Ashoka Chakra (military decoration): Difference between revisions

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{{about|the military decoration|the symbol|Ashoka Chakra}}
{{short description|India's highest peacetime military decoration}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox military award
{{Infobox military award
| name            = Ashoka Chakra<br> अशोक चक्र
| name            = Ashoka Chakra
| image            = [[File:Ashoka-chakra.png|350px]]<br/><br/>[[Image:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|150px]]
| image            = [[File:Ashoka-chakra.png|350px]]<br/><br/>[[Image:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|150px]]
| caption          = Ashoka Chakra and its ribbon, the highest peacetime decoration of India
| caption          = Ashoka Chakra and its ribbon
| awarded_by      = {{flagicon|India}} [[Republic of India]]
| presenter        = {{flagicon|India}} [[Republic of India]]
| country          = {{flagicon|India}} [[Republic of India]]
| country          = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]
| type            = [[Medal]]
| type            = [[Medal]]
| eligibility      = *Officers, men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.
| eligibility      = *Officers, men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.
*Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
*Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
*Civilian Citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway protection Force.<ref name=army>http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=p6xUHC5yMgV3Tyuw9ZIb6w==&ParentID=tFRV4t12pKRhSFm2sMq5yQ==</ref>
*Civilian Citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway protection Force.<ref name=army>http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=p6xUHC5yMgV3Tyuw9ZIb6w==&ParentID=tFRV4t12pKRhSFm2sMq5yQ==</ref>
| 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.<ref name=army/>
| 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.<ref name=army/>
| campaign        =  
| campaign        =  
| status          = Currently Awarded
| status          = Active
| description      =  
| description      =India's highest peacetime military decoration
| motto            =  
| motto            =  
| clasps          =  
| clasps          =  
| post-nominals    = AC
| post-nominals    = AC
| established      = 1952
| established      = {{start date and age|df=yes|1952}}
| first_award     = 1952
| firstawarded     = 1952
| last_award       = 2016
| lastawarded       = 2021
| total           = 63
| total_awarded           = 86 <small>(As of 2021)</small><ref name="gallantryawards.gov.in">{{cite web|url=http://gallantryawards.gov.in/awardees-0|title=Awardees - Gallantry Awards|website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref><ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/martyred-corporal-jyoti-prakash-nirala-joins-elite-iaf-club-tomorrow/articleshow/62647401.cms</ref>
| posthumous       = &+
| total_awarded_posthumously       = 68
| recipients       =  
| total_recipients       =86
| precedence_label =
| precedence_label =
| individual      =  
| individual      =  
| higher          = [[Param Vir Chakra]]<ref name=precedence>{{cite web|title=Precedence Of Medals |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=zCQHR1MODtMw0EJ0MUc5CA==&ParentID=XRRy6fl/Yj1c0bK0sve+Pg== |publisher=Indian Army |accessdate=9 September 2014}}</ref>
| higher          = [[File:Bharat Ratna Ribbon.svg|55px]] [[Bharat Ratna]]
| same            =
| same            = [[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|55px]] [[Param Vir Chakra]]{{efn|Though the Ashoka Chakra is placed below the PVC in order of wear, it is considered as a peacetime equivalent to Param Vir Chakra (or [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]]).<ref name="Awards Warb">{{cite web|title=Awards Warb|url=http://www.warb-mha.gov.in/pdf/awards.pdf|website=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)]]|access-date=5 September 2016|page=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035719/http://www.warb-mha.gov.in/pdf/awards.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}}{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|p=40}}<ref name="Precedence Of Medals">{{cite web|title=Precedence of Medals|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=BXcX5hxppEZqCOXb6hqedA==&ParentID=4KygHdsq1A/bXA7u5dbrJQ==|publisher=Indian Army|access-date=17 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023351/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=BXcX5hxppEZqCOXb6hqedA%3D%3D&ParentID=4KygHdsq1A%2FbXA7u5dbrJQ%3D%3D|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=precedence>{{cite web|title=Precedence Of Medals |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=zCQHR1MODtMw0EJ0MUc5CA==&ParentID=XRRy6fl/Yj1c0bK0sve+Pg== |work=indianarmy.nic.in/ |publisher=Indian Army |access-date=9 September 2014}}</ref>
| lower            = [[Padma Vibhushan]]<ref name=precedence/>
| lower            = [[File:IND_Padma_Vibhushan_BAR.png|55px]] [[Padma Vibhushan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=BXcX5hxppEZqCOXb6hqedA==&ParentID=4KygHdsq1A/bXA7u5dbrJQ==|title=Precedence Of Medals|publisher=Indian Army, Govt of India official website}}</ref>
| related          =  
| related          =  
| image2          =  
| image2          =  
Line 33: Line 36:
}}
}}


