation Riddle[18]
Flight LieutenantVirendera Singh PathaniaIndian Air Force04 Sep 19651965 Operation Riddle[19] [20]
Air CommodoreAlfred Tyrone CookeIndian Air Force07 Sep 19651965 Operation Riddle[21]
Naib SubedarGanesh DattIndian Army07 Sep 19651965 Indo-Pakistan War[22]
Wing Commander Amar Jit Singh SandhuIndian Air Force17 Sep 19651965 Indo-Pakistan War[23] [24]
Air MarshalDenzil KeelorIndian Air Force19 Sep 19651965 Operation Riddle[25]
Lieutenant GeneralMohammad Ahmad ZakiIndian Army20 Sep 19651965 Operation Riddle[26]
AdmiralLaxminarayan RamdasIndian Navy01 Dec 19711971 Operation Cactus Lily[27]
BrigadierJK TomarIndian Army03 Dec 19711971 Operation Cactus Lily[28]
Lieutenant ColonelSatish NambiarIndian Army11 Dec 19711971 Indo-Pakistan War[29]
BrigadierP V SahadevanIndian Army16 Dec 19711971 Indo-Pakistan War[30]
Lieutenant ColonelVikram DeuskarIndian Army16 Dec 19711971 Indo-Pakistan War[31]
CaptainSatish Chander SehgalIndian Army, 75 Medium Regiment16 Dec 19711971 Battle of Basantar[32]
Air CommodoreJasjit SinghIndian Air Force17 Dec 19711971 Indo-Pakistan War[33]
HavildarGurdev Singh HansIndian Army17 Dec 19711971 Indo-Pakistan War[34]
Squadron LeaderRamesh Chander KohliIndian Air Force17 Dec 19711971 Indo-Pakistan War[35]
AdmiralArun PrakashIndian Navy21 Dec 19711971 Indo-Pakistan War[36]
Wing CommanderSukhdev Singh DhillonIndian Air Force17 Dec 19711971 Indo-Pakistan War[37]
Squadron LeaderM A GanapathyIndian Air force19721971 Battle of Boyra[38]
Group CaptainDonald ‘Don’ LazarusIndian Air force19721971 Battle of Boyra[39] [40]
Flight LieutenantLawrence Frederic PereiraIndian Air force26 Jan 19721971 Indo-Pakistan War[41]
NaikNaib Singh GillIndian Army, 6 Sikh Regiment26 Jan 19721971 Indo-Pakistan War[42]
Lieutenant GeneralFrancis Tiburtius DiasIndian Army15 August 19721971 Indo-Pakistan War[43]
MajorNgangom Joy Dutta SinghIndian Army26 Jan 19881987 Operation Pawan[44]
Major-GeneralDalvir SinghIndian Army26 Jan 19881987 Jaffna University Helidrop[45]
Lieutenant CommanderDeepak AgarwalIndian Navy26 Jan 19881987 Operation Pawan[46]
SepoyKamkholam KukiIndian Army, Assam Regiment17 Dec 19891987 Operation Pawan[47]
Flight LieutenantAbdul Naseer Hanfee[48] Indian Air Force, 128 Helicopter Unit26 January 19891984 Operation Meghdoot[49]
Jintu GogoiIndian Army, 18 Garhwal Rifles15 Aug 19991999 Operation Vijay[50]
Squadron LeaderAjay AhujaIndian Air Force01 Jan 19991999 Operation Safed Sagar[51]
ColonelMagod Basappa RavindranathIndian Army, 2 Rajputana Rifles28 Jun 19991999 Battle of Tololing[52]
Lieutenant ColonelRamakrishnan VishwanathanIndian Army, 18 GrenadiersJun 19991999 Battle of Tololing[53]
L/HavildarRam KumarIndian Army, 18 GrenadiersJun 19991999 Battle of Tololing[54]
MajorMariappan SaravananIndian Army, 1st Bihar Regiment15 Aug 19991999 Operation Vijay[55]
ColonelLalit RaiIndian Army, 1/11 GR15 Aug 19991999 Operation Vijay[56]
Lieutenant ColonelYogesh Kumar JoshiIndian Army, 13 JAK RIF15 Aug 19991999 Operation Vijay[57]
CaptainSanjeev Singh JamwalIndian Army, 13 JAK RIF15 Aug 19991999 Operation Vijay[58]
GunnerSanjeev Gopala PillaiIndian Army, 4 Medium Regiment15 Aug 19991999 Operation Vijay[59]
