# Cyrus Addie Pithawalla

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Indian Army officer

Major General C A Pithawalla AC, VSM Major General Cyrus Pithawalla at Rajpath saluting the President during Republic Day Parade. Born (1957-01-13) 13 January 1957 (age 69) Bangalore, Mysore State, India (now Bengaluru, Karnataka) Allegiance India Branch Indian Army Service years 1979 – 2015 Rank Major General Service number SS-30122 (short-service commission)[1] IC-37593 (regular commission)[2] Unit 17 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Commands Rashtriya Rifles Andhra Sub-Area Awards Ashok Chakra Vishisht Seva Medal Alma mater Delhi University (B.Com.) Delhi University (M.Com) Officers Training Academy The Air Force School Spouse Farida Pithawalla Relations Addie Pithawalla (Father) Sheru Pithawalla (Mother)

[Major General](/source/Major_general_(India)) **Cyrus Addie Pithawalla** [AC](/source/Ashoka_Chakra_(military_decoration)), [VSM](/source/Vishisht_Seva_Medal), is a former [General officer](/source/General_officer) of the [Indian Army](/source/Indian_Army). He was awarded India's highest peacetime decoration for gallantry, the Ashok Chakra, in 1981,[3] and by virtue of this is one of the most decorated [flag officers](/source/Flag_officer) in the history of the [Indian Armed Forces](/source/Indian_Armed_Forces) (the Ashoka Chakra ranks above all other Indian decorations excepting the [Param Vir Chakra](/source/Param_Vir_Chakra), its wartime equivalent, and the [Bharat Ratna](/source/Bharat_Ratna)).

## Early life and education

Pithawalla was born in [Bengaluru](/source/Bengaluru) on 13 January 1957 and was educated at the [Air Force School](/source/The_Air_Force_School_(Subroto_Park)), [Delhi](/source/Delhi). He subsequently attended the [Delhi University](/source/Delhi_University). After graduating with degrees in commerce, he joined the [Officers Training Academy](/source/Officers_Training_Academy), Chennai.

## Career

Pithawalla was commissioned as a [Second Lieutenant](/source/Second_Lieutenant) on a short-service commission into the 17th battalion, [Jammu and Kashmir Rifles](/source/Jammu_and_Kashmir_Rifles) on 1 September 1979.[1][4][5] On 1 September 1984, he received a regular commission as a lieutenant.[2]

On 1 August 2008, Pithawalla became the first recipient of either the [Param Vir Chakra](/source/Param_Vir_Chakra) or the [Ashoka Chakra](/source/Ashoka_Chakra) to attain the [one-star rank](/source/One-star_rank) of Brigadier.[6] Upon promotion to the rank of [Major General](/source/Major_General_(India)) on 20 January 2013,[7] he became the first [Ashoka Chakra](/source/Ashoka_Chakra) recipient to attain the rank of a general officer in a [Two-star rank](/source/Two-star_rank).[8] As a major general, he was posted as the [General Officer Commanding](/source/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](/source/Cambodia) as part of the [United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia](/source/United_Nations_Transitional_Authority_in_Cambodia) mission. He also served as the Deputy Commander of an Infantry Brigade Group in the [UN Mission at the Democratic Republic of Congo](/source/MONUSCO).[9]

## Ashoka Chakra

Pithawalla was awarded the Ashok Chakra in 1981 for a counter-insurgency operation in Manipur.[10] His Ashok Chakra Citation reads as follows:[11]

**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

Ashok Chakra Vishisht Seva Medal Wound Medal Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal Videsh Seva Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal 30 Years Long Service Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal UN Mission in Cambodia UN Mission in Congo