The '''Ashoka Chakra Award''' is [[India]]'s highest peacetime military decoration or award for courageous action or self-sacrificing away from the [[battlefield]]. This is awarded for the most notable [[bravery]]. Ashoka Chakra was awarded either to military-men as well as civilians.
The '''Ashoka Chakra''' (alternative spelling: '''Ashok Chakra''') is India's highest peacetime [[military decoration]] awarded for valour, 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.


[[Lieutenant]] [[Suhas Biswas]] was the first person to be awarded with Ashoka Chakra award in 1952.The awarded persons were paid Rs.1400 monthly.Ashoka Chakra was established on 4 January 1952.
[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] [[Narbahadur Thapa]], [[Havildar]] [[Bachittar Singh (soldier)|Bachittar Singh]] and [[Flight lieutenant|Flight Lieutenant]] [[Suhas Biswas]] were the first recipients of the Ashoka Chakra.<!--wasn't he the first person of any description?  why single out the air force?--> 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 for separate acts of gallntary.
 
== History ==
 
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 ==
 
'''Obverse:''' Circular gold gilt, 1-3/8&nbsp;inches in diameter. In the center, the chakra (wheel) of Ashoka, surrounded by a lotus wreath and 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&nbsp;mm, dark green with a 2&nbsp;mm central saffron stripe.
 
== Ashoka Chakra recipients ==
{{As of|August 2021}}, the medal has been awarded to 86 awardees, of which 68 were to posthumous recipients.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Key
|-
|align=center style="width:50px;background-color:#e3d9ff;"|*
|Indicates posthumous honour
|}
 
