Major Somnath Sharma was born on 31 January 1923 in Darh, Kangra, Punjab, and now Himachal Pradesh. Sharma belonged to a Dogra Brahmin family. His father, Amar Nath Sharma, was a military officer. Major Somnath Sharma, PVC was an officer of the Indian Army. In 1942, Sharma was commissioned into the 8th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment. Somnath Sharma was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration, to be posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
Major Somnath Sharma’s Early Life and Education
Sharma completed his schooling at Sherwood College, Nainital. And later joined the Prince of Wales Royal Military College, Dehradun. He studied at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He said that he was influenced by the teachings of Krishna and Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita as taught by his grandfather. Many people in his family have served in the Indian Army. Several of his siblings had served in the military. His younger brother Vishwanath Sharma later became the 14th Chief of Army Staff. Major Somnath Sharma served in Burma during the Arakan Campaign of World War II. It was mentioned in the dispatch. Somnath was killed in action in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 while repelling Pakistani infiltrators. Martyred during the Battle of Budgam near Srinagar Airport on 3 November 1947. His bravery and sacrifice are always remembered.
Military Career
Somnath was commissioned into the 19th 34 Hyderabad Regiment, which later became the 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army. During World War II, he served under Colonel K.S. and worked under the command of Thimayya. Colonel K.S. Thimayya was the army chief from 1957 to 1961. Major Somnath Sharma said that he was impressed by the bravery of his uncle Capt KD Vasudev. Sharma was martyred while driving out Pakistani infiltrators. The Statue of Somnath Sharma was installed at Rum Yoddha Sthal, National War Memorial, New Delhi.
Legacy of Late Major Somnath Sharma
Major Somnath Sharma’s name on the Wheel of Sacrifice, National War Memorial, India. In the 1980s, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), a Government of India undertaking under the aegis of the Ministry of Shipping, named fifteen of its crude oil tankers in honor of Param Vir Chakra recipients. A crude oil tanker named MT Maj Somnath Sharma, PVC was delivered to SCI on 11 Jun 1984. The tanker was scrapped after 25 years of service. Sharma’s actions of 3 November 1947 were included in the first episode of the TV series on the lives of Param Vir Chakra recipients, Param Vir Chakra. The episode was directed by Chetan Anand. His role in that episode was played by Farooq Sheikh.
