“The enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round.”

As these immortal words of a 25-year-old officer crackled through the radio at Srinagar Brigade Headquarters on the night of November 3, 1947, India bore witness to a sacrifice that would forever be etched in her soil. That night, Major Somnath Sharma, with his company’s men, lay down his life defending the nation— and in doing so, he was reborn as a symbol of courage that continues to inspire generations of soldiers and citizens alike.

Born on January 31, 1923, in the serene Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, Major Sharma hailed from a proud military family. Even as a young boy, his heart beat for the uniform.

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