PARAM VEER CHAKRA

The Param Veer 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

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Following categories of persons are eligible for the Param Veer Chakra:

• Men and women officers 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 sex serving regularly or temporarily under the orders, directions or supervision of any of the above-mentioned Forces.

The PVC isequivalent to the Medal of Honor in the United States and the Victoria Cross in the United Kingdom

History of the Highest Gallantry Award- Param Veer Chakra

The medal was designed by Mrs. Savitri Khanolankar (born Eva Yuonne Linda Maday-de-Maros to a Hungarian father and Russian mother), who was married to an Indian Army officer. By sheer coincidence, the first PVC was posthumously awarded to her son-in-law, Major Somnath Sharma for his bravery in the Kashmir operations in November 1947.

The medal symbolises great sage, Dadhichi, who, according to the Indian mythology, donated his thigh bones to GODs for making Vajra and Shivaji’s sword, Bhawani.

The medal is of 1-3/8 inch radius and is made of bronze. In the centre, on a raised circle is the State emblem, surrounding which are the four replicas of Indra’s Vajra. The decoration is suspended from a straight swivelling suspension bar. On the rear, around a plain centre, two legends separated by lotus flowers, the words ‘Param Veer Chakra’ are written in Hindi and English.

The ribbon which holds the Param Veer Chakra is of 32 mm length and purple in colour. The award carries a cash allowance for those under the rank of Second Lieutenant (or the appropriate service equivalent) and, in some cases, a lump-sum cash award.