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India.com
2 days ago
- General
- India.com
Who is Savitri Khanolkar? Foreign woman who designed India's highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra, her son-in-law became its first recipient, his name is..
Whether it is the Army, Navy, or the Air Force, when it comes to the highest honour to serve the nation, the Param Vir Chakra is probably the first thing that comes to mind. This is the highest military award for exceptional bravery, acts of self-sacrifice, and courageous deeds before the enemy on land, sea, or air. But have you ever wondered who designed India's highest gallantry award? Who was the first soldier to receive the Param Vir Chakra? The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is the highest military award in India. It is awarded for indomitable courage, bravery, and valor during wartime. The prestigious award is also given posthumously. The word 'Param' = supreme, 'Veer' = brave; and 'Chakra' = wheel, indicating that the Param Vir Chakra is a medal or honour given to the supreme of the brave. The Param Vir Chakra is equivalent to the Victoria Cross in the UK and the Medal of Honour in the US. To date, this highest military award of India has been awarded to 21 men, 14 of whom have been posthumously awarded, including four brave soldiers from the Kargil War. The design of the Param Vir Chakra was done by Savitribai Khanolkar, a woman selected for her interests in the arts, craftsmanship, and Indian culture. In addition to Param Vir Chakra, she also designed other principal Indian medals, awarded for war and peace, such as Ashoka Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. Savitri Khanolkar was born as Eva Yvonne Maday de Maros on July 20, 1913, in Switzerland's Neuchâtel. Her father, André de Maday, was an eminent Hungarian sociologist and professor at the University of Geneva. Meanwhile, her mother, Marthe Hentzelt, was a Russian educator at the Institut Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Geneva. It's interesting to note that Savitribai Khanolkar was originally from Switzerland, and her birth name was Eve Von Linda Mede de Maros. She met Cadet Vikram Ramji Khanolkar while he was in Switzerland on a holiday from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. They fell in love and married. After she got married Eve Von Linda adopted the name Savitribai Khanolkar. She died on 26 November 1990. An important fact is that Savitribai Khanolkar's daughter, Kumudini Sharma, was the sister-in-law of Major Somnath Sharma. He became the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously for his bravery. On 3 November 1947 during the Battle of Badgam, as a brigade headquarters ordered a withdrawal due to ammunition running low, Major Somnath Sharma refused to withdraw. He fought hard until he fought his last share of bravery, and was martyred in action as the first soldier to be decorated with India's finest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra.
Irish Independent
31-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Late Wicklow man Dermot Cranny was courageous hero of Irish Red Cross
Serving on the central council and central unit control of the Irish Red Cross for years, Kilmacanogue resident Dermot was a founding member of the national training committee, introducing an instructor training programme in the 80s that still runs today. Under Dermot's leadership, membership in Wicklow grew to 250 across 12 units/branches, with the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue team. Training and development were Dermot's lifeblood and were recognised internationally. Before departing Ireland to serve with the UN and ILO as an expert in training and development, Dermot worked in AnCo, the Industrial Training Authority, where he developed a national industrial first aid competition for each AnCo centre. Under Dermot, Wicklow won seven All-Ireland competitions. One of Dermot's proudest moments came when the National Society recognised an act of bravery that saw Dermot and his colleagues in the Irish Red Cross Bray branch called to assist gardaí in a search for a car with two occupants that plunged into the River Dargle on the Dublin to Wexford Road on December 13, 1965. On a stormy night, and with the river flooded, qualified Irish Red Cross Water Safety instructor Dermot entered the icy waters in his pyjamas with a rope tied around his waist. Despite his best efforts, the car couldn't be located until the following day. On July 30, 2010, Tony Lawlor, acting chairman of the Red Cross, said Dermot's courage and commitment to the Irish Red Cross and helping others over the past 50 years were a wonderful example to every principle the Irish Red Cross stands for, including humanity, caring, commitment and voluntary service. Tony presented Dermot with the organisation's Medal of Honour and his 50 years' service medal at a function in the National Art Gallery. Dermot was a devoted husband of the late Martha (née Dempsey) and Ann (née McDonnell), a beloved father of Mairead, and brother to Alan, his Red Cross comrades and his neighbours. Both of Dermot's wives were also members of the Irish Red Cross. Ann was a registered psychiatric nurse and was a nurse manager at Connolly Hospital until her retirement. An active member of the Bray branch, Ann was involved in caring for the Northern Ireland refugees in Gormanstown, Glen of Imaal army camps and Fatima House, and was a major driving force in introducing the IRC Home Nursing course. ADVERTISEMENT Locally, Ann helped develop a training programme, 'The Field Hospital', on how to set up an emergency field hospital, which ran at the annual Civil Defence camp in Coolmoney, Glen of Imaal. This programme became a reality in Arklow in 1982 during the Big Snow. Ann passed away on December 23, 2024. Dermot's family wish to thank all Dermot's Red Cross colleagues and friends from the surrounding counties who provided the guard of honour and attended the funeral home.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pete Hegseth sparks buzz by renaming USNS Harvey Milk after World War II hero Oscar V. Peterson
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth renamed a naval ship. The USNS Harvey Milk is now USNS Oscar V. Peterson. Hegseth stated this move removes politics from ship naming. Peterson was a Medal of Honour recipient. Lawmakers criticised the decision. Chuck Schumer called it blatant discrimination. Nancy Pelosi deemed it a shameful erasure. The original naming honoured Milk's civil rights legacy. