Savitri Khanolkar (1913-1990) was an Indian designer and painter. She is credited with designing the Param Vir Chakra, Independent India’s highest gallantry medal. Besides designing Param Vir Chakra, Savitri also designed Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. She died on November 26, 1990.
Wiki/Biography
Savitri Khanolkar was born Eve Yvonne Maday de Maros on Sunday, July 20, 1913, in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Age 77; at time of death). Savitri Khanolkar spent most of his childhood in Geneva. She began her studies there. She lost her mother when she was very young; she was cared for by her father. During the summer holidays at school, Savitri read many books about Indian culture and traditions. This made her more curious and passionate about Indian culture. While vacationing on a beach in Geneva, Savitri was introduced to a group of young Indian officer cadets. There she met Vikram Ramji Khanolkar, who was then training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England. Savitri fell in love with him immediately and insisted that her father get Vikram’s address. After getting his address, Savitri wrote to him. A few years later, she visited Vikram’s hometown of Bombay, and the two married in 1932. She began to learn more about Indian culture and quickly became familiar with it. After her marriage, she studied at Patna University where she got more information about Indian culture, Hinduism and the Vedas.
family
Savitri Khanolkar was born into a Swiss family.
parents
Her father’s name was André de Madi. He is professor of sociology at the University of Geneva. He is also President of the Sociological Society of Geneva. Her mother’s name was Marthe Henzelt. She is a professor at the Institut Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Her mother is of Russian descent.
husband and children
Her husband’s name is Vikram Ramji Kanolkar. He was an officer who served in the British Indian Army and after Independence in the Indian Army up to the rank of General. She married him in 1932 in Bombay.
Savitri Khanolkar and her husband Vikram Ramji Khanolkar
Her daughter’s name is Kumudini Kanolkar. Her husband Lieutenant General Surinder Sharma (PVSM, AVSM) later became the Chief Engineer of the Indian Army. He is the younger brother of Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of the country’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra.
Kumudini Khanolkar, daughter of Savitri Khanolkar
Relationships/Affairs
She had a brief romance with Vikram Ramji Khanolkar before marrying him in 1932.
Religion/Religious Views
hinduism
Design mouth-watering Param Vir Chakra
In 1947, after India gained freedom from British rule, the newly formed Indian Army asked Major General Hira Lal Attal, then the Adjutant General of the Indian Army, to design a new gallantry medal for the Indian Army. Soon, Major General Atal was introduced to Savitri Kanorkar, by which time her husband Vikram Ramji Kanorkar had become a major general. Savitri’s knowledge of Indian culture and traditions impressed Sheela Lal Atal. He did not hesitate to ask Savitri Khanolkar to help him design the medal. Savitri was a student of the Vedas who was deeply influenced by the story of sage Rishi Dadhichi who donated his spine to the gods so that they could create a weapon called Vajra to kill a Very powerful demon. Savitri Kanorkar was deeply influenced by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whom she considered one of the greatest Indian warriors . Therefore, she included his famous sword Bhavani. The design of this medal is very unique. It’s cast in bronze and has a 32mm purple ribbon attached to the top. The middle medal has a raised circle with the national emblem of India, called the Lion City of Ashoka. The national emblem is surrounded by four diamonds: left, right, upper and lower. Each Vajra is flanked by two Bhavani, the sword of Shivaji Maharaj. On the other side of the medal, its name is written in English and Hindi, separated by two lotus flowers.
Paramvir Chakra
The diameter of the medal is 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm. The decoration hangs from a straight swivel boom and is secured with purple ribbon. The medal has its name written in English and Hindi on the back; separated by a lotus flower in the middle.
PVC medal ribbon
Other gallantry awards for India
Mahavir Chakra
Apart from designing Param Vir Chakra. Savitri Khanolkar is also recognized for designing the Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award in the country. The prize is cast in silver and has a round shape. The medal has a five-point heraldic star and in the center of the medal is a circle with the national emblem of India inside. The reverse of the medal has the words “Maha Vir Chakra” engraved in English and Hindi. The text on the reverse side of the medal is separated by the lotus, the national flower of India.
Mahavir Chakra
The medals are suspended from a boom held in place by a half orange and half white ribbon. Ribbon width is approximately 3.2cm.
MVC medal ribbon
Veer Chakra
Savitri also designed the Vir Chakra, India’s third highest gallantry award. The medal is a round medal, cast in silver. Its diameter is 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm. The medal has a five-pointed star with a dome in the center. The medal has the national emblem of India in the center of its gliding dome. The other side of the medal has the name of the medal written in English and Hindi. The names are separated by lotus flowers.
