Kirti Chakra

This article is about the Indian Gallantry award. For the 2006 Malayalam film, see Keerthi Chakra (film).
Kirti Chakra



Kirti Chakra and its ribbon, the second highest peacetime decoration of India
Awarded by India Republic of India
Country India Republic of India
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.
  • 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]
Awarded for Awarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.[2]
Status Currently Awarded
Post-nominals KC
Statistics
Established 1952
First awarded 1952
Last awarded 2016
Precedence
Next (higher) Maha Vir Chakra[3]
Next (lower) Padma Shri[3]

The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards; it comes after Ashoka Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II.

History

Established as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class II" by the President of India, 4 January 1952 (with effect from 15 August 1947). The statutes were revised and the decoration renamed on 27 January 1967. Awards: To understand the award better, a sample recipient would be No. 18161 Naik Mukhtiar Singh, 4 J. & K. Infantry (to date from 19 March 1956). "On the night of 18/19 March 1956, the position occupied by our troops on the Bela at Hussainiwala Headworks, near Ferozepore on the Indo-Pakistani Border was attacked. Approximately one platoon of attackers managed to secure a foothold on the Bela from the left flank. On being ordered by his platoon commander to take his section to the threatened flank and stem the advance, No. 18161 Naik Mukhtiar Singh personally led his section through heavy automatic fire. He inflicted two casualties on the attackers, captured their rifles and led his section up to the right Guide Bund and secured his objective. Whilst his section was securing the objective on the Bund, a hand grenade landed near him in the midst of his section. To save his section, he lifted the grenade with his left hand and tried to throw it back on the attackers. The grenade exploded in the meantime and his left elbow was blown off. Though seriously wounded he continued to exhort his men to fight on and refused to be evacuated. No. 18161 Naik Mukhtiar Singh by his high example of personal leadership, courage and complete disregard for his personal safety averted a disaster to his section and to the Bela Position."[4]

Design


Medal : It is circular in shape and is made of standard silver, one and three eight inches in diameter. On the obverse of the medal shall be embossed a replica of Ashoka Chakra in the centre, surrounded by a lotus wreath. On its reverse shall be embossed the words KIRTI CHAKRA both in Hindi and in English the versions being separated by two lotus flowers.


Reverse : For pre-1967 awards, the medal is blank in the centre, with "Ashoka Chakra" in Hindi along the upper edge on the medal and the same name in English along the lower rim, "ASHOKA CHAKRA". On either side is a lotus design. The centre 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. For the post-1967 awards, the, names are changed to "Kirti Chakra" in Hindi above and "KIRTI CHAKRA" below.


Ribbon : 30 mm, dark green with two 2 mm saffron stripes. Dark green 8.5 mm, saffron 2 mm, dark green 9 mm, saffron 2 mm, dark green 8.5 mm.


Bar : If a recipient of the Chakra again performs such an act of gallantry as would have made him or her eligible to receive the Chakra, such further act of bravery shall be recognised by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended. For every Bar awarded, a replica of the Chakra in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.

Eligibility

Personnel Eligible: The following categories of personnel shall be eligible for the Chakra :-

Conditions of Eligibility: The medal is awarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.The decoration may be awarded posthumously.Monetary Allowance. Rs. 1050/- pm and each bar to the decoration will carry the same amount of monetary allowance as admissible to the original award with effect from 01.02.1999.

Recipients

NumberRank NameRegimentDateNotes
BSF Officer Narindra Nath Dhar Dubey 2012
IC-61562Captain VISHAL BHANDRAL GARH RIF, 14 RR 2007 Posthumous
Havaldar PREMNATH RAI EME, 833 ARMD WKSP, 618 EME BN 1989 Posthumous
IC-54327 Major MANISH HIRAJI PITAMBARE 3 PARA (SF)(Indian Army) 2007 Posthumous
IC-47050 COL GURBIR SINGH SARNA GDRS, 29 RR (Indian Army) 2007[5]Posthumous
IC-61562Captain VISHAL BHANDRAL GARH RIF, 14 RR 2007 00172-R SR CD GUNNER N KELMAN Indian Navy 1962 [6]
67103 ORD S/M BACHAN SINGH Indian Navy 1962 [6]
66901 ORD S/M VPS TOMAR Indian Navy 1962 [6]

Brig. Ransher Singh Ranawat (Kankarwa, Mewar), 9th Brigade of the Guards, 1971 Indo-Pak war

49416 PO TAS I GUR IQBAL SINGH (P) Indian Navy 1974
04988-K LT CDR ABHILASH TOMY Indian Navy 2013
SP Vinod Kumar Choubey Indian Police Service 2009Posthumous[7]
IPS Ajit Doval Indian Police Service 1988
Inspector Lohit Sonowal Assam Police Commando Battalion 2013 Posthumous
2nd Lieutenant P N Mohapatra 14 Sikh LI 1985
LieutenantParthiban Natarajan 5 Jak LI 2006 Posthumous
IC-67270F Major Anup Joseph ManjaliBihar Regiment/24th Battalion, The Rashtriya Rifles2012[8][9]
IC-70971 Captain Vikrant Ajit Deshmukh8 Madras2011[10][11]
IC-65454F MajorMahesh Kumar(SM, PUNJAB, 22 RR )Indian Army2013[12]

List Kirti Chakra Awardee in the Indian Airforce

Trivia

Only one Soldier has been awarded both the Kirti Chakra and the Ashok Chakra, making him the most decorated soldier (for bravery) in India; Col N. J. Nair, 16 MLI.

Outline:

References

  1. ↑ http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=p6xUHC5yMgV3Tyuw9ZIb6w==&ParentID=tFRV4t12pKRhSFm2sMq5yQ==
  2. ↑ http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=5h5tsUVNQoIO9CtGdeCVeg==&ParentID=Mg9DjiqEUY+xL2t9Y9qM8Q==
  3. 1 2 "Precedence Of Medals". http://indianarmy.nic.in/. Indian Army. Retrieved 9 September 2014. External link in |work= (help)
  4. ↑ No. 4-Pres/57 of 26 January 1957, in Gazette of India, part I, section 1, 26 January 1957, p. 22.
  5. ↑ Army 2007 Kirti Chakra Awardee http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=0gL9Tj3P9mv0lUzGI+VA7A==&ParentID=KAPHw/awxlZD11wId3kNpw==&flag=QAzExmaFkhqBmlg0zF2yRA==
  6. 1 2 3 Indian Navy Kirti Chakra http://indiannavy.nic.in/about-indian-navy/honours/kirti-chakra
  7. ↑ Press information bureau http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=64772
  8. ↑ Major Anup Joseph Manjali Kirti Chakra http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/major-anup-joseph-awarded-kirti-chakra/article4660697.ece
  9. ↑ Kirti chakra http://www.stratpost.com/republic-day-2013-gallantry-awards
  10. ↑ Captain Vikrant Ajit Deshmukh Kirti Chakra http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/president-presents-gallantry-awards-to-defence-personnel/article1707569.ece
  11. ↑ Kirti chakra http://www.stratpost.com/army-roll-of-honor
  12. ↑ Mukherjee to confer one Kirti Chakra, six Shaurya Chakras to armed forces personnel http://www.aninews.in/newsdetail2/story125726/mukherjee-to-confer-one-kirti-chakra-six-shaurya-chakras-to-armed-forces-personnel.html
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