War Heroes

Wazir Ram Singh Pathania

Ram Singh Pathania was born on 10 April 1824 at the residence of Shyam Singh, a minister of the state of Nurpur . His father was the minister of Raja Veer Singh in the state of Nurpur.Due to the British-Sikh Convention in 1846, most of the princely states of Himachal Pradesh were under the British Empire. At the same time, King Veer Singh died. At that time his son Javsant Singh was the successor of the throne. The British took all the rights of Jaswant Singh in five thousand Rupees and declared his union to be included in the principality, which was not approved by Veer Singh Pathania.
He joined forces with the Katoch Rajputs and made a call against the British. The British parted with this aggression and Ram Singh waved his flag. Being happy with this, Jaswant Singh appointed Ram Singh as his minister while appointing himself a king. After this, he planned to uproot all the British from Himachal and got the victory.
The British also knew that they could not arrest or kill Ram Singh easily. In this way, he made a conspiracy and when Ram Singh was reciting the worship, he was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to Kalapani . After that they were sent to Rangoon and they were tortured very badly. Veergati was received on November 11, 1849 at the age of 24 only.

Major Som Nath Sharma (PVC, Posthumous)

Major Somnath Sharma, an Indian Army officer, was the first recipient of Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India’s highest military decoration. He was son of Major General Amarnath Sharma, born on 31 January 1923, in Himachal Pradesh District Kangra. He was commissioned in the Kumaon Regiment on 22 February 1942. During the Second World War, he had fought in the Arakan Operations.In the battle of Bagdam, Major Sharma, one JCO and 20 other ranks were killed. He and his men stemmed the tide of the enemy advance on Srinagar and the airfield for some very crucial hours. He has set an example of courage and qualities, seldom equaled in the history of the Indian Army. Major General Amarnath Sharma received India’s first and highest war-time gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra, on behalf of his brave son.

Capt. Vikram Batra (PVC, Posthumous)

Captain Vikram Batra, PVC (9 September 1974 – 7 July 1999) was an officer of the Indian Army, posthumously awarded with the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest and most prestigious award for valour, for his actions during the 1999 Kargil War in Kashmir between India and Pakistan. He led one of the toughest operations in mountain warfare in Indian history. He was often referred to as ‘’Sher Shah’’ (“Lion King”) in the intercepted messages of the Pakistan Army.He was from Palampur District Kangra Himachal Pradesh.

Major Sudhir Walia (Ashok Chakra, Posthumous)

Major Sudhir Kumar, 9 Parachute (Special Forces), SM plus Bar to SM hailing from District Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), was commissioned into the 3rd Jat Regiment on 11 June 1988. . On 29 August 1999, Major Kumar led an assault on a militant hideout in Kupwara district. He killed four militants before succumbing to their bullets.For his conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy, Major Sudhir Kumar was awarded the highest peace-time gallantry medal, Ashoka Chakra, posthumously. His father, former Subedar Major Rulia Ram Walia, received the award from the President of India, on behalf of his brave son.

Brigadier Sher Jang Thapa, MVC

Brigadier Sher Jung Thapa also revered as The Hero of Skardu, is one of the few recipients of Indian Army’s second highest gallantary award, the Mahavir Chakra (MVC).On 11 February 1948, Skardu was attacked and surrounded by the enemy of approximately 600 strong strength. The enemy was routed under the determined leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Sher Jung Thapa. Unable to capture the fort, the enemy laid to siege to the fort, which continued for six months. Despite dwindling rations, ammunition, shortage of water, lack of medicines, heavy casualties and other overwhelming odds, the enemy attempts to capture the fort were thwarted every time under the dynamic and inspiring leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Sher Jung Thapa.On the fateful day of 14 Aug 1948, the gallant survivors of the 6th, utterly exhausted and on the verge of starvation, out-numbered to 5 to 1, without ammunition, rations and any hope of succour from outside, had no alternative but to capitulate. Thus ended the heroic seige of Skardu which had kept a superior enemy at bay for six months and three days. Thapa died on 25 February 1999.

Captain Saurabh Kalia

Captain Saurabh Kalia was born at Amritsar (Punjab), hailing from Palampur in District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Captain Saurabh was posted with the 4 JAT Regiment (Infantry) IC No. 58522F in the Kargil Sector. In the first fortnight of May 1999, he went out for Patrol Duty three times to check the infiltration in the Kaksar area of Kargil. Captain Saurabh was hailed as the First Officer to give information of the large-scale intrusion of the Pakistan Army and infilitrators in the area. Captain Saurabh Kalia was martyred during the Kargil War while being held as a prisoner of war by the Pakistan Army. He along with five other soldiers of his patrolling team was captured alive and kept in captivity where they were tortured, then killed.