Ashoka Chakra for space hero Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla of IAF
President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday approved gallantry awards for 70 armed forces personnel, including six who will receive the honour posthumously, in recognition of their exceptional courage and sacrifice on the eve of the 77th Republic Day.
These include one Ashoka Chakra; three Kirti Chakras; 13 Shaurya Chakras, including one posthumous; one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry); 44 Sena Medals (Gallantry), including five posthumous; six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry); and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla of the IAF, who created history by becoming the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station, has been awarded the country’s highest peace-time gallantry award — the Ashok Chakra. Forty-two years ago, Gp Capt Rakesh Sharma (retd), who was the first Indian to go to space, was also awarded the Ashok Chakra.
Gp Capt Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Major Arshdeep Singh and Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba will receive the Kirti Chakra — the second-highest peace-time gallantry award — for their exemplary service.
Four senior officers have been awarded the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal. They are Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, Lt Gen Rajan Sharawat, 9 Corps, Lt Gen Abhijit Pendharkar, 3 Corps, and Lt Gen Gambhir Singh, 4 Corps. The last two are tasked to China, the 9 Crops is dual-tasked to China and Pakistan while the Southern Command is tasked to Pakistan.
Two women naval officers — Lieutenant Commanders Dilna K and Roopa A — have been awarded the Shaurya Chakra. They were recognised for their extraordinary, 21,600-nautical-mile global circumnavigation expedition aboard a sailing vessel. This was the highest gallantry award to uniformed woman officer.
The Shaurya Chakra was also awarded to Lt Col Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar of 21 Para (Special Forces), Major Anshul Baltoo of 32 Assam Rifles, Major Shivkant Yadav of 5 Para (Special Forces), Major Vivek of 42 Rashtriya Rifles, Major Leishangthem Deepak Singh of 11 Para (Special Forces), Capt Yogender Singh Thakur of 6 Para (Special Forces), Subedar PH Moses of 1 Assam Rifles, Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand of 4 Rashtriya Rifles, Rifleman Manglem Sang Vaiphei of 3 Assam Rifles, Rifleman Dhurba Jyoti Dutta of 33 Assam Rifles and Assistant Commandant Vipin Wilson.
The President also approved 301 military decorations for the armed forces and other personnel. These include 30 Param Vishisht Seva Medals; four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals; 56 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals; nine Yudh Seva Medals; two Bar to Sena Medals (Distinguished); 43 Sena Medals (Distinguished); eight Nao Sena Medals (Distinguished); 14 Vayu Sena Medals (Distinguished); and 135 Vishisht Seva Medals.
