Major Ritesh Sharma

Major Ritesh Sharma was born on 27th October 1973 in Aligarh, a historic town in Uttar Pradesh. He spent his early years in Badayun and Bareilly, where he completed his primary education. From a young age, Major Ritesh displayed a deep admiration for the Armed Forces and nurtured the dream of donning the Army uniform one day. After completing his primary education, he pursued his Intermediate studies at the renowned La Martiniere College, Lucknow, an institution known for its emphasis on discipline and all-around development. He later obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi—one of India’s most prestigious universities. Even during his college years, his passion for the military remained undiminished, and he continued to work towards realizing his childhood aspiration of joining the Indian Army. Following his graduation, he cleared the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination, one of the most competitive entry routes to the Indian Armed Forces. His determination and hard work earned him a place at the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, in 1994. After a year of rigorous training that instilled in him leadership, courage, and discipline, he was commissioned as an officer in 1995.

He was commissioned into the 17 Jat Battalion of the Jat Regiment, one of the Indian Army’s oldest and most decorated infantry regiments, renowned for its valour and battlefield achievements. As a young lieutenant, he was first posted to his battalion in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, where he gained valuable exposure to field conditions and honed his soldiering skills. During this period, he also successfully completed the commando training, which further enhanced his physical endurance, tactical proficiency, and leadership qualities. Subsequently, his unit was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir as part of counter-insurgency operations, where he actively participated in maintaining security and combating militant activities in the challenging terrain and hostile environment. In 1999, when Pakistani intrusions were detected along the Line of Control (LOC), his battalion was swiftly redeployed to the conflict zone. The 17 Jat was among the units that took on critical operational responsibilities in the initial stages of the Kargil War. By this time, through dedication and merit, he had risen to the rank of Major and continued to lead from the front, embodying the ethos and spirit of a true Indian Army officer.

Kupwara Sector Operation: Sep-Oct 1999

During the Kargil War of 1999, Major Ritesh Sharma was commanding a company of his battalion, 17 Jat Regiment. The unit was entrusted with the critical task of securing Point 4875, a strategically significant mountain peak located on the western side of Tiger Hill that had been occupied by Pakistani intruders. Standing at an altitude of 15,990 feet, Point 4875 presented a formidable challenge with its near-vertical slopes, treacherous terrain, and enemy fortifications that provided a commanding view of the surrounding region. Owing to its tactical importance, the capture of Point 4875 was among the top operational priorities of the Indian Army. The eviction of Pakistani regulars from this feature was essential for the eventual recapture of Tiger Hill, one of the most fiercely contested positions during the war. In the initial phase of the assault on Point 4875 (later renamed “Batra Top”), Major Ritesh Sharma led his company with exemplary courage and determination. During one of the intense engagements on 07 July 1999, he sustained injuries but continued to inspire his troops with his indomitable spirit and willpower. Despite being advised to rest and recover, he rejoined his battalion within ten days to participate in the ongoing operations—an act that reflected his deep sense of duty and unwavering commitment to his men and the mission.

Following his recovery, Major Sharma actively participated in subsequent operations, playing a key role in the capture of vital enemy positions in Pimple 1, Pimple 2, and the Mushkoh Valley sector. His leadership and tactical acumen were instrumental in these successes, contributing significantly to the overall progress of the Indian offensive. The Kargil War officially ended on 26 July 1999, but tensions along the Line of Control (LOC) persisted. Sporadic firing and infiltration attempts continued, keeping troops in a state of constant operational readiness. In September 1999, intelligence inputs indicated the presence of infiltrators in the Kupwara sector of Jammu & Kashmir. Acting on this information, Major Ritesh Sharma’s unit launched a search and destroy mission on 25 September 1999. Leading from the front, as always, he accompanied the assault team into the rugged and densely forested area where the terrorists were suspected to be hiding. As the search progressed, the troops came under sudden enemy fire. A fierce gun battle ensued, with a heavy exchange of fire from both sides. Demonstrating exceptional courage and tactical brilliance, Major Ritesh Sharma and his men neutralized four terrorists during the encounter. However, in the midst of the fierce exchange, Major Sharma was struck by a bullet and fell into a 200-meter-deep gorge.

He was immediately evacuated and shifted to the Military Hospital in Udhampur, where he was placed under intensive medical care. Despite the best efforts of the doctors, his condition deteriorated, and he slipped into a coma. After bravely battling for his life, Major Ritesh Sharma succumbed to his injuries on 06 October 1999. Major Ritesh Sharma was a valiant soldier, an inspiring leader, and a devoted officer who exemplified the highest ideals of the Indian Army—courage, honour, and selfless service. He laid down his life in the line of duty, upholding the finest traditions of the Regiment and the nation.

Maj Ritesh Sharma is survived by his father Shri Satya Prakash Sharma, mother Smt Deepa Sharma and younger sister Ms Vartika Sharma.

Maj Ritesh Sharma’s last letter to his parents:

Major Ritesh Sharma of 17 Jat had cut short his leave to be on the war front. He was the company commander in the attack on a prominent peak, Pimple 2, in July 1999. During the assault, he was heavily injured and had to be left behind, but only after he ensured that his second in command, Anuj Nayyar, was in a position to lead the battalion to victory. Captain Nayyar lost his life in this battle, and Major Sharma passed away a few months later, but in the interim period, he spent every waking hour at war trying to avenge his friend’s death. Following the capture of Pimple 2, he wrote this moving letter to his parents :

Respected Mom and Dad,

Sadar Charan Sparsh

The news is that I am perfectly fine here and you do not have to be worried about me in mind constantly. When we spoke on the call yesterday you seemed scared. By the time this letter reaches you, the fight might have ended. We defeated the Pakistani 12 NLI Bn badly. The final blow to the enemy was given on Pimple 2 by my Charlie C Coy. A splinter went through my right heel near the artillery shelling. It did not touch any bone and so I am alright. It was good that it went through my foot or I would have had to go through an operation. Your courageous son did not return till he got all the other injured soldiers from the artillery shelling, gave them first aid and sent them back. I could not save the life of one of them, but I saved a dozen other injured ones. Only when my CO ordered me to come back and I was assured that Anuj would lead us to victory had I retired. But sadly, four hours after I left, Anuj had attained martyrdom. After this massive fight, the enemy knew where he stood and decided that backing off was the wisest thing he could do. You might have imagined the extent to which our army has made the nation and world proud through this victory by looking at the news coverage on Star News or India Today. It was only because of your blessings that were with me that an artillery shell blasted near me but I escaped. Please don’t be more afraid after reading all of this. The fight is already over and our posting is out for Lucknow and we all will soon complete our 2 years and be back. Given the public hysteria that is developing, people will soon forget the soldiers again. When there was a victory – the cavalier claimed it outright, the gunner boasted of his caliber, the signalmen and engineers published their worth, but the INFANTRY MAN stood silently with the victory under his feet.

• The park in Sector 18, Indira Nagar, Lucknow, has been named as “Amar Shaheed Major Ritesh Sharma Park” in his honour.
• Maj Ritesh Sharma’s father Shri Satyaprakash Sharma has instituted a Gold Medal in the name of his son which is given annually to the topper of Jan Kalyan Eye Hospital in Indira Nagar in Lucknow.
• An annual scholarship in the name of Maj Ritesh Sharma is also given in Rani Laxmi Bai School in Lucknow.