Major Mohit Sharma, Ashok Chakra, Inspirational Story
Major Mohit Sharma is one of the real heroes who died on 21 March 2009, while fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in 2009. He was posthumously awarded the ‘Ashok Chakra (AC)’, the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
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Mohit Sharma Birthday and Family
Major Mohit Sharma was born on 13 January 1978 in Rohtak district in Haryana. His father’s name is Shri Rajendra Prasad Sharma and his mother’s name is Smt Sushila Sharma. He has an elder brother Shri Madhur Sharma. His grandfather’s name is Shri Dayanand Sharma. His family fondly called him ‘Chintu’. He did his schooling at Manav Sthali School, South Extension, New Delhi, and later at Holy Angels’ School, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad. Later in 1988, he took admission in Delhi Public School (DPS) Ghaziabad and passed class 12th in 1995.
Mohit Sharma and NDA
After the 12th in 1995, Mohit Sharma was admitted to BTech in Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering, Shegaon, Maharashtra. But he always had the passion to join the Armed Forces. In the same year in 1995, he also appeared in the National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam and was selected. He quit BTech and joined NDA.
Major Mohit Sharma in the Indian Army
Mohit Sharma passed out from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in December 1999. He was commissioned by the 5th Battalion of the Madras Regiment. His first post was at Hyderabad. He served with 38 RR (Rashtriya Rifles) in Kashmir, as part of a counterinsurgency operation where he received his first medal for Gallantry COASM (Chief of Army Staff Commendation Medal) in the year 2002.
From the very beginning, he wanted to be a para-commando. He opted for Para (Special Forces). In June 2003, he joined the 1 Para (Special Forces), the elite force of the Indian Army. After that, he served in Kashmir with 1 Para (SF) where he was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry) in the year 2004. He was known as ‘Mike’ amongst his batch mates and colleagues. His service batch number is IC-59066.
Major Mohit Sharma Wife, Major Rishima Sharma
Mohit Sharma is married to Major Rishima Sharma, who is also a commissioned Indian Army.
Kupwara Operation – 21st March 2009
In 2009, Major Mohit Sharma was deployed in the Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir. Kupwara faced frequent insurgencies.
On 21 March 2009, Major Mohit Sharma received input from the intelligence team about the infiltration attempt by some terrorists in the Kupwara district. The security forces decided to launch a search-and-destroy operation. Major Mohit Sharma was tasked to lead the Bravo Assault Team against the infiltrating terrorists in the dense Haphruda Forest of the district.
Major Mohit Sharma along with his commandos reached the suspected area as planned and soon contacted the infiltrators. On observing suspicious movement, he alerted his scouts, but the terrorists fired at the troops from three directions indiscriminately. In the heavy exchange of fire, four commandos got wounded. With complete disregard for his safety, Major Mohit Sharma crawled and recovered two soldiers to safety.
Unnerved Major Mohit Sharma continued the operation throwing grenades and managing to kill two terrorists. However, during the exchange of fire, Major Mohit got hit in the chest. Despite being seriously wounded he kept directing his commandos, to foil the attempt of the terrorists to escape. In the ensuing battle he realized further danger to his comrades, and in a rare display of raw courage and determination charged at the terrorists, killing two of them in the close combat.
Later he succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom fighting for his motherland in the finest traditions of the Indian Army. Besides Maj Mohit Sharma, four other soldiers laid down their lives during the operation on 21 March 2009 which included Hav Sanjay Singh, Hav Anil Kumar, Ptr Shabir Ahmad Malik, and Ptr Nater Singh.
Major Mohit Sharma was cremated on 23 March 2009. Destined, 23 March is celebrated as Martyrs’ Day or Shaheed Diwas in India in memory of the anniversary of the deaths of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on 23 March 1931
Major Mohit Sharma awarded the “Ashok Chakra”, the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award
On 15 August 2009, Major Mohit Sharma was given the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award, “Ashok Chakra” for his act of conspicuous gallantry, unyielding fighting spirit, and supreme sacrifice.
On 26 January 2010, Major Rishima Sharma received the Ashok Chakra on behalf of his husband Major Mohit Sharma (posthumous) from President Smt. Pratibha Patil.
The citation for the “Ashok Chakra”, awarded to him reads:
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 the call of duty, Major Mohit Sharma, SM was awarded ‘Ashok Chakra’ (Posthumous) on 15 Aug 09.
Major Mohit Sharma Movie – “Iftikhar”
In 2022, a movie named “Iftikhar” was released. The movie is based on the life of Major Mohit Sharma who had infiltrated Hizbul Mujahideen under the alias of Iftikhar Bhatt. The movie Iftikhar is an adaptation of the first chapter of Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh’s book “India’s Most Fearless 2: More Military Stories of Unimaginable Courage and Sacrifice”. The movie is co-produced by Applause Entertainment and Drishyam Films.
Read more about the movie “Iftikhar”.
Legacy of Major Mohit Sharma
The government and people came together to name roads and metro stations in memory of Major Mohit Sharma so that generations to come know about the martyrdom of the officer.
Shaheed Major Mohit Sharma Marg
On 21st March 2011, the Road connecting Loni Road and GT Road in Rajendra Nagar was named as “Shaheed Major Mohit Sharma Marg”. The inauguration function was organized under the aegis of Major Mohit Sharma, Ashok Chakra, Sena Medal Memorial Trust, and organized by Rashtriya Sainik Sanstha in collaboration with Bharat Vikas Parishad, Sahibabad. The road was inaugurated by Major Mohit Sharma’s grandfather, Pt. Dayanand Sharma.
Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar Metro Station
The Rajendra Nagar Metro Station was renamed in honour of Major Mohit Sharma, Ashok Chakra. It is known as Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar Metro Station. It is located in the Sahibabad Industrial Area locality of Ghaziabad of Uttar Pradesh, on the Red Line of the Delhi Metro.
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Written By: Brijesh Singh