India -- Param Vir Chakra

[Ed_Haynes]

While some of these have been shown in another thread -- http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18141 -- I have come to know that some interest apparently exists in having dedicated threads on some of these awards.

So, in partial commemoration of India's upcoming (26 January) 59th Republic Day, . . . .

Param Vir Chakra

Awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy.

While a draft warrant was prepared in 1948, constitutional issues postponed the creation until India became a republic on 26 January 1948. In many ways, and the design suggests this, this is a close parallel to the British Victoria Cross. This is the only easy comparison to make between the awards of independent India and the old British awards.

To date, there have been 21 awards, 20 to the Indian Army and one to the Indian Air Force.

I know of only one PVC that has come on the market and its background was rather "cloudy". What is shown here is an unawarded specimen, as used to be sold by the Indian Mint; this is ex-ANS Collection.

Edited January 23, 2009 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

While, to date, no second or subsequent awards have been made, a special bar was designed for such awards.

[Ulsterman]

Are they engraved on the back or rim at all? What are they struck from? Bronze?

What sort of pension extras does one receive for this award?

Just looked at the MOD site. 14/21 posthumous awards is quite something. That Captain Sarian leading the bayonet charge against the Katagans is really a hair-raising story! Bayonets, grenades, SMGs, machetes, spears, kukris-yee Gods, it must've looked a bit like Actium!

Edited January 24, 2009 by Ulsterman

[Ed_Haynes]

Are they engraved on the back or rim at all? What are they struck from? Bronze?

What sort of pension extras does one receive for this award?

Just looked at the MOD site. 14/21 posthumous awards is quite something. That Captain Sarian leading the bayonet charge against the Katagans is really a hair-raising story! Bayonets, grenades, SMGs, machetes, spears, kukris-yee Gods, it must've looked a bit like Actium!

Bronze, but not claimed to be anyone's captured anythings.

The three I have seen are named on the rim. Two nicely, one poorly (the most recent - no surprise).

Pensions? Very complex, very controversial. I know a good book that covers those.

Regarding Salaria, see http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=33577 - opinions may differ on his award. Interesting in that, to date, his has been the only "UN service" PVC.

Read Ian Cardozo, Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle ([New Delhi]: Roli Books, [2003]; ISBN 81-7436-262-2). While a popular book, still very moving and very valuable. (And written by a very modest hero in his own right; anyone who amputates his own injured leg with his own kukri . . . . And a GREAT person.)

Edited January 30, 2009 by Ed_Haynes

[Ulsterman]

whoa- amputated his own leg?

Well, I know what's on to "buy list" next month (after your book).

[Ed_Haynes]

whoa- amputated his own leg?

Yeah, he came out of a helicopter in Bangadesh in 1971, stepped on a landmine, boom, did his surgery, tied it off with his belt, found a stick and kept going. And then, his hardest job, to persuade the bosses to keep him in uniform after his prostesis had been fitted. (All he got was a Wound Medal!) Has become a major activist for "handicapped" rights after his retirement.