:: Lt.Gen.DR.V.Ravishankar ::

The Sabha has institutionalised a forum that encourages people participation in national defence, acknowledge the contribution of some of these guardians of our frontiers outside the arena of line of action that inspire ordinary citizens to be ever in awe and grateful to them. In a significant step to encourage the civil society to be of service to armed forces, the Shanmukha Shaurya Ratna Award has been set up by the Sabha. Over the last 5 years, the award has been conferred on individuals and a village itself.This year the Sabha confers the award on Lt. Gen. Dr. V. Ravishankar, VSM, (Retd.), a 2nd generation Army Medical officer who completed his medical studies from the prestigious Maulana Azad Medical college, New Delhi in 1976.

His father served as a Generaal in the Medical services, elder brother retired as a Rear Admiral from the Navy and Brother in law was in the Indian Air Force. A unique family with 3 generals and all three defence services represented by one family !

General Ravishankar joined the armed forces in 1978 as a young Captain and served in India and abroad for 37 glorious years. He completed his Masters in Cardiothorasic surgery from AFMC Pune and has over the years performed many Adult and Complex Paediatric cardiac surgeries in the three decades in the profession. He was a Professor and Head of the department at the prestigious Army Hospital R&R Delhi as well as Armed Forces Cardiothorasic Centre, Pune where numerous budding cardiac surgeons were trained by him. He has donned the hats of both an able administrator and a super specialist from the rank of Brigadier onwards where he was entrusted with looking after the HR of over 6000 Doctors and subsequently had the privilege of commanding the prestigious, over 1000 bedded, Command Hospital Pune, affiliated to AFMC Pune. For his exemplary services and devotion to duty, he was bestowed with numerous awards from Army Commander, Chief of Army Staff and the coveted Vishisht Seva Medal. On retirement in the year 2015, in his second innings he immediately joined Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai as the head of the hospital as well as a Consultant in Cardiac Surgery.