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The Rediff Special/Colonel John Taylor (retd)

By winning a gallantry award a soldier becomes part of his 'Regimental History'

On every 26^th January and 15^th August, a list of decorations and awards are announced. Gallantry awards are presented by the President (who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces). These are very solemn occasions and a matter of great pride, both for the recipients (and their battalions) and the nation.

The lists are normally very long. This year as many as two Param Vir Chakras, 24 Param Vishist Seva Medals, one Ashok Chakra, few Kirti Chakras, 44 Vishist Seva Medals, one Vir Chakra and 19 Shaurya Chakras were announced. The nation watched with pride as the President awarded the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakras during this year's Republic Day Parade. They all went to the heroes and martyrs of the Kargil conflict.

The man in street must be wondering sometimes -- why are there so many decorations and awards each year? How are they given and what is the criteria?

The Indian Armed Forces, especially the Army, is deployed in various conflict and low conflict and scenarios, such as:

Total war: The operations conducted in J&K in 1948. The 1962 Sino-Indian border conflict. The 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan and the recently concluded Kargil war.

Deployment on the borders, LoC in J&K and NEFA: Firing and shelling goes on for days. At times war like situation can flare up any time on the Line of Control - like it happened in Kargil.

Counter-insurgency operations: Conducting operations against insurgents in Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur and J&K.

Overseas missions: The Indian Army has been deployed as part of the UN troops in Korea, Gaya, Somalia and Lebanon. Indian troops also formed part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and were called to help overthrow a coup in the Maldeve islands.

Aid to civil authority: On a number of occasions the armed forces have been called out in "aid to civil authority", mainly addressing natural calamities like floods, earthquakes and cyclones. The armed forces have done yeoman service and have been the first to provide help and succour to hapless victims. Relief work by the Army during the earthquakes in the Chamoli district of Himachal Pradesh and the Orissa supercyclone are a few examples.

Decorations and awards are broadly divided into two categories:

Gallantry awards: In the face of the enemy and war like situations

Awards for distinguished service: Not in the face of the enemy

Gallantry awards

Param Vir Chakra, PVC:
This is the highest gallantry award given for outstanding courage of the highest order, in the face of the enemy. For defying all odds and discarding one's own personal safety and accomplishing the given mission or task. This award is given for exceptional bravery against great odds. Invariably the recipient makes the supreme sacrifice. There are very few living PVCs. Lt Col Dhan Singh Thapa, 1/8 Gorkha Rifles (1962) and Maj Hoshiar Singh, 3 Grenadiers (1971) were the first two.

Maha Vir Chakra, MVC:
This is the next highest gallantry award given for exceptional bravery and is a very coveted award. To win this award large number of recipients have also laid down their lives while accomplishing their missions.

Vir Chakra, VC:
The last but not the least of the gallantry awards for exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy. Like every cricketer wants to score a century, every soldier dreams of winning a VC in war - a great honour indeed.

All three gallantry awards are common to the three services. These awards are presented by the President (especially the PVC and MVC) during the Republic Day Parade.

Sena Medal (Army), Nao Sena Medal (Navy) and Vayu Sena Medal (Air Force):
These are also gallantry awards given to the three services. These awards are given during an investiture ceremony (parade) by the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Naval and Air Force chiefs.

There are some peace time gallantry awards (not in the face of the enemy but against armed insurgents like the Naga rebels and ULFA, who are considered "misguided" nationals):

Ashok Chakra:
The highest award.

Shaurya Chakra and Kirti Chakra:
Awarded for gallantry during counter-insurgency operations.

Certain awards are given in war like situations abroad like in Sri Lanka, Lebanon etc. This is not "in the face of the enemy and is normally for services rendered." They include the following:

Sarvotam Yuddh Seva Medal
Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal
Yuddh Seva Medal

Awards given for distinguished service and devotion to duty include:

Param Vishist Seva Medal, PVSM:
Normally given to Lieutenant Generals and above (and their equivalents in the Navy and Air Force) for "services rendered" and outstanding contributions during their service.

Ati Vishist Seva Medal, AVSM:
Normally given to Major Generals and above for the same reasons given above (and their equivalents in the Navy and Air Force).

These two awards are presented by the President in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Vishist Seva Medal, VSM:
Awarded to any deserving soldier, sailor, airmen up to Brigadier (and their equivalent) rank presented by the three respective chiefs/ army commanders during an investiture ceremony/parade.

Recommendations for Awards:
As mentioned earlier, gallantry awards like PVC, MVC, VC and Seva Medal are earned in war or war like situation in the face of the enemy. Whenever there is a dangerous mission or one which requires courage and exceptional bravery like the capture of Haji Pir, Tiger Hill on the fall of Dhaka or action in Longoval. On completion of the mission, when it is against heavy odds, the particular action is highlighted giving details of what exactly was the situation, what action was taken and by whom. The battalion commander recommends the officer, JCO, NCO or the jawan who played a key role in overcoming the enemy. Only the man who inspired his comrades and men, who led from the front and who overcame heavy odds, gets recommended for a gallantry award.

Though every soldier is supposed to be brave and courageous in battle, it is those who give that little more (sometimes their lives) who are recommended for gallantry awards.

Getting recommended for awards is no guarantee that the person will get an award. Awards are processed as follows:

Action
Recommended by brigade commander
Processed at brigade Hqs (can be rejected or lesser award recommended)
Processed at Divisional Hq ( -- do--)
Processed at Corps Hq ( -- do--)
Processed at Command Hq ( -- do--)
Processed at Army Hq (Delhi)
Processed at the Defence Ministry

The Defence Ministry approves awardees and the list is sent to Army Hq for release to the media and others, including the awardees.

Only the most deserving are recommended for awards, especially gallantry awards. The action or deeds of courage have to be exceptional.

For our foreign readers and NRIs, a comparison with the British Army Awards would throw a little more light on the awards. The Param Vir Chakra is the equivalent of the Victoria Cross, VC, the Maha Vir Chakra to the Indian Order of Merit and the Vir Chakra to the Military Cross, MC.

Getting a gallantry award is a matter of great pride both for the recipient and his battalion. He becomes part of his "Regimental History" and adds further laurels to his battalion's honours and achievements. He also does his country proud. That is why it is the ultimate dream and desire of every officer and jawan to be decorated in war with a gallantry award.

The Rediff Specials

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