Holding on to Srinagar Airport was crucial for India as it was the only way to airlift troops into Kashmir. On 3rd Nov 1947 , Major Somnath Sharma’s Company was on patrol in Badgam area to prevent the threat to Srinagar Airport Field. They were attacked by more than 500 enemy soldiers. He refused to retreat. His last message to his Brigade Headquarters was ‘The enemy is only 50 Yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and last round.’ Besides Maj Somnath Sharma, the Company lost 21 more soldiers and nearly similar numbers were wounded.
They caused numerous deaths within the enemy who did not advance. Soon after, India was able to secure the airport and the surrounding areas.
His younger brother General VN Sharma became the Chief of Army Staff in 1988.

Pt 5140 and Pt 4875 are both part of Tololing area, which was one of the bloodiest areas of fight during Kargil war. On 20 June 1999 Captain Vikram Batra’s Company was tasked to capture Point 5140. Captain Batra led from the front motivated his men to physically assault the enemy. In a daredevil attack he pounced on the enemy and killed four of them in a hand to hand fight. A few days later, on 07 Jul 1999 , in another operation in the area of Pt 4875. Captain Batra assaulted the enemy position along a narrow ridge and killed five enemy soldiers at point blank range. Despite sustaining grievous injuries he kept moving forward and finally succumbed to his injuries but not before hurling a grenade and clearing enemy positions.

India has always recognized gallantry. In ancient Indian culture, a place of eminence was given to the soldiers who displayed bravery and courage on the battlefield. Reference to these have been found in Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Varahmihir’s Brihatsamhita and Raghuvamsa( Gupta Period).

Early Virakals are common in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The earliest Virakal (or Nadukal) has been found in Theni district in Tamil Nadu. It is either from 4th Century BCE or 2nd Century BCE. It is an irregular stone with Tamil inscription. This was in memory of a brave man who died in a battle to retrieve stolen cattle. Battles to steal and to retrieve cattle were common. There are even two separate terms to describe the battle to steal cattle and the battle to retrieve stolen cattle.

Source- Nadukarkal, Bulletin of the Department of Museums, Chennai

India fought as it soon it became independent. It was with Pakistan from 20 October 1947 to secure Jammu and Kashmir. India managed to retain a large part of J & K due to the bravery of its soldiers. The recognitions, Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra awards came later on 26 Jan 1950. This was the day when India became a Republic.

The history of present day medals dates back to 1668 (East India Company rule). In 1795, for the first time, a Gold Medal was awarded to Subedar Abdul Kader. In 1834, Lord William Bentick instituted the ‘ Order of Merit Award ‘ for unique and outstanding acts of Bravery. Victoria Cross was introduced in 1856. In a unique case Subedar Kishenbir Nagarkoti was awarded this four times.

The medal was designed by Savitri Khanolkar later known as Savitri Bai. She was born Eva Yvonne Linda Maday -de- Maros on 20 Jul 1913 in Switzerland. She married an Indian Army Officer. She came to India in 1932 and developed a deep interest in Indian culture, mythology, Sanskrit and Vedanta. Seeing her passion for Indian mythology, connection to the Indian Army and her talent as an artist, Maj Gen Hira Lal Atal gave her the responsibility to design the Param Vir Chakra medal.

The medal is of bronze and circular in shape. On its obverse ( front) side it carries four replicas of Indra’s Vajra ( Thunderbolt) with the State emblem including the motto embossed in the centre. On its Reverse side the words Param Vir Chakra are embossed both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between the words. It has a plane purple ribbon attached to it .

The choice of Vajra as the motif for the Param Vir Chakra is an appropriate one. It was the Amogh Astra (unfailing weapon) and is part of Rig Veda. It was used by Indra, the Lord of Rains. Vritra is the embodiment of drought. Vritra had arrested the rivers, stopped their flow and kept them captive in his fortress causing a drought. Indra used Vajra to kill Vritra.