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ List of award recipients, showing the year
! scope="col" | Year
!Rank
! scope="col" | Recipient
!Branch
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="text-align:center;" |{{Tooltip|Refs.|Reference}}
|-
|2021
|[[Assistant sub-inspector of police|Assistant Sub-Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Babu Ram]] *
|[[Jammu and Kashmir Police]]||<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/as-jammu-and-kashmir-police-bags-gallantry-medals-dgp-heaps-praises-101628948167153-amp.html|title=As Jammu and Kashmir Police bags gallantry medals, DGP heaps praises|date=14 August 2021|publisher=Hindustan Times}}</ref>
|-
| 2019
|[[Lance naik|Lance Naik]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Nazir Ahmad Wani]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref>{{cite web|title=411 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=187777|website=pib.nic.in}}</ref>
|-
| 2018
|[[Corporal]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Jyoti Prakash Nirala]] *
|[[Indian Air Force]]||<ref name="AC2009-2018"/<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/martyred-corporal-jyoti-prakash-nirala-joins-elite-iaf-club-tomorrow/articleshow/62647401.cms</ref>
|-
| 2017
|[[Havildar]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Hangpan Dada]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
|-
| 2016
|[[Lance naik|Lance Naik]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Lance Naik Mohan Goswami|Mohan Goswami]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2014
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Mukund Varadarajan]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
|-
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Neeraj Kumar Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
|-
|[[Sub-inspector|Sub-Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[K. Prasad Babu]] *
|[[Andhra Pradesh Police]]||<ref>{{cite web|title=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.|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/photoright.aspx?phid=52360|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=18 January 2017|date=26 January 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 2012
|[[Lieutenant]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Navdeep Singh (Ashok Chakra)|Navdeep Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
|-
| 2011
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Laishram Jyotin Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2010
|[[Havildar]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Rajesh Kumar (soldier)|Rajesh Kumar]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
|-
|[[Major]]||[[D. Sreeram Kumar]]
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016"/>
|-
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Mohit Sharma (soldier)|Mohit Sharma]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009-2016">{{cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=Zb02lKANjvkVUclnaE1NSg%3d%3d&ParentID=xvMfYnM+Kb8YsPT0gtXYmg%3d%3d|title=Ashoka Chakra recipients (2009–16)|publisher=Indian Army Web Portal|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="11" | 2009
|[[Havildar]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Bahadur Singh Bohra]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
|[[Joint commissioner of police|Joint Commissioner of Police]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Hemant Karkare]] *
|[[Indian Police Service]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
|[[Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Vijay Salaskar]] *
|[[Maharashtra Police|Maharashtra Police Service]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
|[[Additional Commissioner of Police]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Ashok Kamte]] *
|[[Indian Police Service]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
|[[Assistant sub-inspector of police|Assistant Sub-Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Tukaram Omble]] *
|[[Maharashtra Police|Maharashtra Police Service]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
|[[Havildar]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Havaldar Gajender Singh|Gajender Singh Bisht]] *
|[[National Security Guard|NSG]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sandeep Unnikrishnan]] *
|[[National Security Guard|NSG]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
|[[Inspector]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Mohan Chand Sharma]] *
|[[Delhi Police]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
|[[Colonel]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Jojan Thomas]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC2009">{{cite press release|title=Ashoka Chakra awardees and their saga of gallantry|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=46980|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=18 January 2017|date=25 January 2009}}</ref>
|-
|[[Deputy Superintendent of Police]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;" |[[R. P. Diengdoh]] *
|[[Meghalaya Police]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
|[[Assistant commandant|Assistant Commandant of Police]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Pramod Kumar Satapathy]] *
|[[Odisha Police]]||<ref name="AC2009"/>
|-
| 2008
|[[Major]]|| style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Dinesh Raghu Raman]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2007
|[[Captain]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
|[[Naib subedar|Naib Subedar]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Chuni Lal]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
|[[Colonel]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Vasanth Venugopal]] *
|[[Indian Army]]||<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2004
|[[Lieutenant]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Triveni Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
|[[Paratrooper]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sanjog Chhetri]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
|2003
|[[Subedar-major|Subedar Major]] (Assistant Commander Grade I.)
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Suresh Chand Yadav]] *
|[[National Security Guard]]
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Suresh Chand Yadav |url=https://www.nsg.gov.in/our-martyrs/veer-gatha/suresh-chand-yadav|access-date=21 June 2020 |work=National Security Guards}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2002
|[[Subedar]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Surinder Singh (Ashok Chakra)|Surinder Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Rambeer Singh Tomar]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
| rowspan="3" |2001
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Jagdish Prasad Yadav *
|Security Assistant Rajya Sabha Secretariat
|
|-
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Matbar Singh Negi *
|Security Assistant Rajya Sabha Secretariat
|
|-
|[[Constable]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Kamlesh Kumari]] *
