Shimla, December 31
While Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles remembered to send Christmas and New Year greetings to Brahmi Devi, widow of George Cross recipient Naik Kirpa Ram, nobody bothered to wish her from the state as the media hype over the auction of the medal in London subsided.
This is for the first time since 1946, when Brahmi Devi received the award as the 13-year-old widow of the valiant soldier, that she has received such greetings from none other than Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and the Officers of the
Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
While the Queen is the patron of the association, Charles is its chairman. The card has the full address of the association as Horse Guards, White Hall, London.
As the auction of the George Cross in London was finally stalled and the issue moved out of the public glare, Brahmi Devi is once again a forgotten woman. “Her plea to the government to provide her an enhanced annuity of Rs 1.20 lakh, given to recipients of Ashok Chakra which is the equivalent of George Cross, has also not been accepted,” said SS Chandel, former IAS officer who had raised the alarm
about the auction of the George Cross in London.
Presently the widow is receiving Rs 50,000 annuity, which is given to all Vir Chakra recipients or their families. “I personally took up the matter with the Director, Sainik Welfare Board, to give her an enhanced annuity as George Cross is considered equivalent to Ashok Chakra but I was told that it is treated only at par with Vir Chakra,” said Chandel.
Brahmi Devi had been living in complete obscurity in Bhupral village under Ghumarwin tehsil in Bilaspur district with her adopted daughter till the auction of the George Cross awarded to her husband posthumously brought her into limelight. She even met Chief Minister PK Dhumal after the auction was stalled due to the efforts of the state government.
George Cross was awarded posthumously to Kirpa Ram of the 8th battalion of 13th Frontier Force Rifles in 1946 as he exhibited exemplary valour and saved the life of his colleagues at the risk of his own life.
“Seeing her living in complete penury, I had sent in a request to Queen Elizabeth in 2006 to extend some financial help which resulted in Rs 80,000 being to her once,” said Chandel.
