Ram Chander

Dhobi Ram Chander, MVC was a civilian who was awarded the Mahavir Chakra during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He is one of only two civilians to have been awarded the Mahavir Chakra.[1][2][3]

Ram Chander

MVC
Born1921
Jalandhar, Punjab, India
Died1998
Allegiance
Service/branch
Years of serviceMay 1947 - Unknown
RankActing (Civilian military rank) Indian Army
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1947
Awards Maha Vir Chakra

Early life

Chander was born in 1921 in Kot Kishan Chand, Jalandhar, Punjab to Faqir Chand.[2]

Military career

Chander joined the 14 Field Company Engineers of the Madras Engineering Group of the Indian Army in May 1947. He was a civilian in the Indian Army and a washer-man (dhobi) by profession.[2]

He was part of a convoy proceeding to Jammu under the command of Lt F D W Fallon on 18 December 1947. When the convoy reached Bhambla, it was ambushed by the enemy who had created a roadblock by removing the decking on a bridge. He helped the convoy commander replace the decking while the bridge was under continuous fire. On Lt. Fallon being wounded, he took the officer’s rifle and helped in holding the enemy at bay and was responsible for inflicting five to six casualties on the enemy. He later helped Lt Fallon to get to the nearest post which was 13 km away.[2][1]

Death

Chander died in 1998.[1]

References
  1. Vijay Mohan (7 March 2016). "Decorated washerman waited for promised land till his last breath". The Tribune.
  2. Chakravorty, B. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. Allied Publishers. ISBN 9788170235163.
  3. "Ram Chander | Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
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