2 days ago
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.
