National
Garud commando to be awarded Ashok Chakra posthumously on R-Day
New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) President Ram Nath Kovind will on Friday present Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration, posthumously to Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, a Garud Commando of the Indian Air Force (IAF) who died fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Corporal Nirala, a commando of the elite special force of the IAF, was part of an offensive launched jointly by the Garud detachment and Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Chanderger village of Bandipora district on November 18, 2017.
The Garud detachment laid a close quarter ambush around the house where the terrorists were tipped to be hiding. Nirala positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout to block the escape way for the terrorists.
While the detachment laid in wait, six terrorists rushed out, shooting and lobbing grenades at the soldiers.
Nirala retaliated, gunning down two top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists and injuring two others. He also received gunshot wounds in the fierce gun battle.
While being critically injured, Nirala continued retaliatory fire and subsequently succumbed to his injuries. All six terrorists were killed.
Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award, is equivalent to war-time award of Param Vir Chakra.
Apart from Nirala, IAF personnel have in the past received one Param Vir Chakra and two more Ashok Chakras.
The first Ashok Chakra awardee from IAF was Flt Lt Suhas Biswas who was flying an aircraft with top Army officers after an exercise in Lucknow in 1952 when the aircraft caught fire.
A crash landing by Biswas saved the lives of then GOC-in-C Western Command Lt Gen S.M. Shrinagesh and then Quarter Master General Maj Gen K.S. Thimayya, both of whom later became Army Chiefs.
Ashok Chakra was also awarded to Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to go to space.
The only Param Vir Chakra to a personnel from the IAF was given to 1971 war hero Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon in recognition of his lone defence of the Srinagar Air Base against a Pakistan Air Force’s air raid during the India-Pakistan war.
–IANS
ao/him/mr
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.