CM orders renovation of Major Som Nath Sharma’s statue

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hem Raj Bairw, to renovate the statue of martyr Major Som Nath Sharma, installed near the Municipal Corporation office. The statue, which has not been maintained for 25 years, is in poor condition.

The issue was highlighted by The Tribune in a recent report, prompting the Chief Minister to take immediate action. He instructed the Deputy Commissioner to repair or replace the statue as required.

Gokul Butail, Principal Adviser to the CM (Information, Technology, and Innovation), confirmed the development, stating that the state government deeply respects martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation. He emphasised that Major Som Nath Sharma, who laid down his life at the age of 24, was a national hero and the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra in 1947. The Chief Minister was deeply moved upon learning about the deteriorating condition of the statue.

Butail also assured that there would be no shortage of funds for projects dedicated to martyrs. All Deputy Commissioners have been directed to personally oversee such projects, ensuring their timely completion. The CM has also requested a status report on similar projects from concerned officers.

Major Som Nath Sharma was born on January 31, 1923, in Dadh village, 15 km from Palampur. Coming from a military family, he was educated at Sherwood College, Nainital, before enrolling in the Prince of Wales Royal Military College, Dehradun, at the age of 10. He later joined the Royal Military Academy and was commissioned into the British Indian Army in 1942.

In 1947, during the Indo-Pak war, Major Sharma led his unit in the Battle of Badgam to defend Srinagar airport from Pakistani raiders. Despite being heavily outnumbered, he and his men fought bravely until he was martyred. His courage and sacrifice earned him the country’s first Param Vir Chakra posthumously. The government’s swift action to restore his statue reflects its commitment to honouring the legacy of national heroes.