Medals and Decorations of Independent India

With its independence in 1947 and its emergence as a fully self-governing republic in 1950, India created new awards that arguably represent the first phaleristic manifestations of the country’s freedom. These new awards also represented the unique values of the new republic, and not just meant to discard the colonial legacy. Ostensibly, these awards were created to reward Indian citizens for bravery and national service. The first ever of its kind, the book offers a systematic, at once exhaustive description of the official military, police, and civilian awards of the Republic of India from 1947 to the present day. Taking a close look at the policy issues, legal issues, and other issues concerning these awards, the book sets out a critique of the policies that have governed their creation and bestowal. While focusing on official national awards, the book also provides information on Indian provincial awards, United Nations awards, various foreign awards given to Indians, and on awards of the pre-1947 Provisional Government of Free India. Also included in the book are various awards for meritorious police and fire services, besides several other official awards of the Indian Republic. The book is exquisitely illustrated with colour photographs of all medals, awards and decorations, described here. “This systematically compiled and meticulously researched account is essentially an anthology of all military and civilian awards of the Republic of India to date – the only authoritative work of its kind,” says D.K. Palit, a former Major General of the Indian Army. Edward S. Haynes is a specialist in modern South Asian History: currently faculty member in the history department, Winthrop University, USA. Rana T.S. Chhina, a former pilot of the Indian Air Force, is a qualified flying instructor. A recipient of the Macgregor Medal for best military reconnaissance in 1986, he is currently secretary and editor of the USI Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, New Delhi.