|[[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009" />
|-
| 2000
|[[Major]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sudhir Kumar Walia]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1997
|[[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Puneet Nath Datt]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
|[[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Shanti Swaroop Rana|Shanti Swarup Rana]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
| 1996
|[[Captain]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Arjun Singh Jasrotia|Arun Singh Jasrotia]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1995
|[[Major]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Rajiv Kumar Joon]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
|[[Subedar]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sujjan Singh (soldier)|Sujjan Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
|[[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Harsh Uday Singh Gaur]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
| 1994
|[[Colonel]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009"/>
|-
| 1993
|[[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Rakesh Singh (soldier)|Rakesh Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1993-2009">{{cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=Zb02lKANjvkVUclnaE1NSg%3d%3d&ParentID=xvMfYnM+Kb8YsPT0gtXYmg%3d%3d|title=Ashoka Chakra recipients (1993–2009)|publisher=Indian Army Web Portal|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 1992
|[[Captain]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Sandeep Sankhla]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| 1991
|[[Police officer|Police Officer]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Randhir Prasad Verma]] *
|[[Police Service]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| 1987
|[[Flight attendant|Flight Attendant]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Neerja Bhanot]] *
|[[Flight attendant|Pan Am]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|1986
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Vijay Jagirdar *
|Civilian
|
|-
| rowspan="7" | 1985
|[[Havildar|Lance Havildar]]
|[[Chhering Mutup]]
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Nirbhay Singh (soldier)|Nirbhay Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Bhawani Datt Joshi]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|[[Lieutenant]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Ram Prakash Roperia]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|[[Captain]]
|[[Jasbir Singh Raina]]
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|[[Major]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Bhukant Misra]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|[[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]]
|[[Rakesh Sharma]]
|[[Indian Air Force]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1984
|[[Flight engineer|Flight Engineer]]
|[[Gennadi Strekalov]]
|[[Flight engineer|Soviet Flight Engineer]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|[[Colonel]]
|[[Yuri Malyshev (cosmonaut)|Yury Malyshev]]
|[[Soviet Air Forces|Soviet Airforce]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| 1981
|[[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]]
|[[Cyrus Addie Pithawalla]]
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| rowspan="2" |1974
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Munni Lal *
|Civilian
|
|-
|[[Naib subedar|Naib Subedar]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Gurnam Singh (soldier)|Gurnam Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92" />
|-
| rowspan="2" |1972
|[[Shri]]
|[[Bhure Lal]]
|[[Madhya Pradesh Police]]
|
|-
|[[Captain]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Ummed Singh Mahra]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92" />
|-
|1971
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Baij Nath Singh]] *
|Civilian
|
|-
| 1969
|[[Captain]]
|[[Jas Ram Singh]]
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| rowspan="5" |1968
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|Takhat Singh *
|Civilian
|<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8LjjDAAAQBAJ&q=Takhat+Singh+ashok+chakra&pg=PT63|title=Ashoka Chakra Recipient|last1=Aggarwal|first1=Rashmi|date=January 0101|section=Sri Takhat Singh|accessdate=12 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Shri]]
|Lakhan Singh
|Civilian
|
|-
|[[Shri]]
|Hukum Singh
|Civilian
|
|-
|[[Shri]]
|Govind Singh
|Civilian
|
|-
|[[Shri]]
|Dhanpat Singh
|Civilian
|
|-
|1967
|[[Head constable|Head Constable]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Shankar Lal Shrivastava]] *
|[[Madhya Pradesh Police]]
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1965
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Tej Singh (Ashoka Chakra)|Tej Singh]] *
|Civilian
|
|-
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Lajja Ram (Ashoka Chakra)|Lajja Ram]] *
|Civilian
|
|-
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Chaman Lal (Ashoka Chakra)|Chaman Lal]] *
|Civilian
|
|-
|[[Shri]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Purshottam (Ashoka Chakra)|Purshottam]] *
|Civilian
|<ref name="AC1952-92" />
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1962
|[[Subedar-major|Subedar Major]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Kharka Bahadur Limbu]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92" />
|-
|[[Captain]]
|[[Man Bahadur Rai]]
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| 1958
|[[Captain]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Eric James Tucker]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1957
|[[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Jagannath Raoji Chitnis]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|[[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Pollur Mutthuswamy Raman]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|[[Havildar]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Havildar Joginder Singh|Joginder Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| 1956
|[[Lance naik|Lance Naik]]
|[[Sundar Singh (Soldier)|Sundar Singh]]
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
|1955
|[[Aircraft pilot|Pilot]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Damodar Kashinath Jatar]] *
|[[Air India]]
|
|-
| 1953
|[[Flight lieutenant|Flight Lieutenant]]
|[[Suhas Biswas]]
|[[Indian Air Force]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|-
| rowspan="2" |1952
|[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]]
|[[Narbahadur Thapa]]
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92">{{cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=Zb02lKANjvkVUclnaE1NSg==&ParentID=xvMfYnM+Kb8YsPT0gtXYmg==|title=Ashoka Chakra recipients (1952–92)|publisher=Indian Army Web Portal|access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
|-
|[[Havildar]]
|style="background:#e3d9ff;"|[[Bachittar Singh (Soldier)|Bachittar Singh]] *
|[[Indian Army]]
|<ref name="AC1952-92"/>
|}
 
