PARAM VIR CHAKRA HEROES AT RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN
India’s journey from colonial rule to a proud, sovereign nation is reflected not only in its Constitution and institutions, but also in the symbols it chooses to honour. In a historic and symbolic move, portraits of British-era officers displayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan have been removed and replaced with portraits of Indian soldiers awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the nation’s highest military gallantry award.
This significant change pays tribute to the supreme courage and sacrifice of India’s bravest soldiers and marks a conscious shift from colonial remembrance to national pride.
The Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan: On 16 December (Vijay Diwas), the Param Vir Dirgha, a dedicated gallery honouring India’s highest gallantry awardees, was inaugurated at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The gallery displays the portraits of all 21 recipients of the Param Vir Chakra.
Earlier, certain corridors featured portraits of British Aides-de-Camp from the colonial period. Their replacement with portraits of Indian war heroes symbolises India’s resolve to honour its own legacy of bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism.
About the Param Vir Chakra: The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for most conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. Instituted in 1950, it has been awarded only 21 times, underscoring the extraordinary courage required to earn it.
A majority of these awards were conferred posthumously, reflecting the supreme sacrifice made by the soldiers in the service of the nation.
Param Vir Chakra Awardees:
Major Somnath Sharma (Posthumous) – India’s first PVC awardee; fought heroically in the 1947 Kashmir war.
Naik Jadunath Singh (Posthumous) – Repulsed repeated enemy attacks despite serious injuries.
2nd Lt Rama Raghoba Rane – Cleared enemy minefields under heavy fire to enable troop movement.
Company Havildar Major Piru Singh (Posthumous) – Destroyed enemy bunkers single-handedly before martyrdom.
Lance Naik Karam Singh – Held his post against repeated enemy attacks despite being wounded.
Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria (Posthumous) – Led a fearless charge during the UN mission in Congo.
Major Dhan Singh Thapa – Fought gallantly against overwhelming odds and endured captivity.
Subedar Joginder Singh (Posthumous) – Continued fighting the enemy despite severe injuries until his last breath.
Major Shaitan Singh (Posthumous) – Defended a high-altitude post in Ladakh, leading from the front.
Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore (Posthumous) – Led armoured regiments and destroyed several enemy tanks.
CQMH Abdul Hamid (Posthumous) – Destroyed multiple enemy tanks during the 1965 war.
Lance Naik Albert Ekka (Posthumous) – Neutralised enemy bunkers in the 1971 war and sacrificed his life.
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (Posthumous) – Defended Srinagar airbase alone; the only Indian Air Force PVC recipient.
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya – Captured enemy posts despite being seriously wounded.
2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal (Posthumous) – Destroyed enemy tanks and refused evacuation before martyrdom.
Naib Subedar Bana Singh – Led a daring assault to capture a strategic peak in the Siachen Glacier.
Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran (Posthumous) – Continued commanding his unit even after being fatally wounded.
Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey (Posthumous) – Cleared enemy bunkers during the Kargil War despite fatal injuries.
Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav – Scaled a near-vertical cliff under intense enemy fire during Kargil.
Rifleman Sanjay Kumar – Captured key enemy positions single-handedly in the Kargil conflict.
Captain Vikram Batra (Posthumous) – Led fearless assaults in Kargil and became a symbol of unmatched courage.
A Lasting Inspiration:
The Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan stands as a powerful reminder that the freedom and security of the nation rest on the sacrifices of its soldiers. By replacing colonial-era portraits with those of India’s bravest warriors, the nation honours its true heroes and ensures that their legacy continues to inspire future generations.
