Two Indian peacekeepers will be conferred posthumously for United Nation’s Dag Hammarskjold Medal. The name of those Indians are- Lance Naik Nand Ram and Raju Joseph. Both of them are among the 126 police, military and civilian personnel who have been posthumously awarded a prestigious UN medal.
They will be presented with this medal on May 29, 2015 i.e. on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. Lance Naik Nand Ram had served with the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). While, Raju Joseph had served in a civilian capacity with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
They have been chosen for this award for their undying courage and sacrifices while serving in UN peacekeeping operations in 2014 and lost their lives as a result of hostile acts, accidents and disease.
About Dag Hammarskjold Medal
- Established: December 2000.
- Awarded posthumously to members of peacekeeping operations who lost their lives during service with a peacekeeping operation under the operational control and authority of the United Nations.
- Named after Dag Hammarskjold, second UN Secretary General and Swedish diplomat.
- The medal is egg-shaped and made of clear lead free glass, engraved with the name and date of death of the recipient.
- In 2014, eight Indian soldiers had posthumously received the medal.
Who was Das Hammarskjold?
- Hammarskjold had died in a mysterious plane crash in 1961.
- He was posthumously awarded Nobel Peace Prize the year he died (exceptional case).
- He was a second Secretary-General of the United Nations, who died in a plane crash.