CaptainVijyant ThaparIndian Army, 2 Rajputana Rifles16 Dec 19991999 Operation Vijay[60]
L/HavildarChuni LalIndian Army, 8 JAK LI30 Aug 20001999 Operation Vijay[61]
Wing CommanderAbhinandan VarthamanIndian Air Force15 Aug 20192019 India-Pakistan Standoff[62]
Naib SubedarNuduram SorenIndian Army, 16th Bihar Regiment26 Jan 20212020 Operation Snow Leopard[63]
NaikDeepak SinghIndian Army, 16th Bihar Regiment26 Jan 20212020 Operation Snow Leopard[64]
SepoyGurtej SinghIndian Army, 3rd Punjab Regiment26 Jan 20212020 Operation Snow Leopard[65]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Awardees . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170816111331/http://gallantryawards.gov.in/awardees-0 . 2017-08-16 . Gallantry Awards.
  2. Web site: Precedence Of Medals. indianarmy.nic.in/. Indian Army. 9 September 2014.
  3. Web site: TDA - The Defence Aspirant Academy . tdaacademy.in . 29 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221229110458/https://www.tdaacademy.in/blog/post/eyJpdiI6Ik54R3dzZ2R1RFhZTUgxT3duM2hCd2c9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiaW5HbHFTM2drTnBPKy9nR2hlemk4dz09IiwibWFjIjoiNWRmZTg5OWMzZmJhN2JmMDJkYWNiNzUyNzc2ZmEyOGQ3NjQwYjc3MzY4OGY3Y2EyMjcyMzc1M2QzOWNkMTRkOCIsInRhZyI6IiJ9 . 29 December 2022.
  4. Web site: Vir Chakra. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021205055532/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Awards/awavrc.htm . 2002-12-05 .
  5. News: Vir Chakra: India's Third Highest Gallantry Award .
  6. https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/assets/uploads/guidelines/rules-and-regulation-2020-10-141.pdf "Statutes and rules relating to the awards of the Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Air Chakra"
  7. Web site: Bharat Raksahk Monitor: Volume 3(6) . Bharat-rakshak.com . 2013-07-10.
  8. Web site: Awardees . 12 January 2023 . MoD, GOI.
  9. Web site: Major TGN Pai . Gallantry Awards .
  10. Web site: Jemadar Kanikasami . Gallantry Awards .
  11. Web site: Brigadier Harbaksh Singh . Gallantry Awards .
  12. Web site: Subedar Major and Hony Captain (then Subedar) BHIM CHAND . gallantryawards.gov.in.
  13. Web site: Subedar Major and Honorary Captain (then Subedar) BHIM CHAND Vir Chakra . gallantryawards.gov.in.
  14. Web site: Air Vice Marshal Ranjan Dutt . Gallantry Awards .
  15. Web site: Major Tirath Singh Oberoi . Gallantry Awards . twdi.in.
  16. Web site: Wing Commander Krishan Kant Saini . Gallantry Awards .
  17. Web site: Lieutenant General Zorawar Chand Bakshi . Gallantry Awards .
  18. Web site: Wing Commander Trevor Keelor . Gallantry Awards .
  19. Web site: Flight Lieutenant Virendera Singh Pathania . Gallantry Awards .
  20. Web site: Group Captain Virendera Singh Pathania.
  21. Web site: Air Commodore Alfred Tyrone Cooke . Gallantry Awards .
  22. Web site: Naib Subedar Ganesh Datt . Gallantry Awards .
  23. Web site: Wing Commander Amarjit Singh Sandhu . Gallantry Awards .
  24. Web site: Service Record for Wing Commander Amar Jit Singh Sandhu 4705 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com . 2022-07-14 . Bharat Rakshak . en-gb.
