Today In 1947, Major Somnath Sharma Set An Example Of Bravery And Earned The Param Vir Chakra

India’s highest gallantry award is not handed out on a platter. It has to be earned. This usually means laying down one’s life in service to the nation. Only 21 people have thus far been awarded this medal reserved for the bravest of the brave. And the first among them was Major Somnath Sharma of the Kumaon regiment.

In fact, the Param Vir Chakra didn’t even exist at the time when Major Somnath Sharma laid down his life. It was instituted on 26, January 1950, more than two years after his death.

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On 3 November 1947, his company was a part of the patrol to Badgam village in the Kashmir Valley. The enemy was 700 strong and Major Sharma’s company was outnumbered. Facing insurmountable odds, and coming under heavy fire of mortars, LMGs and rifles, the company was surrounded on three sides. Despite the odds, Major Sharma led his men from the front and urged them to fight the enemy with bravery. He rushed across open terrain and skilfully directed accurate fire, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire. He laid out cloth strips to guide own aircraft onto their targets in full view of the enemy.

The heavy enemy fire resulted in casualties of his men. Realising that this was reducing the effectiveness of his light automatics, he himself started filling machine gun magazines and handing them out to his men, despite his left hand being in a plaster. Just then, an enemy shell landed at his position, killing him instantly. His last message to the Brigade Headquarters a few moments before he was killed was, 'the enemy are 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.'

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His men, inspired by his gallantry, fought on for six more hours, delaying the enemy advance. This allowed Indian reinforcements to get into position at Hum Hom and hold the enemy.

He has set an example of courage and qualities seldom equalled in the history of the Indian Army.