The Kirti Chakra was first instituted on 04 Jan 1952 as ASHOKA CHAKRA Class Two and it was redesignated as Kirti Chakra on 27 Jan 1967 for "CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY OTHERTHAN IN THE FACE OF ENEMY. THE DECORATION MAY ALSO BE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY".

Maj P Bhaskaran

Maj P Bhaskaran was Coy Cdr at Patharia Reserve Forest in Assam Border. During Jun 58 to Aug 59, there was intense firing across the Border. Our outposts were repeatedly attacked, and hostiles established posts in Indian territory and infiltrated at several points. Maj Bhaskaran, at much risk to his own life, several times under heavy fire, personally led the parties against hostile positions and engaged the hostiles. His untiring efforts and courageous action resulted in the withdrawal of the hostile force from all vantage points.

Throughout the operation, Maj Bhaskaran’s personal courage and daring leadership were a source of inspiration to the men he commanded. Maj Parayil Bhaskaran was awarded the Kirti Chakra.

Capt SR Kosuri

On 18 Nov 1967, Capt Shreeram Raju Kosuri was informed by the Brigade HQ that hostiles, after over running a police post, were camping at a place in the Mizo Hills area. On receiving orders to attack the hostile position he moved there with his men. The hostiles opened fire with eight Light Machine Guns and with other small arms from three different directions. After a brief hand-to-hand fight, the hostiles, whose strength was well above a hundred, fled, leaving behind four dead bodies and a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

For conspicuous gallantry and leadership, Capt Shreeram Raju Kosuri was awarded the Kirti Chakra.

CHM S Michael

On 18 Jun 1975, when information was received about a battalion of Naga hostiles camping in a western Angami area, a two-company column of a Madras Battalion moved out to raid the camp. A party with an escort of two sections under CHM Susai Pillai Michael moved out to recce the route. When the recce party had advanced 800 yards on a rocky track which had no cover on either side, the Naga hostiles opened fire with LMGs, 2 inch mortar and a few semi-automatic rifles from a range of 15 yards on the leading scout, Lnk Sreekantan Nair was hit and fell down dead with five bullets in his body. Realizing that the hostiles would attempt to take away the rifle and ammunition of his dead comrade, CHM Michael rushed ahead and engaged the hostiles, firing from his Carbine in the face of heavy hostile fire. From his exposed position, with disregard for his personal safety and with cold courage, he effectively returned the fire and lobbed hand grenade, thus preventing the hostiles from coming forward. The NCO was hit on the leg and chest, but still kept returning the fire which resulted in the death of two hostiles and injury to one. He was again hit on the head and chest by an LMG burst, and died on the spot.

CHM Michael made the supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Indian Army with exemplary courage in the face of heavy odds, devotion to duty, and unflinching loyalty to his comrade. CHM Susai Pillai Michael was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra.

Sub K Raman Ravi

During operation Blue Star, on 05/06 Jun 1984, Sub Karuppan Pilath Raman Ravi was Platoon Commander in a Company. He was to lead the attack of the Company on Akal Takth. He urged the men to follow him into the attack, unmindful of the failures of the two previous attacks. He got the men to return the fire of the extremists and had hardly gone five metres when he was hit by a MG burst. Though seriously wounded, he continued to lead the advance and kept on firing with his weapon. After repeated bursts on his body, he fell down, but still crawled forward to a position from where he could fire at a loophole from where a MG was firing. His firing reduced the intensity of fire from that bunker, and the men of his platoon, till then pinned down, could extricate themselves and move forward. The JCO was hit again by a burst and succumbed to his injuries. The battalion could complete its task on 06 Jun 1984, because of his good work.

During this operation, Sub K Raman Ravi displayed exceptional bravery, leadership and coolnerves under withering fire. For this exceptional gallantry, he was awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously.

Nb Sub K George Koshy

During the operation Blue Star, on 5/6 June 1984, Nb Sub K George Koshy was the leading platoon commander of a Company which was tasked to secure the first floor of the southern wing of the objective. As the staircases leading to the first floor were heavily defended it was decided to use ladders to get to the first floor. Due to heavy fire from all directions, the first attempt failed, however, he successfully reached the second time and started clearing bunkers and weapon emplacements in succession. He was still under heavy fire, but with utter disregard for his personal safety, he cleared two bunkers and eliminated the extremists occupying them. As he was rushing towards the third bunker, which seemed to be more formidable than the others, he received a burst of MMG fire and was seriously wounded. But knowing that any hesitation at this stage would break the momentum of the assault, he moved forward undaunted and cleared the third and final bunker. He was repeatedly hit by MG fire, and succumbed to the injuries before he could be evacuated but not till the objective of the Company had been secured.

Nb Sub K George Koshy made the supreme sacrifice of his life for the cause of the nation, and displayed devotion beyond the call of duty, exceptional courage and bravery. He was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra.