## Dates of rank

Insignia Rank Component Date of rank Second Lieutenant Indian Army 1 September 1979 (short-service commission)[1] 1 September 1984 (regular commission, with seniority from 30 April 1980 but for increments of pay from 1 September 1979)[2] Lieutenant Indian Army 1 September 1981 (short-service commission)[12] 1 September 1984 (regular commission, with seniority from 30 April 1982)[2] Captain Indian Army 30 April 1985[13] Major Indian Army 30 April 1991[14] Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army 31 December 2002[15] Colonel Indian Army 1 February 2005[16] Brigadier Indian Army 1 August 2008 (seniority from 4 January 2008)[6] Major General Indian Army 20 January 2013 (seniority from 2 April 2011)[7]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ssc_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ssc_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ssc_1-2) "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 19 April 1980. p. 464.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-regular_commission_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-regular_commission_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-regular_commission_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-regular_commission_2-3) "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 30 March 1985. p. 417.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Cyrus Pithawala, an Ashok Chakra awardee is now a Major General"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180917215404/http://www.merinews.com/article/cyrus-pithawala-an-ashok-chakra-awardee-is-now-a-major-general/15880048.shtml). Archived from [the original](http://www.merinews.com/article/cyrus-pithawala-an-ashok-chakra-awardee-is-now-a-major-general/15880048.shtml) on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Brig Pithawalla first Ashok Chakra awardee to become Maj Gen"](http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/brig-pithawalla-first-ashok-chakra-awardee-to-become-maj-gen/1054173/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Bravest of the Brave - Heroes of the Indian Army"](https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.219746/2015.219746.Bravest-Of_djvu.txt). 12 August 1974.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-brig_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-brig_6-1) "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 10 April 2010. p. 604.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-maj_gen_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-maj_gen_7-1) "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 22 March 2014. p. 428.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Highest gallantry award winner breaches rank ceiling"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Highest-gallantry-award-winner-breaches-rank-ceiling/articleshow/17865393.cms). *The Times of India*. 3 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Maj. Gen. Pithawalla retires"](https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/maj-gen-pithawalla-retires/article6844418.ece). *The Hindu*. 31 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["2/LT CYRUS ADDIE PITHAWALLA"](http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/cyrus-addie-pithawalla).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["2/Lt Cyrus Addie Pithwalla, AC, 17 JAK RIF"](https://www.facebook.com/Indianarmy.adgpi/posts/2lt-cyrus-addie-pithwalla-ac-17-jak-rifbravesonsofindia-thisdaythatyearon-6th-ju/394794430717192/). *[Facebook](/source/Facebook)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 9 January 1982. p. 40.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 9 August 1986. p. 1147.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 25 April 1992. p. 814.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 31 July 2004. p. 1052.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 25 March 2006. p. 410.

v t e Ashoka Chakra award recipients 1951 to 1970 Bachittar Singh† (1952) Narbahadur Thapa (1952) Suhas Biswas (1953) D. K. Jatar†^ (1955) Sundar Singh (1956) Jagannath Raoji Chitnis† (1957) Joginder Singh† (1957) Pollur Mutthuswamy Raman† (1957) Eric James Tucker† (1958) Khadka Bahadur Limbu† (1962) Man Bahadur Rai (1962) Chaman Lal†^ (1965) Lajjaram†^ (1965) Purshottam†^ (1965) Tej Singh†^ (1965) Shankar Lal Shrivastava† (1967) Dhanpat Singh^ (1968) Govind Singh^ (1968) Hukum Singh^ (1968) Lakhan Singh^ (1968) Takhat Singh†^ (1968) Jas Ram Singh (1969) 1971 to 1990 Baij Nath Singh†^ (1971) Bhure Lal^ (1972) Ummed Singh Mahra† (1972) Gurnam Singh (1974) Munnie Lal†^ (1974) Cyrus Addie Pithawalla (1981) Gennadi Strekalov* (1984) Yuri Malyshev* (1984) Bhawani Datt Joshi† (1985) Bhukant Misra† (1985) Chhering Mutup (1985) Jasbir Singh Raina (1985) Nirbhay Singh Sisodiya† (1985) Rakesh Sharma (1985) Ram Prakash Roperia† (1985) Vijay Jagirdar†^ (1986) Neerja Bhanot†^ (1987) 1991 to 2010 Randhir Prasad Verma† (1991) Sandeep Sankhla† (1992) Rakesh Singh Malhan† (1993) Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair† (1994) Harsh Uday Singh Gaur† (1995) Rajiv Kumar Joon† (1995) Sujjan Singh Yadav† (1995) Arun Singh Jasrotia† (1996) Puneet Nath Datt† (1997) Shanti Swaroop Rana† (1997) Sudhir Kumar Walia† (2000) Jagdish Prasad Yadav†^ (2001) Matbar Singh Negi†^ (2001) Kamlesh Kumari† (2001) Rambeer Singh Tomar† (2002) Surinder Singh† (2002) Suresh Chand Yadav† (2002) Sanjog Chhetri† (2004) Triveni Singh† (2004) Chuni Lal† (2007) Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan† (2007) Vasanth Venugopal† (2007) Dinesh Raghu Raman† (2008) Ashok Kamte† (2009) Bahadur Singh Bohra† (2009) Gajender Singh Bisht† (2009) Hemant Karkare† (2009) Jojan Thomas† (2009) Mohan Chand Sharma† (2009) Pramod Kumar Satapathy† (2009) R. P. Diengdoh† (2009) Sandeep Unnikrishnan† (2009) Tukaram Omble† (2009) Vijay Salaskar† (2009) D. Sreeram Kumar (2010) Mohit Sharma† (2010) Rajesh Kumar† (2010) 2011 to present Laishram Jyotin Singh† (2011) Navdeep Singh† (2012) K. Prasad Babu† (2014) Mukund Varadarajan† (2014) Neeraj Kumar Singh† (2014) Mohan Nath Goswami† (2016) Hangpan Dada† (2017) Jyoti Prakash Nirala† (2018) Nazir Ahmad Wani† (2019) Babu Ram† (2021) Shubhanshu Shukla (2026) † Posthumous; ^ Civilian; * Non-Indian

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