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
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 ₹2800.
Overview
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
As of August 2021, 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.
Ashoka Chakra recipients by year and service
Superlatives
- 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)
In popular culture
- Neerja (2016) film is a biopic of First female recipient of Ashoka Chakra Neerja Bhanot.
- Major (2022) film is based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.
- Rakshak: India's Braves (2023) shortfilm which was aired on Amazon miniTV is based on Lieutenant Triveni Singh.
- Amaran (2024) is a biopic of Major Mukund Varadarajan.
See also
- List of highest military decorations by country
References
External links
- 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