==Ashoka Chakra recipients by year and service==
 
{|class="plainrowheaders"
|+
! scope="col" style="vertical-align:top" |
{{Bar graph
| title = Award recipients by year
| float      = right
| bar_width  = 22
| width_units = em
| data_max    = 30
| label_type  = Year
| data_type  = Number of recipients
| label1      = 1952–1959
| data1      = 09
| label2      = 1960–1969
| data2      = 13
| label3      = 1970–1979
| data3      = 05
| label4      = 1980–1989
| data4      = 12
| label5      = 1990–1999
| data5      = 10
| label6      = 2000–2009
| data6      = 24
| label7      = 2010–2019
| data7      = 12
| label8      = 2020–2029
| data8      = 01
}}
! scope="col" style="vertical-align:top"|
{{Bar graph
| title      = Award recipients by service
| float      = right
| bar_width  = 22
| width_units = em
| data_max    = 55
| label_type  = Field
| data_type  = Number of recipients
| label1      = Indian Army
| data1      = 52
| label2      = Indian Air Force
| data2      = 03
| label3      = Indian Navy
| data3      = 00
| label4      = Indian Civilians
| data4      = 17
| label5      = Indian State Police
| data5      = 11
| label6      = Foreigners
| data6      = 02
| label7      = CAPF
| data7      = 01
}}
|}
 
==Superlatives==
{{trivia|section|date=August 2021}}
* [[Havildar]] [[Bachittar Singh (soldier)|Bachittar Singh]], [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] [[Narbahadur Thapa]],  were the first recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
 
* [[Flight lieutenant|Flight Lieutenant]] [[Suhas Biswas]] was the first recipient of the Ashoka Chakra from [[Indian Air Force]].
 
* [[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 who was the first civilian recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
 
* [[Colonel]] [[Yuri Malyshev (cosmonaut)|Yury Malyshev]] and [[Flight engineer|Flight Engineer]] [[Gennadi Strekalov]] from Russia were the first foreigners recipient of the Ashoka Chakra. (both were astronauts)
 
* [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] [[Rakesh Sharma]] is the first Indian astronaut to be awarded with the Ashoka Chakra.
 
* [[Neerja Bhanot]], a flight attendant of PAN AM who was the first female recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
 
* [[Kamlesh Kumari]], a constable of [[CRPF]] who was the first recipient of the Ashoka Chakra from [[Central Armed Police Forces]].
 
* [[Bhure Lal]], a constable from [[Madhya Pradesh Police]] who is the first state policeman to be awarded with the Ashoka Chakra. (Note that Shankar Lal Shrivastava, a retired head constable from [[Madhya Pradesh Police]] was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 1967.)


== References ==
== References ==
{{notelist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation|first1=B.C. |last1=Chakravorty|title=Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners|year=1995|publisher=Allied Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7023-516-3|language=en|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzizVBSb4YsC}}
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
* [http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=b+1ZutT6zSxJdBSzssmTPA==&ParentID=pbr5FyyGZbGntZI1xD6GgA== Ashoka Chakra] at [[Indian Army]] website
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041224172728/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/HEROISM/AC.html Bharat Rakshak Page on Ashoka Chakra]
* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Awards/Peace/305-AC.html Ashoka Chakra awardees of the Indian Air Force]
* [http://www.dsalert.org/gallantry-awards/ashok-chakra/ Recipients of Ashoka Chakra Award]


[[Category:Indian awards]]
{{Indian honours and decorations}}
 


{{simple-Wikipedia}}
[[Category:Civil awards and decorations of India]]
[[Category:Military awards and decorations of India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|*]]
[[Category:Memorials to Ashoka]]
[[Category:Ashoka Chakra]]

Revision as of 16:59, 21 October 2021

This article is about the military decoration. For the symbol, see Ashoka Chakra.


Ashoka Chakra


Ashoka Chakra and its ribbon
TypeMedal
Awarded forIndia's highest peacetime military decoration
CountryIndia India
Presented byIndia Republic of India
Eligibility
  • Officers, men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.
  • Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
  • Civilian Citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway protection Force.[1]
Post-nominalsAC
StatusActive
Established1952; 74 years ago (1952)
First awarded1952
Last awarded2021
Total86 (As of 2021)[2][3]
Total awarded posthumously68
Total recipients86
Precedence
Next (higher) Bharat Ratna
Equivalent Param Vir Chakra[lower-alpha 1][5][6][7]
Next (lower) Padma Vibhushan[8]

The Ashoka Chakra (alternative spelling: Ashok Chakra) is India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valour, 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.

Naik Narbahadur Thapa, Havildar Bachittar Singh and Flight Lieutenant Suhas Biswas 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 for separate acts of gallntary.

History

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

Obverse: Circular gold gilt, 1-3/8 inches in diameter. In the center, the chakra (wheel) of Ashoka, surrounded by a lotus wreath and 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

As of August 2021, the medal has been awarded to 86 awardees, of which 68 were to posthumous recipients.

Key
* Indicates posthumous honour
List of award recipients, showing the year
Year Rank Recipient Branch Refs.
2021 Assistant Sub-Inspector Babu Ram * Jammu and Kashmir Police [9]
2019 Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani * Indian Army [10]
2018 Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala * Indian Air Force [3]
2017 Havildar Hangpan Dada * Indian Army [11]
2016 Lance Naik Mohan Goswami * Indian Army [11]
2014 Major Mukund Varadarajan * Indian Army [11]
Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh * Indian Army [11]
Sub-Inspector K. Prasad Babu * Andhra Pradesh Police [12]
2012 Lieutenant Navdeep Singh * Indian Army [11]
2011 Major Laishram Jyotin Singh * Indian Army [11]
2010 Havildar Rajesh Kumar * Indian Army [11]
Major D. Sreeram Kumar Indian Army [11]
Major Mohit Sharma * Indian Army [11]
2009 Havildar Bahadur Singh Bohra * Indian Army [13]
Joint Commissioner of Police Hemant Karkare * Indian Police Service [13]
Inspector Vijay Salaskar * Maharashtra Police Service [13]
Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte * Indian Police Service [13]
Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble * Maharashtra Police Service [13]
Havildar Gajender Singh Bisht * NSG [13]
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan * NSG [13]
Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma * Delhi Police [13]
Colonel Jojan Thomas * Indian Army [13]
Deputy Superintendent of Police R. P. Diengdoh * Meghalaya Police [13]
Assistant Commandant of Police Pramod Kumar Satapathy * Odisha Police [13]
2008 Major Dinesh Raghu Raman * Indian Army [14]
2007 Captain Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan * Indian Army [14]
Naib Subedar Chuni Lal * Indian Army [14]
Colonel Vasanth Venugopal * Indian Army [14]
2004 Lieutenant Triveni Singh * Indian Army [14]
Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri * Indian Army [14]
2003 Subedar Major (Assistant Commander Grade I.) Suresh Chand Yadav * National Security Guard [15]
2002 Subedar Surinder Singh * Indian Army [14]
Naik Rambeer Singh Tomar * Indian Army [14]
2001 Shri Jagdish Prasad Yadav * Security Assistant Rajya Sabha Secretariat
Shri Matbar Singh Negi * Security Assistant Rajya Sabha Secretariat
Constable Kamlesh Kumari * CRPF [14]
2000 Major Sudhir Kumar Walia * Indian Army [14]
1997 Second Lieutenant Puneet Nath Datt * Indian Army [14]
Lieutenant Colonel Shanti Swarup Rana * Indian Army [14]
1996 Captain Arun Singh Jasrotia * Indian Army [14]
1995 Major Rajiv Kumar Joon * Indian Army [14]
Subedar Sujjan Singh * Indian Army [14]
Lieutenant Colonel Harsh Uday Singh Gaur * Indian Army [14]
1994 Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair * Indian Army [14]
1993 Second Lieutenant Rakesh Singh * Indian Army [14]
1992 Captain Sandeep Sankhla * Indian Army [16]
1991 Police Officer Randhir Prasad Verma * Police Service [16]
1987 Flight Attendant Neerja Bhanot * Pan Am [16]
1986 Shri Vijay Jagirdar * Civilian
1985 Lance Havildar Chhering Mutup Indian Army [16]
Naik Nirbhay Singh * Indian Army [16]
Naik Bhawani Datt Joshi * Indian Army [16]
Lieutenant Ram Prakash Roperia * Indian Army [16]
Captain Jasbir Singh Raina Indian Army [16]
Major Bhukant Misra * Indian Army [16]
Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma Indian Air Force [16]
1984 Flight Engineer Gennadi Strekalov Soviet Flight Engineer [16]
Colonel Yury Malyshev Soviet Airforce [16]
1981 Second Lieutenant Cyrus Addie Pithawalla Indian Army [16]
1974 Shri Munni Lal * Civilian
Naib Subedar Gurnam Singh * Indian Army [16]
1972 Shri Bhure Lal Madhya Pradesh Police
Captain Ummed Singh Mahra * Indian Army [16]
1971 Shri Baij Nath Singh * Civilian
1969 Captain Jas Ram Singh Indian Army [16]
1968 Shri Takhat Singh * Civilian [17]
Shri Lakhan Singh Civilian
Shri Hukum Singh Civilian
Shri Govind Singh Civilian
Shri Dhanpat Singh Civilian
1967 Head Constable Shankar Lal Shrivastava * Madhya Pradesh Police
1965 Shri Tej Singh * Civilian
Shri Lajja Ram * Civilian
Shri Chaman Lal * Civilian
Shri Purshottam * Civilian [16]
1962 Subedar Major Kharka Bahadur Limbu * Indian Army [16]
Captain Man Bahadur Rai Indian Army [16]
1958 Captain Eric James Tucker * Indian Army [16]
1957 Lieutenant Colonel Jagannath Raoji Chitnis * Indian Army [16]
Second Lieutenant Pollur Mutthuswamy Raman * Indian Army [16]
Havildar Joginder Singh * Indian Army [16]
1956 Lance Naik Sundar Singh Indian Army [16]
1955 Pilot Damodar Kashinath Jatar * Air India
1953 Flight Lieutenant Suhas Biswas Indian Air Force [16]
1952 Naik Narbahadur Thapa Indian Army [16]
Havildar Bachittar Singh * Indian Army [16]

