In last year's Republic Day Parade, Kumar was seen wearing the ranks of a Lance Naik. But officials mentioned him as Havildar
Havildar Sanjay Kumar, a Param Vir Chakra winner, has been downgraded to a Lance Naik. The Ministry of Defence refuses to give any explanations
Havildar Sanjay Kumar won the Tiger Hill, fighting Pakistani insurgents and Army regulars in one of the toughest terrains in the world. However, the brave soldier - who was awarded the country's highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra - was insulted by his own Army for which he put his life on the line.
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Lower-rank fatigues
Kumar, who was promoted to the rank of Havildar from Rifleman, was seen wearing the ranks of a Lance Naik during a recent function held to celebrate the 61st Republic Day. Though he refused to comment, sources said he was demoted from his rank of Havildar after he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
Military officials also refused to comment on the issue. But what could be a double insult to Kumar is that the Ministry of Defence continued to mention him as a Havildar in its press releases issued for the Republic Day.
"In last year's Republic Day Parade he was seen wearing the ranks of a Lance Naik. But in the officials press releases he was mentioned as Havildar," said a Ministry of Defence official, requesting anonymity. In this year's Republic Day press releases, Kumar has also been mentioned as a Havildar.
All surviving Param Vir Chakra awardees join the march past at Rajpath every year on Republic Day.
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Last year when the country celebrated 10 years of Kargil war in July, Kumar was seen wearing the badge of a Lance Naik.
Quit pro quo
Army sources confirmed that Kumar has been offered a job by the Himachal Pradesh government, indicating that the brave soldier was planning to quit the Army."He (Kumar) is looking forward to completing his mandatory 17 years service in the Army and then take up another job. Himachal Pradesh government has offered him a good job, but he cannot leave without completing the mandatory years of service," said an official.
Grave injustice
Major Gen (retd) Sheru Thapliyal, who was military advisor during Operation Vijay, was livid when told about the development.
Calling it the most unfortunate thing to have happened to a Param Vir Chakra awardee, Maj Gen Thapliyal said, "It's great injustice to the highest gallantry award winner of the country. How can a soldier expect respect from society when the Army itself is not respecting its best lot."
Maj Gen Thapliyal had recommended promotion for the gallantry award winners. "After Operation Vijay was over I had written to then Chief of Army Staff General VP Malik to train and commission these men to the rank of an officer. It's unfair that such brave men are given this kind of treatment," he told MiD DAY.
Indiscipline probably
When asked the probable reasons behind the grave injustice meted out to the gallant soldier, Maj Gen Thapliyal said, "It could be a disciplinary action against him. It might be possible that someone misbehaved with him. As per the rules, a Param Vir Chakra winner has to be saluted by every one irrespective of rank. Therefore, one may expect the injury to the ego of Kumar," he said.
"He must quit the Army and join a civilian job, if a state government has offered it to him. Param Vir Chakra is just not a medal and those who have won it deserve respect," Maj Gen Thapliyal said.
| The Other Side |
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Repeated attempts to elicit a response from the Ministry of Defence over phone, e-mail proved futile. The Army also refused to comment over the story. |
| Designs on Chakra |
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The medal was designed by Savitri Khanolkar (born Eva Yuonne Linda Maday-de-Maros to a Hungarian father and Russian mother) who was married to an Indian Army officer, Vikram Khanolkar. This was done following a request from the first native Adjutant General, Major General Hira Lal Atal, who in turn had been entrusted with the responsibility of coming up with an Indian equivalent of the Victoria Cross by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the Indian Union. |
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