MAJOR SOMNATH SHARMA

Param Vir Chakra, first recipient

GLORIOUS BATTLE OF BADGAM

KASHMIR REMAINED IN INDIA

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

 

“Major Somnath Sharma” of Indian Army, is the First  recipient of “Paramveer Chakra” .

The 24 year old lad who delivered Kashmir to INDIA  with his one hand on sling, and body oozing blood.

As a young boy, Somnath would spend time with his maternal grandfather Pandit Daulat Ram in Srinagar and his favourite pastime was to listen to the Bhagavat Gita. This influence of Krishna’s teachings to Arjun was to remain with Major Somnath till his last breath. This time unfortunately Arjun did not return from the battlefield.

The wireless crackled at the Headquarter of 161 Brigade, tasked to protect the Kashmir valley against the Pakistan infiltration in 1947. Amidst the rattle of machine gun fire in the background, the voice of Major Somnath came through the wireless --“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.”

Brigadier L.P Sen , the commander of the 161 Brigade on the other side of the wireless was a worried man. If Major Somnath and his D company of the 4 Kumaon stationed at Badgam was unable to stop the enemy, Srinagar airport was in imminent danger of being destroyed and subsequently Srinagar city might get overrun.

3 November 1947, the fate of Kashmir was in the hands of a 24 year old major, he battled with unmatched Bravery & Courage & defended the hopes of Indians with his blood in Super-cold temperature of Kashmir.

His Last standing conversations with his senior officials are now used as fighting spirit of Indian Army. Most of Soldiers often use that in their talks.

Heavily outnumbered by the enemy by 1:7, and with no answer for the heavy mortar being rained by the enemy, Major Somnath and his company held on for crucial 6 hours and fought one of the most glorious battles of the History of Indian Army. This gave enough time for the reinforcements to reach and stem the enemy advance.

On 22 October 1947, Pakistan launched the tribal invasion of Jammu & Kashmir. The intention was to grab the Kashmir valley by force. Once Kashmir became a part of the STATE on October 26th, her protection became the responsibility of India. To save the Kashmir from a tribal invasion, backed by Pakistan military, which was approaching the valley at a very fast pace, India dispatched troops to Srinagar. The first batch of Indian troops reached just in time on October 27th morning to stop the enemy at the outskirts of Srinagar. It was almost a touch and go affair, the military balance was precarious. It was anybody’s battle.

The D Company of 4 Kumaon, led by Major Somnath Sharma, was airlifted to Srinagar on October 31st. When the company was asked to move to Srinagar, Major Sharma’s arm was in plaster. He had suffered a fracture on the hockey ground and was advised rest till the plaster was removed. He insisted on being with his company at this crucial hour and was allowed to go. His argument was that no one knew his men better than him.

Outnumbered and outgunned, Major Sharma knew he was the only defence which lay between the enemy and Srinagar airfield, the only lifeline between the Valley and the rest of India. He had to prolong the battle and wait for reinforcement. For next six hours Major Sharma and his brave Jawans delivered extraordinary resistance. It was just enough to force back the enemy and allow for the reinforcement to arrive.

Major Sharma lead from the front, personally rushing across, fully exposed to enemy fire, as he laid out markers for IAF planes and ran across to his sections to coordinate firing. When heavy casualties adversely affected the firing power of the company, Major Sharma with one hand in plaster, took upon himself the task of filling the magazines and issuing them to men operating light machine guns. While he was busy fighting the enemy, a mortar shell exploded on the ammunition near him. His last message to Brigade HQ that he will fight “ to the last man and to the last round” is now part of Army lore. In the battle of Badgam, Major Sharma , one JCO and 20 other ranks were killed.  But the fight continued, as per his departing advice. And 200 enemies were eliminated. Enemy retreated. BADGAM WAS FOTE.

Planes Landed, Reinforcements reached. All commercial planes were deployed to transfer Army, and Ammunitions. Airport was secured already. Srinagar remained in India.

Three days later, Major Sharma’s body was recovered, Mutilated beyond recognition, a few pages of the Gita , that he always carried in his breast pocket, and the empty leather holster of his pistol helped to identify the body.

Major Somnath Sharma was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the highest military honour in India. He was the first recipient.

Today, how many people of Independent India know his name ?

Sources:

1.0 A Bengali Book- Title ”JHEELAM NADIR TIIRE” by JAJABAR

2.0 https://nationalwarmemorial.gov.in/

3.0 https://varnan.in/major-somnath-sharmas-story/

Images:-- Google/ WEB