Savitri Khanolkar (1913–1990) was an Indian designer and painter. He is credited with designing the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award of independent India. Apart from designing the Param Vir Chakra, Savitri is also known for designing the Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. He died on 26 November 1990.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Savitri Khanolkar was born Eve Yvonne Made de Marois in Neuchâtel, Switzerland on Sunday, 20 July 1913 (aged 77 at the time of death). Savitri Khanolkar spent most of her childhood in Geneva. He started his schooling from there. He lost his mother at a very young age; He was looked after by his father. During her school summer vacations, Savitri read a lot of books based on Indian culture and traditions. This made him more curious and enthusiastic towards Indian culture. During a beach holiday in Geneva, Savitri was introduced to a group of young Indian officer cadets. There he met Vikram Ramji Khanolkar, who was then training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK. Savitri immediately falls in love with him and insists on getting Vikram’s address from her father. After getting his address, Savitri wrote letters to him. A few years later, they visited Bombay, which was Vikram’s hometown, and the two got married in 1932. She started learning more about Indian culture and soon became well-versed with it. After marriage, she studied at Patna University, where she learned more about Indian culture, Hinduism and Vedas.
Family
Savitri Khanolkar belonged to a Swiss family.
Guardian
His father’s name was André de Mède. He was professor of sociology at the University of Geneva. He was also president of the Société de Sociologie de Genève. His mother’s name was Marthe Hentzelt. She was a professor at the Institut Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Rousseau Institute). His mother was of Russian origin.
husband and children
Her husband’s name was Vikram Ramji Khanolkar. He was an officer who was commissioned in the British Indian Army and after independence he served in the Indian Army up to the rank of Major General. They got married in 1932 in Mumbai.
Savitri Khanolkar with her husband Vikram Ramji Khanolkar
His daughter’s name is Kumudini Khanolkar. She is married to Lieutenant General Surinder Sharma (PVSM, AVSM), who became Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army. He was the younger brother of Major Somnath Sharma, who became the first recipient of the country’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra.
Kumudini Khanolkar, daughter of Savitri Khanolkar
relationships/affairs
She was in a relationship with Vikram Ramji Khanolkar for a short time, before marrying him in 1932.
religion/religious views
Hindu religion
Designing of the prestigious Paramveer Chakra
After India gained independence from the British Raj, in 1947, the newly established Indian Army asked Major General Hira Lal Atal, who was then the Adjutant General of the Indian Army, to design new gallantry award medals for the Indian Army. Soon Major General Atal was introduced to Savitri Khanolkar, by now her husband Vikram Ramji Khanolkar had become Major General. Hira Lal Atal was impressed by Savitri’s knowledge of Indian culture and traditions. Without hesitation, he asked Savitri Khanolkar to help in the design of the medals. Being a student of the Vedas, Savitri was greatly influenced by the story of the sage Dadhichi, a saint who donated his spine to the gods so that they could create a weapon called Vajra to kill a very powerful demon. Savitri Khanolkar was greatly influenced by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whom she considered one of the greatest Indian warriors. Thus, he also included his famous sword, Bhavani. The design structure of the medal is very unique. It is cast in bronze and topped with a 32 mm purple ribbon. In the center of the medal is a raised circle containing the national emblem of India, called the Lion Pillar of Ashoka. The state emblem is surrounded by four thunderbolts on the left, right, top and bottom. On either side of each Vajra are Shivaji Maharaj’s two swords called Bhavani. On the other side of the medal, its name is written in both English and Hindi, separated by two lotus flowers.
Paramveer Chakra
The diameter of the medal is 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm. The decoration is hung directly from a rotating suspension bar, held in place by a purple ribbon. His name is written on the reverse of the medal in both English and Hindi; Separated by lotus flower.
PVC Medal Ribbon
Creating another gallantry award for India
Mahavir Chakra
Apart from designing PVC. Savitri Khanolkar is also credited with designing the country’s second highest gallantry award, the Mahavir Chakra. The award is minted in silver and is round in shape. The medal bears a five-pointed heraldic star and in the center of the medal is a circle containing the national emblem of India. The words Mahavir Chakra are engraved on the reverse of the medal in English and Hindi. The words on the reverse side of the medal are separated by a lotus, the national flower of India.
Mahavir Chakra
The medal is hung from a suspension bar, tied with a half orange and half white ribbon. The width of the ribbon is approximately 3.2 cm.
MVC Medal Ribbon
Veer Chakra
Savitri also designed India’s third highest gallantry award, the Vir Chakra. This medal is a circular medal, cast in silver. Its diameter is 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm. The medal consists of a five-pointed star with a dome in the center. In the center of the shining dome, the medal bears the national emblem of India. On the other side of the medal, the name of the medal is written in both English and Hindi languages. The names are different from those of the lotus flower.
