New Delhi: Republic Day 2022 march past began with Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra gallantry award winners following the parade commander in their jeeps. President Ram Nath Kovind received the salute of the Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra awardees on the occasion of the Republic Day Parade 2022.
Param Vir Chakra winners Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav and Subedar (Honorary Lieutenant) Sanjay Kumar and Ashok Chakra winner Colonel D Sreeram Kumar saluted the President after the Deputy Parade Commander jeep.
So far, 21 people have been honoured with the Param Vir Chakra. As per the Indian Air Force website, the Param Vir Chakra is given "to recognize the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy."
The Param Vir Chakra medal is 'circular in shape, made of bronze, one and three eighth inches in diameter and on the obverse, four replicas of "Indra's Vajra" with the State Emblem, embossed in the centre.'
Winners Of Param Vir Chakra Award Honoured By President Kovind
Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav: Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers (Retd). He is the youngest person to win the Param Vir Chakra award. Yadav was part of the Ghatak Force that was given the task of capturing Tiger Hill in 1999. His act of bravery ensured India's safe capture of the strategic Tiger Hill in 1999.
Retired Subedar Major Yogender Singh Yadav was in the first of the three jeeps.
Subedar (Honorary Lieutenant) Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK Rifles: He is a junior commissioned officer in the Indian Army. His valour during the 1999 Kargil war made him the recipient of the highest military award. Subedar Sanjay Kumar, who also won the Param Vir Chakra for showing exceptional bravery during the 1999 Kargil war, was in the second jeep.
Winners Of Ashok Chakra Award Honoured By President Kovind
Colonel D Sreeram Kumar, who won India's highest peacetime gallantry award Ashok Chakra for showing exceptional bravery during an anti-terrorist operation in Imphal on October 23, 2008, was in the third jeep.
(With PTI Inputs)