Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 23 January 2023
Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. Param Vir Chakra translates as the “Wheel of the Ultimate Brave”, and the award is granted for “most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy”.
On 23rd January 2023, on the occasion of Parakram Diwas, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi through Video Conferencing named 21 unnamed Islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra Recipients.
A short video on the naming of 21 Islands of Andaman & Nicobar was screened on the occasion. The largest unnamed Island was named after the first Param Vir Chakra recipient, the second largest unnamed island was named after the second Param Vir Chakra recipient, and so on.
This step is an everlasting tribute to our heroes, several of whom had made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.
The 21 Param Vir Chakra Recipients are Major Somnath Sharma; Subedar and Honorary Captain (then Lance Naik) Karam Singh, MM; 2nd Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane; Nayak Jadunath Singh; Company Havildar Major Piru Singh; Capt GS Salaria; Lieutenant Colonel (then Major) Dhan Singh Thapa; Subedar Joginder Singh; Major Shaitan Singh; CQMH. Abdul Hamid; Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore; Lance Naik Albert Ekka; Major Hoshiar Singh; 2nd Lt. Arun Khetrapal; Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon; Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran; Naib Subedar Bana Singh; Captain Vikram Batra; Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey; Subedar Major (then Rifleman) Sanjay Kumar; and Subedar Major Retd (Honorary Captain) Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav.
Mr. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation attended the programme at DBRAIT Auditorium, Port Blair. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM also attended the programme along with other dignitaries.