Hav Varghese Mathew

During the operation Blue Star, on 05 Jun 1984, Hav Varghese Mathew was a Platoon Havildar. During the approach to the Eastern Gate, the company was effectively engaged from the strong points held by the extremists. But Hav Mathew was all the time in the lead, maintaining the momentum of advance. After reaching the Parikrama to secure the southern wing, Hav Mathew moved with a section to clear the bunkers. He was moving behind Hav Ramulu of the Pioneer section who was to throw a Molotov Cocktail inside a room. Hav Ramulu was hit by a bullet before reaching the room. Hav Mathew promptly took the Molotov Cocktail from Hav Ramulu and started moving forward. As he neared the door of the room, he himself was hit by a burst of MG fire and the contents of the Molotov Cocktail spilled over his body and caught fire. Though he himself was burning furiously, he took out hand grenades and lobbed them into the room, killing the extremists within. In the process, Hav Mathew suffered serious burns.

Young Hav Varghese Mathew displayed exceptionally high physical courage and with utter disregard for his personal safety completed the task beyond the call of duty. For this gallant display of bravery, he was awarded Kirti Chakra.

Nk Kannalan Kennady V

On 10 Apr 1993, a patrol of the Battalion discovered a trail left by Anti National Elements (ANEs) leading from the LC into the Kashmir Valley. The Battalion immediately ordered troops to intercept and block the ANEs. As part of this move, Naik Kannalan Kennady V along with three other ranks was ordered to take position on the main Shamshabari Range Ridge on the slopes leading to Putakhan Gali.

At about 0600hrs on 11 Apr 1993, own troops located at Naidkhur Gali noticed ANEs rushing towards point 3235 along a narrow ridge. Own troops opened fire, which was not effective due to intervening trees and distance. On hearing the firing, Late Naik Kannalan Kennady V left two other ranks at his post and rushed to the top of point 3235 with his Light Machine Gun (LMG), accompanied by No 2593321W Sepoy C Kandasamy. On reaching the top he found two ANEs running towards him. He opened fire, killing one ANE on the spot. The second ANE turned back and ran out of sight. Naik Kannalan Kennady followed the fleeing ANE and while doing so was engaged by the balance of the ANE group which had taken position further back along the ridge. Naik Kannalan Kennady V was injured on his leg, disabled and fell down. Despite his injury, he continued to engage the ANEs. The sustained and effective fire brought down by Naik Kannalan Kennady V pinned down the ANE group and allowed additional troops to surround them. As a result, seven more ANEs were killed and a large quantity of arms, ammunition and other warlike stores were recovered. During the fire fight, this brave soldier was once again wounded, this time fatally and succumbed to his injuries.

Naik Kannalan Kennady made the supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Indian Army with exemplary courage in the face of heavy odds, devotion to duty, and unflinching loyalty to his task. Naik Kannalan Kennady was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra.

Hav Dhanaraj Muthappan

No 2584167F Hav Dhanaraj Muthappan was the commander of one of the cordon parties carrying out cordon and search of village Nohan in Pulwama district on 12 Jul 94. The cordon was Two Anti National Elements, who were trapped inside, tried to escape but could not succeed due to the tight cordon. They tried to probe and find a gap in the cordon by resorting to firing from different directions. As they were unsuccessful, they got into a paddy field and tried to crawl away under the cover of grass and thick foliage. Havildar Muthappan, who was the cordon party commander, on observing movement of grass, immediately organised a search of the field very tactfully. He was personally leading one such group inside the field when he suddenly came face to face with the two militants and a sudden, brief close quarter fire fight ensued in which Havildar Muthappan was greviously injured. Inspite of his injury and profuse bleeding, he, displaying heroism and chivalry of exceptional dimensions, charged at the militants and shot them dead on the spot. However, in this action he was once again hit by bullets in the chest and succumbed to his wounds making the supreme sacrifice while carrying out his duty. During this intense and brief gallant action against militants, Havildar Muthappan displayed exceptionally high degree of bravery, dynamism unparalleled courage and total devotion to duty beyond the call of duty in utter disregard to personal safety. Havildar Dhanaraj Muthappan made the supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Indian Army and was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra.

Maj AS Bhadauria

On 28 September 2001 in early hours Maj AS Bhadauria was leading a search and seek encounter patrol in thickly forested, rugged terrain with steep gradients in general area Hanch in District Doda (Jammu and Kashmir). At about 0930 hours, his column came under heavy volume of fire from behind the boulders in the forest. He immediately deployed one of his columns to lay stops and simultaneously led the second column towards the boulders. Despite being under heavy fire, he asked his buddy to cover his movement, while he himself crawled stealthily towards a flank and shot dead a terrorist from close range. While the officer was engaging the first terrorist, he was fired upon from rear by another terrorist hiding nearby and got injured in his right shoulder. Despite being grievously injured, the officer turned around and charged on the firing terrorist and killed him in a face to face encounter.

The daring action of the officer resulted in killing of two dreaded Pakistani terrorists and recovery of large quantity of arms, ammunition and other warlike stores.

For this display of extraordinary gallantry, exemplary initiative and qualities of leadership in face of certain death. Major (Late) Avinash Bhadauria lived up to the highest traditions of Indian Army and was awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously.