Nishan-e-Haider

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nishan-e-Haider

Nishan-e-Haider
Awarded by Pakistan
Type
Eligibility Military only (Conferrable on all ranks)
Awarded for "... to those who have performed acts of greatest heroism or most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger and have shown bravery of the highest order or devotion to the country, in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air ..."[1]
Status Currently awarded
Statistics
First awarded First Kashmir War, 1948
Last awarded Kargil War, 1999
Total awarded 10
Posthumous
awards		 all
Precedence
Next (higher) None
Next (lower) (2) Hilal-i-Jurat
(3) Sitara-i-Jurat
(4) Tamgha-i-Jurat

Nishan-e-Haider (Urdu: نشان حیدر‎, translated as Order of the Lion, abbreviated as NH), is the highest military award given by Pakistan. It is awarded to select soldiers who display valor and courage on the battle field in the face of adversity.

Contents

[edit] Origins

According to Edward Haynes and Lukasz Gaszewski in their International Electronic Phaleristic Encyclopedia, the medal is named after Hyder Naik[citation needed] (1722-1782 CE), better known as Haidar Ali. Naik is said to have changed his name to Ali in honor of the fourth caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib, owing to Ali's bravery, courage, self-control, and exceptional service to the cause of Islam. However, according to the Combat Heritage of Pakistan Air Force the medal's name can be traced to the epithet "Haider" or "Haydar", Lion, commonly applied to the fourth caliph.

It is not clear to what extent the medal can be said to be named after Haidar Ali, and to what extent it can be said to be named after Ali ibn Abi Talib.

[edit] The Award

  • Category: Operational (Awarded to members of the Armed Forces during times of conflict)
  • Definition: It is the highest gallantry award and holds seniority among civil and military awards. It is open to all ranks for acts of heroism/conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger or devotion to the country in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air.

The Nishan-e-Haider is awarded to both men and women. It is given to living soldiers as well as reward posthumously. The medal has been awarded to only ten soldiers even though Pakistan has been involved in three wars (1948, 1965, 1971) and a major conflict in Kargil during the summer of 1999.

[edit] Recipients

Nishan-e-Haider recipients receive an honorary title as a sign of respect: Shaheed meaning martyr for deceased recipients and Ghazi meaning victor for living recipients. To date, no living person has received the award.

  1. Captain. Muhammad Sarwar (1910–July 27, 1948)
  2. Major Tufail Muhammad (1914–August 7, 1958)
  3. Major Raja Aziz Bhatti (1928–September 10, 1965)
  4. Major Muhammad Akram (1938–1971)
  5. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas (1951–August 20, 1971)
  6. Major Shabbir Sharif (1943–December 6, 1971)
  7. Jawan Sawar Muhammad Hussain(1949–December 10, 1971)
  8. Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz (1944–December 17, 1971)
  9. Captain. Karnal Sher Khan (1970–July 5, 1999)
  10. Havaildar Lalak Jan (1967–July 7, 1999)

[edit] Gallery

Captain Muhammad Sarwar
Major Tufail Muhammad
Major Aziz Bhatti
Major Muhammad Akram
Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas
Major Shabbir Sharif
Jawan Sawar Muhammad Hussain
Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz
Captain Karnal Sher Khan
Havaldar Lalak Jan

[edit] Notes & References

  1. ^ PAF Combat website on military awards

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan

1948: Captain Muhammad Sarwar | 1958: Major Tufail Muhammad | 1965: Major Aziz Bhatti | 1971: Major Muhammad Akram | 1971: Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas | 1971: Major Shabbir Sharif | 1971: Jawan Sawar Muhammad Hussain | 1971: Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz | 1999: Captain Karnal Sher Khan | 1999: Havaldar Lalak Jan
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../n/i/s/Nishan-e-Haider_0bbc.html"