Vir Chakra
Encyclopedia
Vir Chakra is an India
n gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield
. Award of the decoration carried 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.). It is third in precedence in the war time gallantry awards and comes after the Param Vir Chakra
and Maha Vir Chakra
.
in the center, 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 center, two legends separated by lotus flowers; above Vir Chakra in Hindi
and in English
. The ribbon is 32 mm, half dark blue and half orange-saffron. Dark blue 16 mm, saffron 16 mm.
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.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
. Award of the decoration carried 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
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(V.C.). It is third in precedence in the war time gallantry awards and comes after the Param Vir Chakra
Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. It can be, and often has been, awarded posthumously....
and Maha Vir Chakra
Maha Vir Chakra
The Maha Vir Chakra 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 extraordinarily brave.-Appearance:The medal is made...
.
Origin
Established by the President of India on 26 January 1950 (with effect from 15 August 1947). The statutes were amended 12 January 1952 to readjust the order of wearing as new decorations were established.Appearance
The medal is 1-3/8 inch circular silver medal. A five pointed star, with the chakraChakra
Chakra is a concept originating in Hindu texts, featured in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning" .Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices...
in the center, 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 center, two legends separated by lotus flowers; above Vir Chakra in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. The ribbon is 32 mm, half dark blue and half orange-saffron. Dark blue 16 mm, saffron 16 mm.
Notable Vir Chakra Awardees
Some are listed:- 2nd Lt. Hardev Pal Nayyar SS-23397
- Denzil KeelorDenzil KeelorDenzil Keelor VrC was a hero of the Indo-Pakistani war. He was honoured with a number of medals including the Veer Chakra, the Param Vishist Sewa Medal, the Keerti Chakra and the Ati Vishist Sewa Medal. He has a younger brother, Trevor, who was also honoured for his service in the Indian Air Force...
- Trevor KeelorTrevor KeelorTrevor Keelor, VrC, was a hero of the Indo-Pakistani war. He was honoured with a number of medals including the Vir Chakra and the Vayu Sena Medal. He had an elder brother, Denzil, who was also honoured for his service in the Indian Air Force. Both brothers have a Vir Chakra for the same feat of...
- Krishan Kant SainiKrishan Kant SainiWing Commander Krishan Kant Saini, Vr.C., AVSM ' , an Indian Airforce helicopter pilot of 104 Squadron, set the world record in helicopter avionics by accomplishing the world's highest altitude helicopter landing. He attained this feat on 8 May 1969 when he landed Chetak helicopter at the...
- Mohammad Ahmed Zaki
- Satish NambiarSatish NambiarLieutenant General Chenicheri Satish Nambiar is an Indian general who achieved international recognition as the first Force Commander and Head of Mission of UNPROFOR, the United Nations Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia, between March 1992 and March 1993...
- BT Pandit
- Capt Ashok K Karkare,Arty
- RN Gupta
- Doraiswamy
- Arun PrakashArun PrakashAdmiral Arun Prakash PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, Indian Navy, served as Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy and Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee from 31 July 2004 to 31 October 2006...
- Jerry Prem RajJerry Prem RajCaptain Jerry Prem Raj, VrC was a commissioned officer in the Indian Army during the Kargil War. He was the officer in charge of India's fight at Tiger Hill on July 9, 1999, during which he was severely injured. He died later the same day. Because of his effort in the battle, he was declared a war...
- Rajiq KhanRajiq KhanRajiq Khan was a posthumous recipient of the Vir Chakra gallantry medal, awarded to him for showing acts of exceptional devotion to duty & courage in 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. Khan served with the 5 Grenadiers unit of the Indian army . He was born in Bikaner in the state of Rajasthan in India.-...
- Shish Ram GillShish Ram GillHawaldar Shish Ram Gill , Vir Chakra, was in 8th Jat Regiment of the Indian Army. He was born at village Vishanpura in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India...
- Laxminarayan RamdasLaxminarayan RamdasAdmiral Laxminarayan Ramdas served as Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian navy taking the reins on November 30, 1990. He was commissioned in the Indian navy on September 1, 1953.-Career:...
- Zafar Ali Shah
- Harbaksh SinghHarbaksh SinghLt General Harbaksh Singh was a senior Indian Army officer who played a key role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Vir Chakra....
- Subedar Randhir SinghSubedar Randhir SinghSubedar Randhir Singh of Balkara village near Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani district in Haryana, won the Vir Chakra award in Kargil War. A middle school is named Martyr Subedar Randhir Singh middle school Balkara. He was in 18 Grenadier Regiment. He was born in a Hindu Jat family of Kaliramna gotra.-His...
- Sunil KhokharSunil KhokharSunil Khokhar was a captain of the Indian Artillery who died during Operation Meghdoot at the Siachen Glacier. He was awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously.-References:* on Indian Army list of martyrs....
- Vijayant ThaparVijayant ThaparCaptain Vijyant Thapar was an officer of the Indian Army and belonged to the famous 2 Rajputana Rifles . He was posthumously awarded India's high military honour the Vir Chakra by the president, for his audacious bravery during the Kargil War...
- Gopal Krishna TrivediGopal Krishna TrivediGopal Krishna Trivedi was a prominent Saraswat Brahmin of IndiaBorn to a physician father and irish mother, had caucacean features and blond hair.He was quite proficient in English, Hindi and Sanskrit. He was a colonel in the Indian army in the Grenadiers. He received the Vir Chakra award in Indo...
- Haneef Uddin
- Zorawar Chand BakhshiZorawar Chand BakhshiLt. Gen. Zorawar Chand Bakhshi is a retired soldier of the Indian Army, and has the distinction of being "India's most decorated General"-Family and Early Life:...
- Gurdev Singh Hans
- Gopalam Lakshminarayana Swamy
- Wing CommanderWing Commander (rank)Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Vishnu Narain Johri - Nb Sub Chuni LalChuni LalNaib Subedar Chuni Lal, Ashok Chakra, Vir Chakra, Sena Medal was a soldier of 8th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry of Indian Army...
, VrC, SM (Gallantry) - Lieutenant Ram Lal Chauhan (1947)
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.