Posthumous award

The name of the late Lt Cdr Firdaus Mogal featured in the list of 14 Shaurya Chakra awardees announced by the Government of India on Independence Day, August 15, 2011. It was a posthumous honor for the young submarine officer of the Indian Navy who lost his life while displaying "an unmatched show of fearless valor in the face of death that saved the lives of six men on board,” as stated in the citation. The Shaurya Chakra is the third highest gallantry award given in peacetime, the highest being the Ashok Chakra followed by the Kirti Chakra, Dr Hosang F. Mogal of Navsari, uncle of the honoree, wrote to inform Parsiana.

Mogal perished in the sea off Bombay on August 30, 2010 after jumping from a Navy submarine in an attempt to save the lives of his co-sailors who were being swept away by a strong wave (see "Subma­riner’s supreme sacrifice,” In Memoriam, Parsi­ana, September 21, 2010). His mission was accomplished, but at the cost of his own life.