Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande announced setting up of a ‘Chair of Excellence’ at the United Service Institution of India (USI) in memory of Lt Gen PS Bhagat, who was the first Indian officer to have won the coveted Victoria Cross during the World War II.
Bhagat was born in October 1918, and was decorated with the Victoria Cross by Viceroy of India Lord Linlithgow in 1941.
The Victoria Cross, instituted by the British, is the highest decoration for valour, awarded for extreme bravery in the face of the enemy.
Previous Chairs of Excellence set up at the USI, included those in honour of first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, Field Marshal K M Cariappa, legendary kings Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, first Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee, among others.
