Major Somnath Sharma | |
|---|---|
 Major Somnath Sharma on a 2003 stamp of India | |
| Born | 31 January 1923 Dadh, Kangra district, Punjab Province, British India (present-day Himachal Pradesh, India) |
| Died | 3 November 1947 (aged 24) Badgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Dominion of India |
| Allegiance |  British India India |
| Service |  British Indian Army Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1947 |
| Rank |  Major |
| Service number | IC-521[1] |
| Unit | 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | |
| Relations | General V. N. Sharma (brother) |
Somnath Sharma, PVC (31 January 1923 – 3 November 1947), was an Indian military officer and the first recipient of India's highest military decoration, Param Vir Chakra (PVC), which he was awarded posthumously.[2]
Sharma was commissioned into the 8th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment, in 1942.[3] He served in Burma during the Arakan Campaign in World War II, for which he was mentioned in despatches. Fighting in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948, Somnath Sharma was killed in action on 3 November 1947 while repulsing Pakistani infiltrators near Srinagar Airport. For his gallantry and sacrifice during the Battle of Badgam, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
- ^ Chakravorty 1995, pp. 75–76.
- ^ "SOMNATH SHARMA | Gallantry Awards". Gallantry Awards, Government of India. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ "Major Somnath Sharma: A hero for generations of soldiers – ADU News". aviation-defence-universe.com. Retrieved 23 June 2020.