Cyrus Addie Pithawalla

{{Short description|Indian Army officer}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = [[Major general (India)|Major General]] | name = C A Pithawalla | honorific_suffix = [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|AC]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Major General Cyrus Pithawalla AC, VSM.jpg | image_size = 250 px | alt = | caption = Major General Cyrus Pithawalla at Rajpath saluting the President during Republic Day Parade. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1957|01|13}} | death_date =  | birth_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Mysore State]], India (now Bengaluru, [[Karnataka]]) | death_place = | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = | birth_name = | allegiance = {{IND}} | branch = {{army|India}} | service_years = 1979 – 2015 | rank = [[File:Major General of the Indian Army.svg|25px]] [[Major general (India)|Major General]] | service_number = SS-30122 (short-service commission)<ref name="ssc"/> IC-37593 (regular commission)<ref name="regular_commission"/> | unit = [[Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry|17 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles]] | commands = [[Rashtriya Rifles]] Andhra Sub-Area | battles = | battles_label = | awards = [[File:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashok Chakra]] [[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Vishisht Seva Medal]] | alma_mater = [[Delhi University]] ([[Bachelor of Commerce|B.Com.]]) [[Delhi University]] ([[Master of Commerce|M.Com]]) [[Officers Training Academy]] [[The Air Force School]] | spouse = Farida Pithawalla | relations = Addie Pithawalla (Father) Sheru Pithawalla (Mother) | other_work = | signature = | website = | other_name = | memorials = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | module = }}

[[Major general (India)|Major General]] '''Cyrus Addie Pithawalla''' [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|AC]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]], is a former [[General officer]] of the [[Indian Army]]. He was awarded India's highest peacetime decoration for gallantry, the Ashok Chakra, in 1981,<ref>{{cite web |title=Cyrus Pithawala, an Ashok Chakra awardee is now a Major General |url=http://www.merinews.com/article/cyrus-pithawala-an-ashok-chakra-awardee-is-now-a-major-general/15880048.shtml |access-date=17 September 2018 |archive-date=17 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917215404/http://www.merinews.com/article/cyrus-pithawala-an-ashok-chakra-awardee-is-now-a-major-general/15880048.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> and by virtue of this is one of the most decorated [[flag officer]]s in the history of the [[Indian Armed Forces]] (the Ashoka Chakra ranks above all other Indian decorations excepting the [[Param Vir Chakra]], its wartime equivalent, and the [[Bharat Ratna]]).

==Early life and education== Pithawalla was born in [[Bengaluru]] on 13 January 1957 and was educated at the [[The Air Force School (Subroto Park)|Air Force School]], [[Delhi]]. He subsequently attended the [[Delhi University]]. After graduating with degrees in commerce, he joined the [[Officers Training Academy]], Chennai.

==Career== Pithawalla was commissioned as a [[Second Lieutenant]] on a short-service commission into the 17th battalion, [[Jammu and Kashmir Rifles]] on 1 September 1979.<ref name="ssc"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Brig Pithawalla first Ashok Chakra awardee to become Maj Gen |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/brig-pithawalla-first-ashok-chakra-awardee-to-become-maj-gen/1054173/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bravest of the Brave - Heroes of the Indian Army |date=12 August 1974 |url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.219746/2015.219746.Bravest-Of_djvu.txt}}</ref> On 1 September 1984, he received a regular commission as a lieutenant.<ref name="regular_commission"/>

On 1 August 2008, Pithawalla became the first recipient of either the [[Param Vir Chakra]] or the [[Ashoka Chakra]] to attain the [[one-star rank]] of Brigadier.<ref name="brig"/> Upon promotion to the rank of [[Major General (India)|Major General]] on 20 January 2013,<ref name="maj_gen"/> he became the first [[Ashoka Chakra]] recipient to attain the rank of a general officer in a [[Two-star rank]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Highest gallantry award winner breaches rank ceiling |newspaper=The Times of India |date=3 January 2013 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Highest-gallantry-award-winner-breaches-rank-ceiling/articleshow/17865393.cms}}</ref> As a major general, he was posted as the [[General officer commanding|General Officer Commanding]] (GOC) Andhra Sub Area.

