Somnath Sharma Biography 
Somnath Sharma was an Indian Army officer, best remembered as the first recipient of Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honour. He lived during the period, 31 January 1923 – 3 November 1947. He fought Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 and was martyred in the same mission on 3 November 1947. He was awarded India's highest military honour posthumously for his efforts in defending Srinagar airport from enemies. He was evicting Pakistani infiltrators from Srinagar Airport, when a mortar shell exploded on a pile of ammunition near him. However he managed to transmit a message to his brigade's headquarters, briefing details about enemy and succumbed to his injuries. Coincidentally, Savitri Khanolkar who designed Param Vir Chakra was the mother-in-law of his brother.
Major Somnath Sharma was born on 31 January 1923 in Dadh, Kangra of Punjab Province. His father, Amar Nath Sharma, was a military officer, and many of his siblings served in Indian military force. Sharma completed his schooling from Nainital and followed by military studies in two Military colleges – Dehradun and Sandhurst. Since childhood he was deeply influenced by Bhagavat Gita taught by his grandfather. In fact, when his disfigured body was recovered three days after his death in 1947, a few pages of Bhagavad Gita in his chest pocket and the leather holster of his pistol helped officers to identify him.
After his graduation from the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, Sharma was commissioned into the 8th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment, of the British Indian Army. Though he started off with British Indian Army, later this regiment was renamed as Kumaon Regiment, Indian Army's 4th Battalion. Sharma was greatly influenced by his uncle Captain K. D. Vasudeva throughout his military journey. On 27 October 1947, a batch of troops of the Indian Army was deployed in Kashmir valley to block Pak invasion, and he was one among them. He bravely fought till death on 3 November 1947. He died aged only 24.
Published: September 30, 2018
Updated: September 30, 2018