Ashoka Chakra recipients by year and service

Template:Bar graph

Template:Bar graph

Superlatives

Template:Trivia

  • Damodar Kashinath Jatar, a pilot who was the first civilian recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
  • Neerja Bhanot, a flight attendant of PAN AM who was the first female recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.
  • Bhure Lal, a constable from Madhya Pradesh Police who is the first state policeman to be awarded with the Ashoka Chakra. (Note that Shankar Lal Shrivastava, a retired head constable from Madhya Pradesh Police was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 1967.)

References

  1. ↑ Though the Ashoka Chakra is placed below the PVC in order of wear, it is considered as a peacetime equivalent to Param Vir Chakra (or PVC).[4]
  • Chakravorty, B.C. (1995), Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners, New Delhi: Allied Publishers, ISBN 978-81-7023-516-3
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=p6xUHC5yMgV3Tyuw9ZIb6w==&ParentID=tFRV4t12pKRhSFm2sMq5yQ==
  2. ↑ "Awardees - Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/martyred-corporal-jyoti-prakash-nirala-joins-elite-iaf-club-tomorrow/articleshow/62647401.cms
  4. ↑ "Awards Warb" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  5. ↑ Chakravorty 1995, p. 40.
  6. ↑ "Precedence of Medals". Indian Army. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Precedence Of Medals". indianarmy.nic.in/. Indian Army. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Precedence Of Medals". Indian Army, Govt of India official website.
  9. ↑ "As Jammu and Kashmir Police bags gallantry medals, DGP heaps praises". Hindustan Times. 14 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "411 Republic Day Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations Announced". pib.nic.in. Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 "Ashoka Chakra recipients (2009–16)". Indian Army Web Portal. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 "Ashoka Chakra awardees and their saga of gallantry" (Press release). Press Information Bureau, India. 25 January 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  14. ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 14.17 "Ashoka Chakra recipients (1993–2009)". Indian Army Web Portal. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  15. ↑ "Suresh Chand Yadav". National Security Guards. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  16. ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15 16.16 16.17 16.18 16.19 16.20 16.21 16.22 16.23 16.24 16.25 16.26 "Ashoka Chakra recipients (1952–92)". Indian Army Web Portal. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  17. ↑ Aggarwal, Rashmi (January 0101). "Sri Takhat Singh". Ashoka Chakra Recipient. Retrieved 12 June 2021. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

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