Major Mohit Sharma, AC,SM was an Indian Army Officer who was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peace-time military decoration. Maj Sharma was from the elite 1st Para SF. He died in action on 21 March 2009 while leading his Bravo Assault Team in Kupwara district.
Mohit was born on 13 January 1978 in Rohtak, Haryana in a Brahmin family. His nickname in family was “Chintu” while his NDA batch mates call him “Mike”. He completed his 12th schooling from DPS Ghaziabad in 1995 during which he appeared for his NDA Exam. After completing his 12th he got admission to Sri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering, Shegaon, Maharashtra. But during his college, he cleared the SSB for NDA and opted to join Indian Army. He left his college and joined the National Defence Academy (NDA).
After completing his studies in NDA, he joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in 1998, where he was awarded the rank of Battalion Cadet Adjutant for his excellent performance during his time at NDA. In December 1999, he passed the academy and was posted to Hyderabad in the 5th Battalion The Madras Regiment as a Lieutenant. After 3 years of services, he opted to join the Para (Special Forces) and he became a trained Para Commando in June 2003, and he was promoted to Captain in December 2003.
In December 2005, he was promoted the rank of Major and he was awarded the Sena Medal for the covert operation in Shopian, Kashmir in 2005 and after that he was posted in Belgaum as an instructor to train the other commando’s.
On 21 March 2009, he engaged in an encounter with terrorists in the Hafruda forest of the Kupwara sector of Jammu and Kashmir. He killed four terrorists and rescued two teammates in the process, but sustained multiple gunshot wounds which killed him. For this act, he was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, which is the highest peace time military decoration in India. He was awarded two gallantry decorations earlier in his career. The first was the COAS Commendation card for exemplary counter-terrorism duties during Operation Rakshak, which was followed by a Sena Medal for gallantry after a covert operation in 2005. Major Mohit Sharma is survived by his wife Major Rishima Sharma, who is an Army officer and continuing his legacy of service to the nation.
Ashoka Chakra
For the supreme sacrifice made by Major Mohit Sharma during Kupwara operation, he was awarded with the nation’s highest peace time gallantry award Ashoka Chakra on January 26, 2010.
MOHIT SHARMA
1 PARA (SF)
Major Mohit Sharma, SM was leading Bravo Assault Team in operations in Kupwara District of North Kashmir. A valiant warrior, he excelled in the art of fighting guerrillas in jungle terrain having earlier spent four years in Jammu & Kashmir. On 21 March 2009, after receiving information of presence of some infiltrating terrorists in dense Haphruda Forest, he planned meticulously and led his commandos in tracking them. On observing suspicious movement, he alerted his scouts but terrorists fired from three directions indiscriminately. In the heavy exchange of fire, four commandos were wounded immediately. With complete disregard to his safety, he crawled and recovered two soldiers to safety. Unmindful of the overwhelming fire, he threw grenades and killed two terrorists but was shot in the chest. In the brief respite that followed, he kept directing his commandos, in spite of serious injuries. Sensing further danger to his comrades, he charged in a daring close quarter combat killing two more terrorists and attained martyrdom fighting for his motherland in the finest traditions of Indian Army.
For this act of conspicuous gallantry, inspiring leadership and exceptional courage far beyond call of duty, Major Mohit Sharma, SM was awarded ‘Ashoka Chakra’ (Posthumous) on 15 Aug 09.
In 2019, Delhi Metro Corporation renamed Rajendra Nagar metro station the as “Major Mohit Sharma (Rajendra Nagar) metro station”.
Awards and decoration
High Altitude Service Medal
Saniya Seva Medal
Operation Parakram Medal
Special Service Medal
Sena Medal
Ashoka Chakra
On 24 January 2021, the singing reality TV show, Indian Idol, dedicated the episode to the people serving the Indian Armed Forces. The show also remembered Martyr Major Mohit Sharma for the sacrifice he made for the country. Sharma’s elder brother, Madhur Sharma, was invited as a guest on the show as well as for the special episode.
Link provided below:-
Tarun'sblog 