Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)
Ashoka Chakra | |
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![]() ![]() Ashoka Chakra and its ribbon | |
Type | Medal |
Awarded for | Awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy.[1] |
Description | India's highest peacetime military decoration |
Country | ![]() |
Presented by | ![]() |
Eligibility |
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Post-nominals | AC |
Status | Active |
Established | 1952 |
First awarded | 1952 |
Last awarded | 2021 |
Total | 98 (As of 2023)[2][3] |
Total awarded posthumously | 68 |
Total recipients | 98 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | ![]() |
Equivalent | ![]() |
Next (lower) | ![]() |
The Ashoka Chakra (alternative spelling: Ashok Chakra, lit. 'Wheel of Ashoka') is India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy. The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel.
Havildar Bachittar Singh and Naik Narbahadur Thapa were the first recipients of the Ashoka Chakra. Subsequent awards of the Ashoka Chakra are recognized by a bar to the medal ribbon. A recipient can be awarded the Kirti Chakra or Shaurya Chakra in addition to separate acts of gallantry.
History
[edit]The medal was originally established on 4 January 1952 as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class I" as the first step of a three-class sequence of non-combatant bravery decorations. In 1967, these decorations were removed from the "class-based" system and renamed as the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. This is an important point in understanding the independent Indian view of decorations. It would also lead to changes in the Padma Vibhushan series, the distinguished service medal series, the life-saving medal series, and the Defence Security Corps medal series.
From 1 February 1999, the central government instituted a monthly stipend for Ashoka Chakra recipients of Rs. 1400. Jammu and Kashmir awarded a cash award of Rs. 1500 for recipients of this award.
Overview
[edit]Obverse: Circular gold gilt, 1-3/8 inches in diameter. In the center, the chakra (wheel) of Ashoka, is surrounded by a lotus wreath with an ornate edge. Suspended by a straight bar suspender. The medal is named on the edge.
Reverse: Blank in the center, with "Ashoka Chakra" in Hindi along the upper edge on the medal and the same name in English along the lower rim. On either side is a lotus design. The center is blank, perhaps with the intent that details of the award be engraved there. There is no indication of the class on the pre-1967 awards, and, in fact, there is no difference between these medals & the post-1967 awards.
Ribbon: 32 mm, dark green with a 2 mm central saffron stripe.
Ashoka Chakra recipients
[edit]As of August 2021[update], the medal has been awarded to 86 awardees, of which 68 were to posthumous recipients. The rank refers to the rank held by the recipient at the time of award. Action refers to the conflict or event during which the Ashoka Chakra was awarded.
* | Indicates posthumous honour |
Ashoka Chakra recipients by year and service
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Superlatives
[edit]![]() | This section contains a list of miscellaneous information. (August 2021) |
- Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri (aged 20 when posthumously awarded) was the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
- Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair was awarded both Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra.
- Damodar Kashinath Jatar, a pilot of Air India's Kashmir Princess was the first civilian recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
- Colonel Yury Malyshev and Flight Engineer Gennadi Strekalov from Russia were the first foreign recipients of the Ashoka Chakra (both were astronauts).
- Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma is the first Indian astronaut to be awarded the Ashoka Chakra.
- Neerja Bhanot, a flight attendant of PAN AM was the first female recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
- Kamlesh Kumari Yadav, a constable of CRPF was the first recipient of the Ashoka Chakra from Central Armed Police Forces.
- Bhure Lal, a constable from Madhya Pradesh Police was the first state policeman to be awarded the Ashoka Chakra (Shankar Lal Shrivastava, a retired head constable from Madhya Pradesh Police was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 1967)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Chakravorty, B.C. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. New Delhi: Allied Publishers. ISBN 978-81-7023-516-3.
- ^ a b "Official Website of Indian Army". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ "Awardees - Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in.
- ^ a b "Martyred Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala joins elite IAF club tomorrow | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 25 January 2018.
- ^ "Awards Warb" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ Chakravorty 1995, p. 40.
- ^ "Precedence of Medals". Indian Army. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ^ "Precedence of Medals". indianarmy.nic.in/. Indian Army. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Precedence of Medals". Indian Army, Govt of India official website.
- ^ "As Jammu and Kashmir Police bags gallantry medals, DGP heaps praises". Hindustan Times. 14 August 2021.
- ^ "411 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". pib.nic.in. Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Ashoka Chakra recipients (2009–16)". Indian Army Web Portal. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ "The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee giving away the highest gallantry award Ashok Chakra to Shri K. Venkatraman father of the Reserve Inspector, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Shri K.L.V.S.S.H.N.V. Prasad Babu, (Posthumous), during the 65th Republic Day Parade 2014, in New Delhi on January 26, 2014". Press Information Bureau, India. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Ashoka Chakra awardees and their saga of gallantry" (Press release). Press Information Bureau, India. 25 January 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Ashoka Chakra recipients (1993–2009)". Indian Army Web Portal. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ "Suresh Chand Yadav". National Security Guards. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Ashoka Chakra recipients (1952–92)". Indian Army Web Portal. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ Aggarwal, Rashmi (2021). "Sri Takhat Singh". Ashoka Chakra Recipients. p. 63.
External links
[edit]- Ashoka Chakra at Indian Army website
- Bharat Rakshak Page on Ashoka Chakra (archived)
- Ashoka Chakra awardees of the Indian Air Force. Archived 20 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine.
- Recipients of Ashoka Chakra Award