THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Naik EO Raghavan, a native of Nooranad, was the first person in Kerala to win Vir Chakra, the country's wartime gallantry military award for bravery, his son MR Anandaraj said. In 1964, President Dr S Radhakrishnan gave the honour to EO Raghavan. Anandaraj also pointed out the news published by Kerala Kaumudi on 26 September 1964 about EO Raghavan receiving the award. EO Raghavan was awarded the Vir Chakra for saving 10 soldiers in Ladakh from a Chinese attack on 21 October 1962.

However, there was a news that Lt. Col. NC Nair alias N Chandrasekaran Nair of Kumarapuram Thoppil Nagar Chandrika Bhavan, who passed away recently, was the first from Kerala to be awarded the Vir Chakra. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, a 50 feet high observation post of the enemy was destroyed under the leadership of Lt. Col. NC Nair. Vir Chakra was given in recognition of that.

MR Anandaraj said that his father was awarded the Vir Chakra in 1964 and legal action would be taken if the Ministry of Defense did not make corrections in this regard.

EO Raghavan passed away on 29 April 2000. His wife is Rajamma. Other children: Chandrika, Ajitha, Dileep. Nephews: Diwakaran, Sheeba, Pradeep, Bina.

Saving lives during war

On the night of October 21, 1962, China captured two military posts in Ladakh. A team led by Naik EO Raghavan shifted the Indian soldiers to safety in two boats amid continuous firing. Raghavan's boat was shot down and sank in the lake, but he saved the lives of three soldiers. Raghavan rescued seven soldiers who were stuck on the other side the next day.