First flame of valour: Major Somnath Sharma’s legacy lives on

Nestled in the lap of the snow-draped Dhauladhar ranges lies Veer Bhoomi Himachal, a land where every mountain peak whispers tales of valour. Among its proudest sons shines Major Somnath Sharma, India’s first Param Vir Chakra awardee, whose life and legacy embody courage, duty and sacrifice. His story, however, is not just that of one man, but of an entire family whose veins flowed with service to the nation.

The roots of a soldier

Born on January 31, 1923, in Jammu, Somnath was the eldest son of Major Gen Amar Nath Sharma and Saraswati Devi. His ancestry traced back to the royal Dogra durbar, where his grandfathers — Pandit Manohar Lal, a hakeem, and Pandit Daulat Ram, chief accountant — served Maharaja Pratap Singh.

This wasn’t just a family. It was a lineage steeped in discipline and patriotism. His brothers too carried the torch of military glory: Lt Gen Surinder Nath Sharma distinguished himself in the Army, while Gen Vishwa Nath Sharma went on to serve as the 14th Chief of Army Staff. Together, they stood as five hearts with one mission — service to the motherland.

Lessons from the Gita, spirit of the Himalayas

As a boy, Somnath was shaped by two forces: The Himalayan spirit of resilience and the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, instilled by his grandfather. The philosophy of karma and dharma became his compass, guiding him through schooling at Sherwood College, Nainital, and later at the Prince of Wales Royal Military College, Dehradun.

Commissioned into the 19th Hyderabad Regiment on February 22, 1942, he first saw action during World War II in Burma under the legendary Col KS Thimmayya. But destiny awaited him in 1947, when the newly independent India faced its first great trial.

Budgam: Where duty became immortality

On November 3, 1947, Major Somnath Sharma, his left arm in plaster, refused to stay back from action. Leading D-Company of the 4th Kumaon Regiment, he faced nearly 700 Pakistani raiders, outnumbered seven to one.

Under a hail of bullets and mortar fire, Somnath sprinted across posts, personally distributing ammunition and even manning light machine guns. His defiance bought precious hours, long enough for Indian reinforcements to secure Srinagar airport, the strategic lifeline of Kashmir.

As the enemy closed in, his final radio message echoed with unwavering resolve: “The enemy is only 50 yards from us. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to our last man and our last round.” Moments later, a mortar shell struck. His body was found with a Bhagavad Gita in his chest pocket, alongside the leather holster of his pistol — symbols of both his faith and his fight.

The circle of valour

In a stirring twist of fate, the Param Vir Chakra itself carried a family connection. Designed by Savitri Khanolkar, a Swiss-Indian woman married into the Army, the medal of supreme courage was first awarded posthumously to Somnath Sharma, the brother of her own son-in-law. The medal’s legacy thus came full circle, binding creator and recipient in eternal honour.

Voices of love and pride

His family never saw his sacrifice as loss, but as the fulfilment of duty. Lt Gen SN Sharma, his younger brother, recalled with quiet pride: “My elder brother did not go to the battlefield to die, but to fight and secure victory. What happened was simply in the line of duty—nothing less, nothing more.”

His father, Maj Gen Amar Nath Sharma, turned grief into service. In 1954, he established a charitable dispensary at Dadh, bringing healthcare to a region where it was once a distant dream.

His siblings, who rose to the highest ranks, carried his memory as a living flame.

Legacy beyond memorials

Today, Major Somnath Sharma’s name stands not only in stone memorials but also in living memory of India. His story continues to inspire cadets, soldiers and citizens alike — that true patriotism is quiet pride, steadfast duty and the courage to stand firm, even when outnumbered.

As the winds sweep across Kangra’s temple-studded hills, one can almost hear his vow resound in the valleys: “I shall not withdraw an inch.” In that echo lives not just the spirit of one man, but the undying flame of a family that gave India its first true hero.