In his 35-year career, he held various instructional, staff and command positions across India. In addition to this, he served as a Military observer in [[Cambodia]] as part of the [[United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia]] mission. He also served as the Deputy Commander of an Infantry Brigade Group in the [[MONUSCO|UN Mission at the Democratic Republic of Congo]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Maj. Gen. Pithawalla retires |newspaper=The Hindu |date=31 January 2015 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/maj-gen-pithawalla-retires/article6844418.ece}}</ref>

==Ashoka Chakra== Pithawalla was awarded the Ashok Chakra in 1981 for a counter-insurgency operation in Manipur.<ref>{{cite web |title=2/LT CYRUS ADDIE PITHAWALLA |url=http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/cyrus-addie-pithawalla}}</ref> His Ashok Chakra Citation reads as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=2/Lt Cyrus Addie Pithwalla, AC, 17 JAK RIF |website=[[Facebook]] |url=https://www.facebook.com/Indianarmy.adgpi/posts/2lt-cyrus-addie-pithwalla-ac-17-jak-rifbravesonsofindia-thisdaythatyearon-6th-ju/394794430717192/}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|{{center|'''CITATION''' '''SECOND LIEUTENANT CYRUS ADDIE PITHAWALLA'''}} On 6th July, 1981, 2/Lt Cyrus Addie Pithwalla while in command of a Company Column of 17 JAK Rifles was ordered to cordon and search area Tekcham in Manipur and to capture insurgents reported to be there.

2/Lt Pithawalla led his men through marshy and difficult terrain for over seven kilometres. When he was about 200 metres from the Tekcham Hill, he drew fire from the militants there. With total disregard to his personal safety, the officer charged on the militants with lightning speed. When he was just 50 metres short of the area, he found an militant trying to escape. Although, he could have shot the individual dead, he decided to capture him alive. While nearing the fleeing militant, 2/Lt Pithawalla was wounded in the right shoulder by a gun shot.

Despite his serious injury, he personally led the charge and captured the militant who turned out to be one Bisheshwar Singh, the top-most leader of the PLA. In spite of his serious condition, he refused to be evacuated and led his men in a combing operation till 6.00 a.m. the next morning. These operations resulted in the death of seven militants and capture of a very large quantity of arms and ammunition. 2/Lt Cyrus Addie Pithawalla thus displayed bravery of the highest order and extraordinary and inspiring leadership and was awarded the Ashok Chakra.}}

==Awards and decorations==

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |[[File:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:Wound Medal-India.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|105px]] |- |[[File:IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]] |- |[[File:IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|105px]] |- |[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:UN UNTAC Medal ribbon.svg|104px]] |[[File:UN MONUC Medal ribbon.svg|104px]] |- |}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |[[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashok Chakra]] |[[Vishisht Seva Medal]] |[[Wound Medal (India)|Wound Medal]] |[[Samanya Seva Medal]] |- |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Special Service Medal]] |[[Operation Vijay Medal]] |[[Operation Parakram Medal]] |[[Sainya Seva Medal]] |- |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|High Altitude Service Medal]] |[[Videsh Seva Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|50th Anniversary of Independence Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]] |- |[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]] |[[United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia|UN Mission in Cambodia]] |[[MONUSCO|UN Mission in Congo]] |- |}

==Dates of rank== {|class="wikitable" style="background:white" ! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date of rank |- |align="center" |[[File:Second Lieutenant of the Indian Army.svg|35px]] || [[Second Lieutenant]] || [[Indian Army]] || 1 September 1979 (short-service commission)<ref name="ssc">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=464 |date=19 April 1980 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> 1 September 1984 (regular commission, with seniority from 30 April 1980 but for increments of pay from 1 September 1979)<ref name="regular_commission"/> |- |align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant]] || Indian Army || 1 September 1981 (short-service commission)<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=40 |date=9 January 1982 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> 1 September 1984 (regular commission, with seniority from 30 April 1982)<ref name="regular_commission">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=417 |date=30 March 1985 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |align="center" |[[File:Captain_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] || Indian Army || 30 April 1985<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1147 |date=9 August 1986 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |align="center" |[[File:Major_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major (rank)|Major]] || Indian Army || 30 April 1991<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=814 |date=25 April 1992 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] || Indian Army || 31 December 2002<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1052 |date=31 July 2004 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |align="center" |[[File:Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] || Indian Army || 1 February 2005<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=410 |date=25 March 2006 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |align="center" |[[File:Brigadier_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Brigadier (India)|Brigadier]] || Indian Army || 1 August 2008 (seniority from 4 January 2008)<ref name="brig">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=604 |date=10 April 2010 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |align="center" |[[File:Major_General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major general (India)|Major General]] || Indian Army || 20 January 2013 (seniority from 2 April 2011)<ref name="maj_gen">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=428 |date=22 March 2014 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |- |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pithawalla, Cyrus Addie}} [[Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Indian Army officers]] [[Category:Recipients of the Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Recipients of the Ashoka Chakra]] [[Category:1957 births]] [[Category:Ashoka Chakra]]