A general perception in the environment is that the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is the highest of the military decorations awarded, followed by Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), and Vir Chakra (VrC). However, the Ashoka Chakra (AC), Kirti Chakra (KC) and Shauriya Chakra (SC) though equal in status, entailing all the attributes as expected to meet the eligibilities, is not given expected due primarily because of more TV/film/media/social glorification.

The media plays the biggest role in terms of showing serials on the battles/Operations/instances of soldiers getting the PVC, MVC etc, and spreading awareness by making war movies like ‘Haqeeqat’ and ‘Border’ for MVC and VrC awardees, ‘Shershaah’ on late Capt. Vikram Batra, awarded the PVC, for displaying the most conspicuous bravery and a distinguished act of valour during the Kargil War.

I believe that Ashoka Chakra, though awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or prominent act of valour or self sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy, does entail equal risk/exposure to hostile fire, if not more. Statistically, PVC awardees, since its inception, are a total of 21 bravehearts, and 14 of them received this honour posthumously (66%). Major Som Nath Sharma, 14 Kumaon, was the first to receive the PVC on 03 Nov 1947, for an operation at Budgam near Srinagar airport.

The Ashoka Chakra (AC), on the other hand, has been awarded to 86, since its inception on January 4 1952, and 68 out of them received the honour posthumously (79%). The first AC was awarded to Havaldar Bachittar Singh, 2 Sikh, during the Hyderabad Operation. Figuratively too, it would determine higher degree of risk to life to the AC awardees.

Thin line between the awards is that the PVC, MVC and VrC series is

conferred on military personnel in the face of the enemy. I would say that every soldier is trained to take on the enemy during war and adopt better tactics, but the counter insurgency (CI) operations, when launched and rewarded, are against the unknown numbers of hostile insurgents and location where better soldierly qualities get displayed.

My perception about the status and equal risk entailed for achieving outstanding results will get substantiated and vindicated with the actuals of the Tekcham, Manipur raid that was carried out in July 1981, when the insurgency in the State was at its peak.

The raid was planned / co-coordinated/ controlled by me as the Brigade Major (BM) of 181 Mountain Brigade (Mtn. Bde.), based on the information provided by my source and executed by the troops of 17 JAK RIF co-located with the Brigade Headquarters(Bde HQ) at Thoubal.

On July 6, the eventful day, at about 1000 Hrs, a local source, not very reliable, walked into my office for the routine freebies distributed under the civic action. He mentioned that one of his friends had seen two-three armed men in the Tekcham village area.

I asked that source to come back in the afternoon with his friend, and lead the raiding party to the location. I then asked the CO 17 JAK RIF, co-located with the Bde HQ to keep one company strength ready for the raid. Very reluctantly, he agreed and mustered the strength of some 70 odd soldiers headed by 2/LT (later Maj Gen) Cyrus Pithawalla, who had just returned to the Battalion HQ after the Commando course.

The local source along with his friend came at about 1445 hrs, and were married up with 2/LT Cyrus Pithawalla. Tekcham village is just about 17 to 18 kilometres away from Thoubal, and about half-an-hour’s drive time.

This sketch shows Tekcham and Thoubal area, for better understanding:

Soon, 2/Lt Cyrus Pithawalla along with three Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO’s) and about 70 soldiers, and two civilians for guidance, left Thoubal at about 1500 hrs. At around 1815 hrs, I got a call, full of excitement and achievement, from Cyrus Pithawalla on the radio. He said, “BM Sir, I have got the king cobra in my bag and killed the rest of the insurgents, I have hit the headquarters of the PLA.”

The People’s Liberation Army, was the most dreaded insurgent group/ organisation in Manipur. On my query about any injuries to own troops, he retorted, “I have got a bullet up my arse, and all others are absolutely fine”.

Well Cyrus Pithawalla got a bullet injury through his right shoulder and was provided immediate medical aid by rushing my GSO3 (Int) Capt Ashok K Yadav, a Rimcolian and a hardcore soldier, along with Captain Mohanty, RMO, 17 JAK RIF, who reached the raid site around 2000 hrs.

Captain Ashok Yadav, while carrying out a search of the area along with soldiers of the raiding party, found Mr Shashi alias Sarat Singh, a hardcore PLA member, hiding in the haystack with a rifle. Lt Col (Retired as Brig) R P Sinh, CO 17 JAK RIF later also reached the site of the encounter around 2200 hrs and carried out mopping up Op like making inventory of items recovered etc.

During the encounter, four Lhasa trained and three hardcore insurgents were killed. The PLA leader N. Bisheswar Singh, Lhasa trained along with Shashi, a member, was apprehended. A large cache of arms, ammunition, clothing, printing material, a radio set, recorder, albums along with cash and expensive items were recovered. This raid almost finished the insurgency in the state of Manipur and the systematic thinning out of the troops happened thereafter.

On the instructions of the Lt Col R P Sinh, officiating Bde Cdr, I wrote a number of draft citations for the personnel who had taken part in the Tekcham raid, an AVSM for CO 17 JAK RIF and VSM, for self being the BM and the one who planned and organised the Tekcham raid.

Well! 2/Lt Cyrus Pithawalla got the AC so well deserved and earned by him. This young man brought laurels, fame and honour for his Bn and the Bde. I learnt later on having moved out on posting that my skill of writing citations had earned a couple of Kirti Chakras and some commendation cards for the personnel of the 17 JAK RIF.

Trust my then GSO 3 (Int) Capt Ashok K Yadav and Capt Mohanty, RMO of 17 JAK RIF would have got some recognition for their immediate and quick reaction to reach the raid location and provide medical aid to the wounded Cyrus Pithawalla.

In a nutshell, Tekcham raid happened to be an operation where a prominent act of valour, self sacrifice and most conspicuous act of bravery was shown by 2/Lt Cyrus Pithawalla, who was awarded the Ashok Chakra. This narration of the raid will also motivate our junior leaders operating in the CI Ops to put up their best for hitting a jackpot like Cyrus Pithawalla.

Perhaps it may be worth mentioning that I proved to be a lucky mascot for being BM for HQ 181 Mtn Bde that enabled an award of the most coveted Ashoka Chakra.

Brigadier D.S.Thukral is an Army veteran. Views expressed are the writer’s own.

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