Somnath Sharma
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Major Somnath Sharma PVC |
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|---|---|
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| Born |
31 January 1923 Dadh, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh |
| Died | 3 November 1947 (aged 24) Badgam, India |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/branch | |
| Years of service | 1942–1947 |
| Rank | Major |
| Service number | IC-521 |
| Unit | 4 KUMAON |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
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| Relations | General V. N. Sharma (brother) |
Major Somnath Sharma, PVC, (31 January 1923 – 3 November 1947), an Indian Army officer, was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest military decoration. He was awarded it posthumously for his bravery in the Kashmir operations of November 1947. He died while evicting Pakistani infiltrators and raiders from Srinagar Airport during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 in Kashmir. He served in the 4th Kumaon Regiment.
Sharma was born on 31 January 1923 at Dadh, Kangra, then in the Punjab Province of British India, the present day state of Himachal Pradesh. His father, Major General Amar Nath Sharma, was a military officer (retired as director general, Armed Medical Services), as were his brothers Lt. Gen. Surindar Nath Sharma (retired as engineer-in-chief) and General Vishwa Nath Sharma (retired as the chief of the Army Staff, 1988–1990), and his sister Major Kamla Tewari (Medical Doctor). He completed his schooling at Sherwood College, Nainital, before enrolling at the Prince of Wales Royal Military College in Dehradun. He later studied at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. During his childhood, Somnath was influenced by the teachings of Krishna and Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, taught to him by his grandfather Pandit Daulat Ram.
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