The Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India’s highest gallantry award, is awarded for the "the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.” Since Indian Independence it has only been awarded 21 times, 14 of them posthumously.
The Indian Army has displayed pictures of these brave men in Colaba, Bombay. One of them is a Parsi, Lt Col Ardeshir Tarapore who received the award for his actions in the battle of Chawinda during the 1965 war. He refused to be evacuated from the battle site despite being wounded and died at the age of 42. He was posthumously awarded the PVC.
Tarapore’s pictures are displayed near the Seth Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary in Colaba and indeed on the main road a little beyond Afghan Church.
Posters of Lt Col Ardeshir Tarapore (l and far r) displayed at Colaba
The next time you are in the area, please spare a moment to look at the pictures of Tarapore, and indeed of all the other PVC winners. They are the bravest of the brave.
Dr DELNA GHANDHI
delnalondon@yahoo.co.uk
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