  25. Web site: Air Marshal Denzil Keelor . Gallantry Awards .
  26. Web site: Lieutenant General Mohammad Ahmad Zaki . Gallantry Awards .
  27. Web site: Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas . Gallantry Awards .
  28. Web site: Brigadier JK Tomar . Gallantry Awards .
  29. Web site: Lieutenant Colonel Satish Nambiar . Gallantry Awards .
  30. Web site: Brigadier P V Sahadevan . Gallantry Awards .
  31. Web site: Lieutenant Colonel Vikram Denkar . Gallantry Awards .
  32. Web site: Captain Satish Chander Sehgal . Gallantry Awards .
  33. Web site: Air Commodore Jasjit Singh . Gallantry Awards .
  34. Web site: Havildar Gurdev Singh . Gallantry Awards .
  35. Web site: Squadron Leader Ramesh Chander Kohli . Gallantry Awards .
  36. Web site: Admiral Arun Prakash . Gallantry Awards .
  37. Web site: Wing Commander Sukhdev Singh Dhillon . Gallantry Awards .
  38. Web site: Squadron Leader M A Ganapathy . Gallantry Awards .
  39. Web site: Group Captain Donald ‘Don’ Lazarus . Gallantry Awards .
  40. Web site: In 1971, the Indian Air Force shot down 3 Pakistani planes within 3 minutes . https://web.archive.org/web/20210803121408/https://guardingindia.com/pakistan/in-1971-the-indian-air-force-shot-down-3-pakistani-planes-within-3-minutes/ . 2021-08-03.
  41. Web site: Flight Lieutenant Lawrence Frederic Pereira . Gallantry Awards .
  42. Web site: Naik Naib Singh Gill . Gallantry Awards .
  43. Web site: Lieutenant-General Francis Tiburtius Dias . Gallantry Awards .
  44. Web site: VrC Major Ngangom Joy Dutta Singh . Gallantry Awards .
  45. Web site: Major General Dalvir Singh . Gallantry Awards .
  46. Web site: Lieutenant Commander Deepak Agarwal . Gallantry Awards .
  47. Web site: Vir Chakra (VrC) Awardee: Nk Kamkholam Kuki, VrC .
  48. Web site: Vir Chakra Awardee Capt Abdul Naseer Flew MI-17 Tirelessly to Help India Win Siachen in 1987. 11 November 2017.
  49. Web site: Flight Lieutenant Abdul Naseer Hanfee . Gallantry Awards .
  50. Web site: Captain Jintu Gogoi . Gallantry Awards .
  51. Web site: Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja . Gallantry Awards .
  52. Web site: Colonel Magod Basappa Ravindranath . Gallantry Awards .
  53. Web site: Lieutenant Colonel Ramakrishnan Vishwanathan . Gallantry Awards .
  54. Web site: L/Havildar Ram Kumar . Gallantry Awards .
  55. Web site: Major Mariappan Saravanan . Gallantry Awards .
  56. Web site: Colonel Lalit Rai . Gallantry Awards .
  57. Web site: Lt Col Yogesh Kumar Joshi . Gallantry Awards .
  58. Web site: Captain Sanjeev Singh Jamwal . Gallantry Awards .
  59. Web site: Gunner Sanjeev Gopala Pillai . Gallantry Awards .
  60. Web site: Captain Vijyant Thapar . Gallantry Awards .
  61. Web site: Havildar Chuni Lal . Gallantry Awards .
  62. Web site: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman . Gallantry Awards .
  63. Web site: Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren . Gallantry Awards .
  64. Web site: Naik Deepak Singh . Gallantry Awards .
  65. Web site: Sepoy Gurtej Singh . Gallantry Awards .

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