Veer Chakra
It is hung from a hook, which is attached to a ribbon that is half dark blue and half saffron. The diameter of the medal is 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm, and the diameter of the ribbon is 32 mm.
Vir Chakra Medal Ribbon
Designing medals to be awarded during peacetime
Ashoka Chakra
Ashoka Chakra is the highest gallantry award given to an individual during peacetime. This was also designed by Savitri Khanolkar. This award is made of gold layer. It is circular and has a diameter of 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm. The medal has a lotus garland and the Ashoka Chakra inside the circular garland. On the reverse of the medal, the words Ashoka Chakra are written in both Hindi and English; Both are separated by a lotus.
Ashoka Chakra
The medal is also suspended from a swivel, which is attached to a 32 mm dark green ribbon with a 2 mm saffron stripe in the middle.
Ashoka Chakra Medal ribbon
Kirti Chakra
Kirti Chakra is made of silver and is circular. The diameter of the medal is 13/8 inches or 41.275 mm. At the center of the medal is an Ashoka Chakra, surrounded by a circular garland of lotuses. On the reverse of the medal; Kirti Chakra is separated by two lotuses and is written in Hindi and English.
Kirti Chakra
The dark green ribbon on the swivel that holds the medal is 30 mm wide. It is divided into 2 mm saffron colored stripes.
Kirti Chakra Medal Ribbon
Shaurya Chakra
Shaurya Chakra is made of bronze and is circular. At the center of the medal is an Ashoka Chakra, surrounded by a garland of lotus flowers. On the reverse of the medal, Kirti Chakra is engraved in Hindi and English; Separated by two lotuses.
Shaurya Chakra
It has a dark green ribbon divided equally into four parts by three saffron ribbons.
Shaurya Chakra Medal Ribbon
General Service Medal, 1947
Like other medals, this medal was also designed by Savitri Khanolkar. This medal was discontinued from use in 1975. This medal was awarded to soldiers for serving in various theaters of war. The medal had a 31 mm red ribbon with five equally spaced, 1 mm dark green stripes.
General Service Medal Ribbon
On the front of the medal was Shivaji’s sword Bhavani; Surrounded by a halo. There is a blooming lotus bud on the back side of the medal. General Service Medal is written on the reverse side of the medal. The medal was made of nickel.
General Service Medal
Death
Savitri Khanolkar died on 26 November 1990 in New Delhi, India. He died of natural causes.
Facts/General Knowledge
- Savitri Khanolkar’s mother died when she was very young. She often asked her father questions about her mother. In an interview, Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh said,
“Born to Hungarian parents, Mrs. Khanolkar lost her mother at birth. His father was at that time the librarian of the League of Nations in Geneva. He was raised by them and placed in a school on the Riviera, which was near the beach. She missed her mother from the beginning, and often questioned her father about where her mother was, and why should he come to school alone to see her?
- Savitri Khanolkar did a lot of social work. She helped those who were displaced from their homes due to the partition of India and Pakistan.
- Savitri Khanolkar was a very simple woman. In 1952, after her husband’s death, she joined the Ramakrishna Math and began learning about Vedanta. In an interview, Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh said,
Mrs. Khanolkar was truly an Indian wife. She wore simple clothes, cotton sarees, and did not wear any red, and she had slippers to wear! I really liked Mrs. Savitri Khanolkar and her mannerisms. She became a follower of Ramakrishna Math and started following Vedanta. And, in his own ways, he incorporated me into Vedanta.”
- Savitri Khanolkar was multilingual. She was fluent in several languages like Hindi, English, Marathi, Konkani and French.
- Savitri Khanolkar passionately pursued her passion for art, music and dance.
- Savitri Khanolkar was also a writer. He wrote and published a book titled “Saints of Maharashtra”.
- Savitri Khanolkar’s father objected to her decision to go to India and marry Vikram Ramji Khanolkar.
- Savitri Khanolkar is also known by her other name Savitri Bai.
- Savitri Khanolkar’s marriage with Vikram Khanolkar was not easy, as Vikram’s parents objected to their marriage, and high-ranking British officials also disliked their marriage because Vikram went against a rule; Which prohibited any officer of Indian origin from marrying before the age of 30. In an interview, Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh said,
He brought her to Aurangabad as his newlywed bride, but the British officers of the battalion did not like it – firstly because she was a foreigner, and secondly because they had married against the unwritten law that as a British officer You can’t get married in. Until you turn 30.”
- Whenever someone called Savitri Khanolkar a foreigner, she used to say that she was born in Europe by mistake instead of India.
- Many renowned personalities have met Savitri Khanolkar for her contribution in designing the gallantry medals of independent India.
Savitri Khanolkar with the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn