Prime Minister Narendra Modi named the 21 largest unnamed islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees on Parakram Diwas.
These islands have been named after the 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees including Major Somnath Sharma, Nayak Jadunath Singh, Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, Lance Naik Albert Ekka, Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, Captain Vikram Batra, and Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey.
Also Read: 21 Param Vir Chakra Awardees Every Indian Should Know
Why Parakram Diwas is celebrated?
The government declared January 23rd as Parakram Diwas to commemorate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday. The first Param Vir Chakra awardee will be named after the largest unnamed island, the second after the second Param Vir Chakra awardee, and so on.
This step will be an everlasting tribute to the country’s heroes, who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.
During the program, Mr. Modi will also unveil the model of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep National Memorial.
Mr. Modi renamed Ross Islands Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep in 2018 to honor Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s memory and the historical significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Neil Island and Havelock Island were renamed Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively.
Complete List of Param Vir Chakra Awardees
| Name | Rank** | Unit | Date of action | Conflict |
| Somnath Sharma | Major | Kumaon Regiment | 3 November 1947* | Battle of Badgam |
| Jadunath Singh | Naik | Rajput Regiment | 6 February 1948* | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 |
| Rama Raghoba Rane | Second Lieutenant | Bombay Sappers | 8 April 1948 | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 |
| Piru Singh | Company Havildar Major | Rajputana Rifles | 17 July 1948* | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 |
| Karam Singh | Lance Naik | Sikh Regiment | 13 October 1948 | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 |
| Gurbachan Singh Salaria | Captain | 1 Gorkha Rifles[d] | 5 December 1961* | Congo Crisis |
| Dhan Singh Thapa | Major | 8 Gorkha Rifles | 20 October 1962 | Sino-Indian War |
| Joginder Singh | Subedar | Sikh Regiment | 23 October 1962* | Sino-Indian War |
| Shaitan Singh | Major | Kumaon Regiment | 18 November 1962* | Sino-Indian War |
| Abdul Hamid | Company Quarter Master Havildar | The Grenadiers | 10 September 1965* | Battle of Asal Uttar |
| Ardeshir Tarapore | Lieutenant Colonel | Poona Horse | 11 September 1965* | Battle of Chawinda |
| Albert Ekka | Lance Naik | Brigade of the Guards | 3 December 1971* | Battle of Hilli |
| Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon | Flying Officer | No. 18 Squadron IAF | 14 December 1971* | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Arun Khetarpal | Second Lieutenant | Poona Horse | 16 December 1971* | Battle of Basantar |
| Hoshiar Singh Dahiya | Major | The Grenadiers | 17 December 1971 | Battle of Basantar |
| Bana Singh | Naib Subedar | Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry | 23 May 1987 | Operation Rajiv |
| Ramaswamy Parameshwaran | Major | Mahar Regiment[e] | 25 November 1987* | Operation Pawan |
| Manoj Kumar Pandey | Lieutenant | 11 Gorkha Rifles | 3 July 1999* | Operation Vijay |
| Yogendra Singh Yadav | Grenadier | The Grenadiers | 4 July 1999 | Battle of Tiger Hill |
| Sanjay Kumar | Rifleman | Jammu and Kashmir Rifles | 5 July 1999 | Kargil War |
| Vikram Batra | Captain | Jammu and Kashmir Rifles | 5 July 1999* | Operation Vijay |
All About Param Vir Chakra
Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is the highest gallantry award for officers and other enlisted personnel of all military branches of India for the highest degree of valor in the presence of the enemy. Introduced on 26th January 1950, this award may be given posthumously.
Also read: Wartime And Peacetime Gallantry Awards [Full List]
If any recipient of the PVC shall again perform such an act of bravery as would have made him or her eligible to be recorded by a Bar to be attached to the riband by which the Chakra is suspended, and for every such additional act of bravery, an additional Bar shall be added, and any such Bar or Bars may also be awarded posthumously. For every Bar awarded a replica of the ‘Indra’s Vajra’ in miniature shall be added to the riband when worn alone.
All About A&N Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are an Indian union territory comprised of 572 islands, 37 of which are inhabited, located at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. [4] The territory is located approximately 150 kilometers north of Aceh, Indonesia, and is separated from Thailand and Myanmar by the Andaman Sea. The Andaman Islands (partly) and the Nicobar Islands are separated by the 150 km (100 miles) wide Ten Degree Channel, with the Andaman Islands to the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south. To the east is the Andaman Sea, and to the west is the Bay of Bengal. The Arakan Mountains are thought to be a submerged extension of the island chains.
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