Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, was born on 13 September 1946, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He was granted Short Service Commission in the Mahar Regiment on 16 January 1972.
Under the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement many Indian Army units were dispatched to Sri Lanka to maintain law and order there. The Mahar Regiment, Major Parameswaran's unit, was also sent to Sri Lanka to participate in Operation Pawan. On 25 November 1987, Major Parameswaran was returning with his column from a search operation late in the night. Suddenly, his column was ambushed by a group of militants.
With cool presence of mind, he encircled the militants from the rear and charged into them, taking them completely surprise. During the hand-to-hand combat, a militant shot him in the chest. Undaunted, Major Parameswaran snatched the rifle from the militant and shot him dead. Gravely wounded, he continued to give orders and inspired his command till he breathed his last. Five militants were killed and three rifles and two rocket launchers were recovered and the ambush was cleared.
Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran displayed the most conspicuous gallantry and thought nothing of dying at his post. For the most conspicuous bravery and supreme sacrifice, Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran was honoured with the highest wartime gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra, posthumously.
He is the only member of IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) to be awarded PVC. A war memorial was constructed in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte on the outskirts of Colombo in 2008 where the name of Major Ramaswamy Parameswaram is inscribed along with the names of 1200 Indian IPKF soldiers who lost their lives during the Sri Lankan Civil War between 1987-1990.