Mrs. Savitri Khanolankar (sometimes spelt Khanolkar) , born Eva Yuonne Linda Maday-de-Maros, on July 20th, 1913 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, to a Hungarian father and Russian mother, later known as Savitri Bai, is the designer of India's highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra. July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 164 days remaining. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Location within Switzerland Neuchâtel 47. ... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ...

Soon after Indian independence, she was asked by the Adjutant General Major General Hira Lal Atal to design India’s highest award for bravery in combat, the Param Vir Chakra. The Indian independence movement was a series of steps taken in the Indian subcontinent for independence from British colonial rule, beginning with the Rebellion of 1857. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ...

Major General Hira Lal Atal was given the responsibility for creating and naming independent India’s new military decorations. His reasons for choosing Mrs.Khanolkar were her deep and intimate knowledge of Indian mythology, Sanskrit and Vedas, which he hoped would give the design a truly Indian ethos. She was a painter and an artist, and wife of Captain (later Major General) Vikram Khanolankar, a serving officer with the Sikh Regiment, at the time of the request. Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Itihasa (Sanskrit: इतिहास -thus verily happened) is the sanskrit word for History. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is an old Indo-Aryan language from the Indian Subcontinent, the classical literary language of the Hindus of India[1], a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Veda redirects here. ... Captain is a nautical term, an organizational title, and a rank in various uniformed organizations. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The Sikh Regiment is the highest decorated regiment of the Indian Army, with 72 Battle Honours, 15 Theatre Honours and 5 COAS Unit Citations and 1596 other gallantry awards. ...

Ms Khanolkar took her inspiration from the mythical Rishi Dadich who donated his thigh-bone to the Gods to make a Vajra (thunderbolt) to kill Britasur (also called as Vrutrasur) . On either side of the Vajra, she put Shivaji's sword Bhawani. Vajrasattva holds the vajra in his right hand and a bell in his left hand. ... Typical cartoon representations of thunderbolts A thunderbolt is a traditional expression for a discharge of lightning or a symbolic representation thereof. ... Rishi Dadichi Once a Brahmin named Brita (also called Vrutra) became the head of the demons. ... Vajrasattva holds the vajra in his right hand and a bell in his left hand. ... Shivaji Bhonsle, also known as Chatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhonsle (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजी राजे भोसले) was the founder of Maratha empire in western India in 1674. ...

Ironically, the first PVC was awarded to her only daughter's brother-in-law Major Som Nath Sharma from 4 Kumaon Regiment who was posthumously awarded for his valour of November 3, 1947 during the 1947-48 Indo-Pak war in Kashmir. The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Kumaon Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. ... A posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has passed away. ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders General K M Cariappa, Lt Gen S M Shrinagesh, Maj Gen K S Thimayya, Maj Gen Kalwant Singh Maj Gen Akbar Khan Casualties 1,104 killed[1](Indian army) 684 KIA(State Forces)[2] [3] 3,152 wounded [1] 1,500 - 5,000 killed[4] (Pakistan... Kashmir (or Cashmere) may refer to: Kashmir region, the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent India, Kashmir conflict, the territorial dispute between India, Pakistan, and the China over the Kashmir region. ...

Family History

She spent her early childhood in Geneva, where she grew to be a compassionate girl with a love of nature and the outdoors. In 1929, when she was still a teenager, she met Vikram Khanolankar, a young Indian Army officer who was holidaying in Riviera. Although he was many years older than her, Eva fell in love with him. Her father however, did not agree to let her go away to a faraway country like India but Eva was a determined young woman, and her love was strong. She followed Vikram to India a few years later, and in 1932, she married him at Bombay. She began her new life adapting to Indian culture as Mrs. Savitribai Khanolankar. Hunters a cool hobo For other uses, see Geneva (disambiguation). ... The Indian Army is the largest branch of the Armed Forces of India and has the primary responsibility of conducting land-based military operations. ... Riviera is usually used in reference to a coastal area. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ...

Indian Connection

Despite coming (or maybe because of coming) from a European background, Savitri Bai identified closely with Indo-European traditions and ideals, that her integration into Indian society was smooth and effortless. She was a vegetarian, learnt to speak fluent Hindi and Marathi, and learnt Indian music, dance and painting. She always considered herself an Indian, and was so fascinated with Hindu mythology that she read extensively from Hindu scriptures. She had a deep knowledge of India's ancient history and legends. It was this knowledge that led Major General Hira Lal Atal, the creator of the Param Vir Chakra, to ask for Savitri Bai's help in designing a medal that would truly symbolize the highest bravery. This article is about the continent. ... Proto-Indo-European Indo-European studies Indo-European is originally a linguistic term, referring to the Indo-European language family. ... For animals adapted to eat primarily plants, sometimes referred to as vegetarian animals, see Herbivore. ... Hindi (Devanagari: or  ;; IPA: ), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in northern and central India, is one of the official languages of the Union government of India. ... Marathi is one of the widely spoken languages of India, and has a long literary history. ... Indian music is: The music of India or Native American music This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Hindu mythology is a term used by modern scholarship for a large body of Indian literature that details the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ...

The design of Param Vir Chakra

Savitribai thought of the sage Dadhichi - a vedic rishi who made the ultimate sacrifice to the Gods. He gave up his body so that the Gods could fashion a deadly weapon - a Vajra, or thunderbolt, from his thigh bone. Savitribai gave Major General Hira Lal Atal, the design of the double Vajra, common in Tibet, and also suggested that it be flanked by Bhawani - the sword of the valiant and fearless warrior king Shivaji. Thus was born the design of the Param Vir Chakra. Vajrasattva holds the vajra in his right hand and a bell in his left hand. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Vajrasattva holds the vajra in his right hand and a bell in his left hand. ... Tibet (older spelling Thibet; Tibetan: བོད་; Wylie: Bod; Lhasa dialect IPA: [; Simplified and Traditional Chinese: 西藏, Hanyu Pinyin: XÄ«zàng; also referred to as 藏区 (Simplified Chinese), 藏區 (Traditional Chinese), ZàngqÅ« (Hanyu Pinyin), see Name section below) is a plateau region in Central Asia and the indigenous home to the Tibetan people. ... Shivaji Bhonsle, also known as Chatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhonsle (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजी राजे भोसले) was the founder of Maratha empire in western India in 1674. ... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ...

The medal itself is a small one. It is cast in bronze, and has a radius of 13/8 inch. In the centre, on a raised circle, is the state emblem, surrounded by four replicas of Indra's Vajra, flanked by the sword of Shivaji. The decoration is suspended from a straight swiveling suspension bar, and is held by a 32 mm purple ribbon. Assorted ancient Bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... Vajrasattva holds the vajra in his right hand and a bell in his left hand. ... Shivaji Bhonsle, also known as Chatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhonsle (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजी राजे भोसले) was the founder of Maratha empire in western India in 1674. ... It has been suggested that Red-violet be merged into this article or section. ...

An interesting account of her life

The best account ^[1]of her family past can be found in the words of Lt. Gen Harbaksh Singh, very closely associated with the Sikh Regiment and a hero of the 1965 Indo-Pak War. Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The Sikh Regiment is the highest decorated regiment of the Indian Army, with 72 Battle Honours, 15 Theatre Honours and 5 COAS Unit Citations and 1596 other gallantry awards. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ...

He thus reminiscences the lady -

“Born of Hungarian parents, Mrs. Khanolkar lost her mother at birth. Her father was then a librarian of the League of Nations in Geneva. She was brought up by him and put in a school at Riviera, near the sea-coast. She missed her mother from the very beginning, and would often question her father as to where was her mother, and why did he come alone to school to see her? While on leave from school, she had ample opportunity to study books; and somehow she took a liking to India. At school, missing her mother, she adopted the sea nearby as her mother; and the sea-surfs as her mother’s bosom. She loved bathing in the sea and lolling about, which she considered her mother’s bosom! The League of Nations was an international organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference, 1919. ... Hunters a cool hobo For other uses, see Geneva (disambiguation). ... Riviera is usually used in reference to a coastal area. ...

