Major Somnath Sharma PVC

Major Somnath Sharma was born on 31 January 1923 in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh (then part of the Punjab Province). He hailed from a distinguished military family in which service to the nation was a proud tradition. His father, Major General Amarnath Sharma, was an officer in the Indian Army, while his brothers—Lieutenant General Surindar Nath Sharma and General Vishwa Nath Sharma—also went on to serve with great distinction, the latter rising to become the Chief of the Army Staff. His sister, Major Kamla Tewari, served as a doctor in the Army Medical Corps. Major Somnath Sharma received his early education at Sherwood College, Nainital. At the age of ten, he joined the Prince of Wales Royal Military College, Dehradun (Now Rashtriya Indian Military College), a premier institution for military training in pre-independence India. He later proceeded to the Royal Military Academy, where he completed his formal military education.

On 22 February 1942, he was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the 19th Hyderabad Regiment (later redesignated as the 4th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment) of the British Indian Army—the same regiment in which his maternal uncle, Captain Krishna Dutt Vasudeva had served with honour. During World War II, Major Somnath Sharma served in the Arakan campaign in Burma under the command of Colonel K.S. Thimayya, who would later become the Chief of the Army Staff. In his very first posting, he displayed remarkable bravery and leadership. While engaged in combat against Japanese forces in the Arakan sector, one of his men was severely wounded. Undeterred by heavy enemy fire, he carried the injured soldier, Bahadur, on his shoulders to safety, an act of exceptional courage for which he was mentioned in dispatches.

Battle of Badgam (Indo-Pak War) : Nov 1947

On 3 November 1947, Major Somnath Sharma and his company were ordered to move to Badgam village in Kashmir valley to take control of the critical situation developing there. Despite having his left hand in a plaster cast due to an injury sustained in a hockey match, Major Sharma insisted on leading his men into combat. Badgam was a strategically vital location, as it lay on one of the main routes through which Pakistani raiders were advancing towards Srinagar. To defend this sector, two companies were deployed — ‘A’ Company of the 4 Kumaon Regiment under Major Somnath Sharma, and ‘D’ Company of 1 Para Kumaon commanded by Captain Ronald Wood. The overall operations in the area were under the command of Brigadier L.P. Sen. Soon after deployment, a large group of about 500 heavily armed raiders advanced from Gulmarg and surrounded Major Sharma’s company from three sides. His men came under intense and sustained enemy fire, including mortar bombardment, and suffered heavy casualties. Vastly outnumbered—seven to one—Major Sharma understood that the defence of Badgam was crucial, as any loss of this position would endanger both Srinagar city and its vital airfield.

With unflinching courage, Major Sharma moved across the battlefield, personally distributing ammunition, replenishing magazines, and encouraging his men to hold their ground. He remained calm and resolute, inspiring his troops by his own fearless example. During the fierce engagement, a mortar shell struck the ammunition dump near his position, causing a massive explosion that claimed his life. Just moments before his martyrdom, he sent his final message to Brigade Headquarters—words that continue to echo through history: “The enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch, but will fight to our last man and our last round.” By the time reinforcements reached Badgam, Major Sharma and most of his company had made the supreme sacrifice. However, their gallant stand inflicted over 200 casualties on the enemy and crucially delayed their advance. This precious time allowed Indian reinforcements to be airlifted to Srinagar, securing the city and its airfield — an action that ultimately saved Kashmir from falling into enemy hands. At just 25 years of age, Major Somnath Sharma laid down his life in the highest traditions of the Indian Army. For his unparalleled bravery, leadership, and indomitable spirit, he was posthumously awarded Independent India’s first Param Vir Chakra. His courage continues to inspire generations of soldiers and citizens alike, symbolizing the eternal spirit of duty and sacrifice.

The citation for the ""Param Vir Chakra" awarded to him reads:

On 3 Nov 1947, Major Somnath Sharma’s company was ordered on a fighting patrol to Badgam village in the Kashmir Valley. He reached his objective at first light on 3 November and took up a position south of Badgam at 1100 hours. The enemy, estimated at 700, attacked his company position with 3-inch mortars, LMGs, and rifles. Completely outnumbered and with withering fire being brought to bear on its position from three sides, the company began to sustain heavy casualties.

Fully realizing the gravity of the situation and the direct threat that would result to both Srinagar and the aerodrome if the enemy attack was not held until reinforcements could be rushed to close the gap leading to Srinagar via Hum Hom, Major Sharma urged his company to fight the enemy tenaciously, with extreme bravery, kept rushing across the open ground to his sections exposing himself to heavy and accurate fire to urge them to hold on. Keeping his nerve, he skillfully directed the fire of his section into the ever-advancing enemy. He repeatedly exposed himself to the full fury of enemy fire and laid out cloth airstrips to guide our aircraft onto their targets in full view of the enemy.

Realising that casualties had affected the effectiveness of his light automatics, this officer, whose left hand was in plaster, personally commenced filling magazines and issuing them to light machine gunners. A mortar shell landing right in the middle of the ammunition resulted in an explosion that killed him.

Major Sharma’s company held onto its position and the remnants withdrew only when almost completely surrounded. His inspiring example had resulted in the enemy being delayed for six hours, thus gaining time for our reinforcements to get into position at Hum Hom to stem the tide of the enemy advance. His leadership, gallantry, and tenacious defense were such that his men were inspired to fight the enemy outnumbering them by seven to one for six hours, one hour which was after this gallant officer had been killed.

He has set an example of courage and qualities seldom equaled in the history of the Indian Army. His last message to Brigade HQ received a few moments before he was killed was: “The enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round.”

• The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCI), named fifteen of her Crude Oil Tankers in honour of the Param Vir Chakra recipients. The first of the fifteen sister vessels was named MT “Major Somnath Sharma, PVC”, IMO No. 8224107.
• The Housing project of “Som Vihar” in Delhi has been named after Major Somnath Sharma PVC in his honour.

• Maj. Sinha, his comrade, had said about Major Sharma, ‘Little did I then know that within the next forty-eight hours, he was to die a hero’s death and earn great renown, fighting most gallantly in very close proximity to where we then lay talking so leisurely.’
• Last Message from Major Som Nath Sharma: ‘The enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round.’
• During his last chat with his friend Major KK Tewari, before flying to Kashmir, Maj. Som Nath had joked that either he would die and win the Victoria Cross or become the army chief.