Veer Chakra
It hangs from a swivel attached to a half-dark blue, half-saffron ribbon. Medal diameter is 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm, ribbon diameter is 32 mm.
Vir Chakra Medal Ribbon
Designing medals awarded in peacetime
Ashoka Chakra
The Ashoka Chakra is the highest award for valor bestowed upon an individual in times of peace. It was also designed by Savitri Khanolkar. The award is made of gold plating. It is round and has a diameter of 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm. There is a lotus garland inside the medal and the Asoka Chakra inside the circular garland. The back of the medal has the words Ashok Chakra written in Hindi and English; a lotus is separated between the two.
Ashoka Chakra
The medal also hangs from a swivel attached to a 32mm dark green ribbon with a 2mm saffron stripe in the middle.
Ashoka Chakra Medal Ribbon
Golden Wheel
The Kirti wheel is made of silver and has a round shape. The diameter of the medal is 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm. The medal has an Ashok Chakra in the center surrounded by a circular lotus garland. Back of the medal; Kirti Chakra written in Hindi and English separated by two lotuses.
Kirti wheel
The dark green ribbon that is fixed to the swivel and holds the medal in place is 30 mm wide. It is divided into two 2 mm saffron colored stripes.
Kirti Chakra Medal Ribbon
Shaurya chakra
Shaurya Chakra is made of bronze and has a round shape. The medallion in the center has an Ashok Chakra surrounded by a lotus garland. The reverse of the medal features the Kirti Chakra in Hindi and English; two lotuses are separated from each other.
Shaurya chakra
It has a dark green ribbon divided equally into four halves by three saffron colored ribbons.
Shaurya Chakra Medal Ribbon
General Service Medal, 1947
Savitri Khanolkar designed this and other medals. The medal ceased use in 1975. The medal is awarded to soldiers serving in different combat zones. The medal has a 31mm long red ribbon with 5 equally spaced 1mm dark green stripes.
General Service Medal Ribbon
The medal features Shivaji’s sword Bhavani on the obverse; surrounded by a halo. The reverse of the medal features a blooming lotus bud. The General Service Medal is written around the back edge of the medal. The medal is made of nickel.
general service medal
die
Savitri Khanolkar died on November 26, 1990 in New Delhi, India. She died of natural causes.
Facts/Trivia
- Savitri Khanolkar’s mother died when she was very young. She often asked her father questions about her mother. Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh said in an interview,
“Ms. Kanocca was born to Hungarian parents and lost her mother at birth. Her father was then a librarian at the League of Nations in Geneva. She was raised by him and sent to a school in Rivi, near the coast. A school in Ella. She has missed her mother very much since she was a child. She often asks where her parents are and why they come to see her alone. “
- Savitri Khanolkar did a lot of social work. She helped those displaced by the partition of India and Pakistan.
- Savitri Khanolkar is a very simple lady. In 1952, after the death of her husband, she joined Ramakrishna Mathematics and began studying Vedanta. Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh said in an interview,
Mrs. Kanoka is truly an Indian wife. She was dressed simply, in a cotton saree, no rouge, just tulle! I really like Mrs. Savitri Hanokar and her way of doing things. She became a follower of Ramakrishna Maas and started following Vedanta. And, through her way, she guided me into Vedanta. “
- Savitri Khanolkar was fluent in many languages. She is fluent in multiple languages like Hindi, English, Marathi, Konkani and French.
- Savitri Khanolkar was once keen to follow her passion in art, music and dance.
- Savitri Hanokar is also a writer. She wrote and published a book titled Saints of Maharashtra.
- Savitri Khanolkar’s father opposed her decision to travel to India to marry Vikram Ramji Khanolkar.
- Savitri Khanolkar is also known by her other name Savitri Bai.
- Savitri Khanolkar’s marriage to Vikram Khanolkar was not easy as Vikram’s parents were against their marriage and their marriage was also violated by Vikram And was dissatisfied by senior British military officers. The bill prohibits any officer of Indian origin from marrying before the age of 30. Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh said in an interview,
He brought her to Aurangabad to be his new bride, but this did not go over well with the British officers in the camp – firstly because she was a foreigner, and secondly because his marriage violated the unwritten law of being British officer, you cannot marry until you are 30 years old. “
- Whenever someone called Savitri Khanolkar a foreigner, she would say that she was born in Europe instead of India by mistake.
- Savitri Khanolkar was seen by many famous people for her contribution in designing the Gallantry Medal of Independent India.
Savitri Khanolkar and Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education