“One day she was holidaying, with other families and her father, on the beaches of Riviera. Her father led her to a batch of Indians, also holdaying from Sandhurst, in London. And Khanolkar was the first Indian she encountered. She insisted on taking his address, and communicating with him by post. She was then only 14 years old. She communicated with Khanolkar at Sandhurst. Khanolkar finished his course at Sandhurst, and was posted to 5/11th Sikh Regiment in Aurangabad. There he received a letter from her to say that she was arriving in Bombay, and he should meet her. He met her in Bombay (a city which he himself belonged to, being a Maharashtran) and they got married there. She was then only 15 years’ old and Khanolkar about 27. He brought her to Aurangabad as his bride; but this was not liked by the British Officers in the Battalion - firstly because she was a foreigner, and secondly because he had married against the unwritten law that as a British officer, you could not marry until you were 30. Riviera is usually used in reference to a coastal area. ... Sandhurst is a small town and civil parish in England of around 7,500 homes and 22,000 inhabitants, primarily domiciliary in nature with a few light industries. ... Sandhurst is a small town and civil parish in England of around 7,500 homes and 22,000 inhabitants, primarily domiciliary in nature with a few light industries. ... Sandhurst is a small town and civil parish in England of around 7,500 homes and 22,000 inhabitants, primarily domiciliary in nature with a few light industries. ... A Sikh (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is an adherent to Sikhism. ... Aurangabad (औरंगाबाद, from Persian اورنگ‌آباد meaning Built by the Throne, named after Mughal Emporer Aurangazeb) is a city and district in Maharashtra, India. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... Maharashtra   (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , English: , IPA: ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Aurangabad (औरंगाबाद, from Persian اورنگ‌آباد meaning Built by the Throne, named after Mughal Emporer Aurangazeb) is a city and district in Maharashtra, India. ...

“Mrs Khanolkar was truly an Indian wife. She had been to Patna University and learnt Hindi and Sanskrit. She dressed simply, in cotton saris, and wore no rouge, and had chappals to wear! For a time, Captain Khanolkar was my Company Commander in the Battalion and I had very close contact with his family. I liked Mrs. Khanolkar and her ways immensely. She had become the follower of Ramakrishna, and started following Vedantas. And, by her ways, she inducted me into Vedanta. I spent a month with the Khanolkars in Nowshera, our regimental centre then, when he was posted there after Aurangabad, and learnt ‘mediatation’ under her guidance. The Patna University, the first university in Bihar, was established in 1917 during the British Raj, and is the 7th oldest University of the Indian subcontinent. ... Hindi (Devanagari: or  ;; IPA: ), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in northern and central India, is one of the official languages of the Union government of India. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is an old Indo-Aryan language from the Indian Subcontinent, the classical literary language of the Hindus of India[1], a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (Bangla: রামকৃষ্ণ পরমহংস Ramkrishno Pôromôhongsho), born Gadadhar Chattopadhyay (Bangla: গদাধর চট্টোপাধ্যায় Gôdadhor Chôţţopaddhae) [1], (February 18, 1836–August 16, 1886) was a Hindu religious teacher and an influential figure in the Bengal Renaissance of the Nineteenth century. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Aurangabad (औरंगाबाद, from Persian اورنگ‌آباد meaning Built by the Throne, named after Mughal Emporer Aurangazeb) is a city and district in Maharashtra, India. ...

“When her husband died, she became a nun of the Ramakrishna Mission. Mrs. Khanolkar is herself dead now (passed away in 1990), but what a person!” The Ramakrishna Mission Emblem The Ramakrishna Mission is an association founded by Sri Ramakrishnas chief disciple and religious leader, Swami Vivekananda on May 1, 1897. ...

Epilogue

Savitri Bai did a lot a social work too in her later years, working with soldiers and their families and refugees who had been displaced during the Partition. After her husband's death in 1952, she found refuge in spirituality, and retired to the Ramakrishna Math. She wrote a book on the Saints of Maharashtra that is popular even today. Look up partition in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Ramakrishna Mission Emblem The Ramakrishna Mission is an association founded by Sri Ramakrishnas chief disciple and religious leader, Swami Vivekananda on May 1, 1897. ... Maharashtra   (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , English: , IPA: ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ...

Mrs. Savitri Bai Khanolankar died in 1990, but her memory lives on in the great award that she designed. It is fitting that a remarkable lady who truly loved India and was intensely proud of being an Indian designed an award that is given to soldiers who love their country so much that they are ready to die for it. MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ...

External Links

• Informative link on Savitri Khanolankar
• Lt. Gen Harbaksh Singh's account

Notes