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pete Hegseth Renames USNS Harvey Milk, Saying 'Taking the Politics Out of Ship Naming' I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson. We are taking the politics out of ship naming. undefined Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) June 27, 2025 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Backlash From Lawmakers FAQs US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew national attention on Friday after announcing the US Navy would rename the naval ship USNS Harvey Milk to USNS Oscar V. Peterson , as per an ABC News name of the ship, which was once dedicated to the pioneering gay rights activist, will now be dedicated to the Medal of Honour recipient Oscar V. Peterson, for heroism during an attack on the USS Neosho by Japanese bombers during the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942, according to the ABC News announced about the name change in a video he posted on his social media platform X account, with the caption, "I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson," as per his X Post. He also emphasised in his X post's caption, "We are taking the politics out of ship naming."ALSO READ: Trump channels Xi's China surveillance playbook as ICE deploys facial recognition app to identify people According to a Newsweek report, Hegseth said while announcing that, "We're not renaming the ship to anything political. This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration," as quoted in the report. He also highlighted that, "Instead, we're renaming the ship after a United States Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as it should be. People want to be proud of the ship they're sailing in," as quoted in the Newsweek report.A New York Democrat, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said on X, "Erasing Harvey Milk's name is disgusting, blatant discrimination—and during Pride Month to boot. He served the U.S. Navy and his country honorably, and he was assassinated while serving the public and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. Hegseth should be ashamed of himself and reverse this immediately," as quoted by READ: Palantir Under Siege: Protesters rage over surveillance, ICE links in NYC office blockade While, a California Democrat, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, told previously this month, "The reported decision by the Trump Administration to change the names of the USNS Harvey Milk and other ships in the John Lewis-class is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American dream. Our military is the most powerful in the world—but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the "warrior" ethos. Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country," as quoted in the READ: California, the world's fourth largest economy, to charge road tax as people go electric, citizens furious Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US and served in the Navy and naming the ship after him honored his legacy as a civil rights pioneer and veteran, as per Newsweek said the move was to remove politics from ship naming, favoring a military hero over what he called a "political activist."
Economic Times
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Pete Hegseth sparks buzz by renaming USNS Harvey Milk after World War II hero Oscar V. Peterson
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew national attention on Friday after announcing the US Navy would rename the naval ship USNS Harvey Milk to USNS Oscar V. Peterson, as per an ABC News name of the ship, which was once dedicated to the pioneering gay rights activist, will now be dedicated to the Medal of Honour recipient Oscar V. Peterson, for heroism during an attack on the USS Neosho by Japanese bombers during the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942, according to the ABC News report. I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson. We are taking the politics out of ship naming. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) June 27, 2025 Hegseth announced about the name change in a video he posted on his social media platform X account, with the caption, "I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson," as per his X Post. He also emphasised in his X post's caption, "We are taking the politics out of ship naming." ALSO READ: Trump channels Xi's China surveillance playbook as ICE deploys facial recognition app to identify people According to a Newsweek report, Hegseth said while announcing that, "We're not renaming the ship to anything political. This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration," as quoted in the report. He also highlighted that, "Instead, we're renaming the ship after a United States Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as it should be. People want to be proud of the ship they're sailing in," as quoted in the Newsweek report. A New York Democrat, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said on X, "Erasing Harvey Milk's name is disgusting, blatant discrimination—and during Pride Month to boot. He served the U.S. Navy and his country honorably, and he was assassinated while serving the public and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. Hegseth should be ashamed of himself and reverse this immediately," as quoted by Newsweek. ALSO READ: Palantir Under Siege: Protesters rage over surveillance, ICE links in NYC office blockade While, a California Democrat, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, told previously this month, "The reported decision by the Trump Administration to change the names of the USNS Harvey Milk and other ships in the John Lewis-class is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American dream. Our military is the most powerful in the world—but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the "warrior" ethos. Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country," as quoted in the report. ALSO READ: California, the world's fourth largest economy, to charge road tax as people go electric, citizens furious Why was the ship originally named after Harvey Milk?Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US and served in the Navy and naming the ship after him honored his legacy as a civil rights pioneer and veteran, as per Newsweek report. Why did Pete Hegseth change the ship's name? Hegseth said the move was to remove politics from ship naming, favoring a military hero over what he called a "political activist."
Hans India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
First Indian lawyer to get Medal of Honor
Vijayawada: Eminent child rights lawyer and Just Rights for Children founder Bhuwan Ribhu has become the first Indian lawyer to be conferred with the 'Medal of Honour' by the World Jurist Association (WJA) at the World Law Congress in Dominican Republic. Bhuwan Ribhu has strong connections with NTR district as Vijayawada-based Vasavya Mahila Mandali is a partner of the Just Rights for Children network. Elated with this honour conferred to the founder of JRC, Dr B Keerthi, president of Vasavya Mahila Mandali said, 'This is not just an individual honour for Bhuwan Ribhu. It is a moment of immense pride for all of us working on the ground to protect every child. We are committed to making NTR district child marriage-free by 2030.' Bhuwan Ribhu received the 'Medal of Honour' from Eddy Olivares Ortega, Minister of Labor of Dominican Republic, and Javier Cremades, President of the World Jurist Association. Bhuwan Ribhu has led over 60 PILs resulting in landmark rulings in the Supreme Court and various High Courts. His 2011 case led to the Supreme Court defining trafficking in line and his 2013 campaign on missing children triggered a historic judgment changing the way India's legal system perceived missing children cases. His PICKET strategy to end child marriage, outlined in When Children Have Children, was endorsed by the Supreme Court in its 2024 guidelines. The strategy is also followed by the Vasavya Mahila Mandali, which is determined that the district would be free from child marriage by 2030.
