# Cyrus Addie Pithawalla

Major General Cyrus Addie Pithawalla AC, 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, and by virtue of this is one of the most decorated flag officers 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 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. On 1 September 1984, he received a regular commission as a lieutenant.
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. Upon promotion to the rank of Major General on 20 January 2013, he became the first Ashoka Chakra recipient to attain the rank of a general officer in a Two-star rank. As a major general, he was posted as the 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 UN Mission at the Democratic Republic of Congo.

## Ashoka Chakra

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

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