On 14 December 1971 Srinagar Airfield was attacked by a wave of six enemy F- 86 Sabre Jets. Flight Lieutenant NS Sekhon alongwith another officer was on readiness duty. He scrambled to intercept the enemy. By the time he took off the air field had been bombed. From a mid air battle Sekhon sent a message on the Radio ‘I am behind two sabres. I won’t let the… get away.’ He destroyed the two Sabres. But his Gnat was also hit and he died.

Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav was part of the leading team of Ghatak Platoon. It captured Tiger Hill on the night of 3/4 July 1999. Unmindful of his personal safety Grenadier Yogendra kept crawling amidst constant automatic fire. He killed four enemy soldiers in close combat and silenced the automatic fire. He received multiple bullet injuries but refused to be evacuated and continued the charge. This led to the final capture of Tiger Hill.

His story is full of twists. He is the youngest PVC awardee. By mistake, his The PVC was announced as a posthumous award. His identify was confused with another Yogendra Yadav who was killed in the same battle. Ironically, he is one of the few PVCs still alive.

Additional source: http://m.rediff.com/news/1999/aug/17pvc.htm

Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria was part of Indian contingent in the UN Peace Keeping Force in Congo. This was put in place after Belgium exited Congo and civil war broke out.

His unit was tasked to clear a road block in Katanga, Congo. His column was ambushed and came under heavy automatic fire. He led a charge with bayonets, khukris and grenades supported by rocket launchers. In this engagement Captain Salaria and his column killed 40 enemy soldiers and knocked down two armoured cars. The enemy fled after seeing this unexpected bold action.

Captain Salaria received a bullet injury in his neck but continued to fight. He collapsed due to profuse bleeding. Captain Salaria’s bold action prevented the encirclement of UN Headquarters in Elizabethville.

Operation Meghdoot was launched in 1984 to take control of Siachen glacier. It pre-empted a Pakistani plan by a few days. Later, in 1987, Naib Subedar Bana Singh volunteered to be part of a task force to clear an intrusion. It was in the Bila fondla area of Siachen Glacier at a height of 21153 Feet. He led his team through an extremely difficult and hazardous route. Finally, Naib Subedar Bana Singh and his men crawled and closed in on the enemy. Moving from trench to trench and charging with bayonets he cleared the post of all intruders and captured it. He is one of the few PVC awardees who survived their battles.

India got entangled in the Sri Lankan civil war in the 1980s. The Indian Peace Keeping Force ended up fighting the Sri Lankan Tamil militants ( Operation Pawan). On 25 Nov 1987 , Major R Parmeswaran was returning from a search operation in Sri Lanka. Late at night, his men were ambushed by a group of militants. He encircled the militants from the rear and charged into them. In hand to hand combat a militant shot him in the chest. Major Parmeswaran snatched his rifle and shot him dead. Gravely wounded he continued to inspire his command till he breathed his last. Finally the ambush was cleared. Five militants were killed and arms and ammunition recovered.

More than 1000 Indian soldiers died in this civil war of Sri Lanka.

Reznag La is a historic battle etched in the memories of armed forces. In this battle incredible heroism was displayed by group of Indian soldiers led by Major Shaitan Singh of 13 Kumaon. His company was defending a locality that was isolated from other Indian army positions. On 18 Nov 1962 Chinese subjected this locality to heavy artillery fire. They attacked in overwhelming strength in several successive waves. Major Shaitan Singh and his Company dominated the scene. Major Shaitan Singh moved at great personal risk from platoon to platoon motivating and guiding his men. His Company beat back several waves of attack but ultimately Major Shaitan Singh was grievously wounded. He continued to lead from the front. India lost 114 soldiers in this single battle. The Chinese lost four or five times the number of soldiers as compared to India.

Finally, Major Shaitan Singh was disabled by his wounds and fell. His men tried to evacuate him but he ordered his men to leave and fight.

Such was the ferocity of the battle that when the battle ground was later revisited, soldiers were found in their trenches holding onto their weapons. Mortar Man died with a bomb still in his hand. One PVC, eight Vir Chakras, four Sena Medals and one Mention in Despatch were awarded for this battle.