Fighting against odds - Battle of Budgam: Major Somnath Sharma

The archives of the Indian Army have abundant stories of bravery, courage and uncomparable valour.  15^th August 1947, India became an independent Nation, but this independence came with the throbbing pain of partition. Might be, not many people are aware that just few months after Independence in 1947, India had almost lost Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley to Pakistan and this affliction was successfully inhibited by the bravery of one man, Major Somnath Sharma, and his valiant troops belonging to Creed of the Man Eater, known to the world by Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army who proved the Motto of the regiment worthwhile (पराक्रमो विजयते). While evicting Pakistani infiltrators and raiders during the Indo-Pak war of 1947-48 in Kashmir, Major Somnath Sharma was killed in action at the age of 24 years. October, 1947, after two months of independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru receives a message that warns of planning of Pakistan for infiltration through tribal raiders to Kashmir, and few had already moved in.  However, at that time Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, still had not signed the Instrument of Accession, so Nehru was reluctant to take action and in the meantime, numerous Afridi, Mahsud, Wazir tribes initiated the infiltration into the Kashmir and a sequence of events followed in no-time.

Oct 22- Raiders attacked on Muzaffarbad and captured Uri in no quick time, and soon after power station at Mahura was taken over and the Srinagar was submerged into darkness.

V.P.Menon, Sardar Patel’s trusted aide, rushed to get signature of  Maharaja Hari Singh on the Instrument of Accession,  and rushed back to Delhi. As usual J L Nehru talked about the UN, Russia, Africa, God Almighty, and what not, until Sardar Patel just asked, ‘Jawaharlal, do you want Kashmir, or do you want to lose J&K?’ Nehru said, ‘Of course, I want Kashmir.’ Then Patel said bluntly: ‘Please give your orders.’

On 26^th October, J&K state became a part of the India and so to protect J&K, the first batch of Indian troops reached just in time on the morning of 27^th October. On October 31, 1947 Major Somnath Sharma’s company (D Company of 4 Kumaon) was airlifted to Srinagar. Major Sharma was having a plaster in his hand due to fracture sustained in hockey game, still he insisted to be with his company in the J&K and was allowed to command his unit. Ignoring medical advice, he had bulldozed his way with his Company and reached to the Valley on 01 Nov 1947. The mission was clear “hold the valley of Kashmir, repulse the invaders, defend the valley”. Meanwhile, the blitz of invasion of Srinagar was crippled by the 1 Sikh at Patan and the enemy changed its strategy to guerrilla tactics to invade into the Kashmir valley. But the deployment of more troops into Srinagar empowered the Army to take care of the surrounding areas better.

At 0800hrs on 03 Nov 1947, Maj Somnath Sharma, 4Kumaon & Capt Ronnie Wood, 1Kumaon reported to HQ 161 Brigade to discuss the day’s patrol plan. Follwing the discussions, a strong fighting patrol comprising of three companies ordered to reconnoitre the Bagdam area to watch for raiders moving towards Srinagar. 

By 0930 hrs a firm base at Badgam was established by the troops. During patrolling, no signs of intrusion were observed and at 1400 hrs two companies went back to Srinagar. D Coy led by Major Sharma which had held the position south of Bagdam and ordered to stay on till 1500 hours.

At 1435 hrs, D Coy was inflicted to firing from some houses of Bagdam village but the Coy did not fired back as it may kill innocent people of the village. The purpose of firing from the houses was just to distract the troops so that main force of raiders built up on a different flank. Suddenly, a tribal “lashkar” of 700 raiders approached Badgam from the direction of Gulmarg and attacked Indian army from the three sides. Due to the attack from three sides and the ensuing mortar bombardment, company sustained heavy casualties. A full scale frontal attack was now underway on his location, with the Kumaonis hugely outnumbered by the enemy. A militarily brilliant plan, but for one small fact – the Kumaonis under Major Somnath Sharma refused to play by their rules. Major Somnath Sharma learnt the gravity of the situation and the overhanging threat to both Srinagar and the airfield was looming large before his eyes. He rushed across the open ground, exposing himself to enemy fire. He laid out panels to guide IAF aircraft to their targets in the face of enemy fire. The company held on for six hours against heavy odds. Under heavy fire and outnumbered seven to one, he motivated his company to fight bravely, often exposing himself to danger and was running from post to post. The firing power of the company was adversely affected due to heavy casualties, Major Sharma, with his right hand in plaster, took upon himself the task of filling the magazines and issuing them to men, operating light machine guns. While he was fighting with the enemy, a mortar shell exploded near him. His last message to Brigade HQ, received a few minutes before he was martyred was, "The enemy are only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to our last man and our last round."  

The tenacious, strong willed, tough nut Kumaonis, under their gutsy leader, dug in and denied to abdicate any ground to their unsolicited ‘guests’. An epic battle followed, upon which would hinge the fate of the entire campaign. If the raiders captured the airfield, all would be lost and the troops ahead would be outflanked. The fate of the Valley that day rested upon the Kumaonis and they soared to the occasion, assuring that the airfield would not stumble… not this day, not on their watch in any case. Major Somnath reported that he was engaging the enemy with all he had, but he was outnumbered & enemy was gaining ground. Even as automatics and mortars were raining deadly fire on them & covered the advancing enemy, Somnath rallied his troops and they fought back like men possessed, inflicting serious casualties on the raiders, losing their own men too.

By the time the company of 1st Battalion Kumaon Regiment reached Badgam, the position had been overrun. However, raiders suffered more than 200 casualties which led them to lose their impetus to advance buying time for Indian troops to fly in to Srinagar airfield and block all routes of access to Srinagar. He was injured, yet he fought bravely with his men and exposed himself to the enemy fire till Indian reinforcements came. He even operated a light machine gun and held the enemy till his last blood. In the battle of Bagdam, Major Sharma, one JCO and 20 other ranks were killed in action. But their sacrifices did not go in vain. Major Somnath Sharma’s body was found three days later. It was heavily disfigured, and no one could recognise him and his body was identified by means of pages of Bhagavad Gita in his chest pocket and his empty pistol holster.

In evening, 1 Punjab moved double quick to take up more blocking positions to secure the airfield, as the airfield was still vulnerable. Another determined attack by the enemy, and it could still fall especially at night. Yet the enemy failed to make good this opportunity of a lifetime. Reason? Khurshid, the leader of that party was injured in the leg by a bullet. Leaderless, the Pathans dithered on further course of action. That s where Major Sharma proved while his strength was less as compared to invaders but his courage and leadership stopped the tide of the enemy advance on Srinagar and the airfield for some very crucial hours.

His leadership, courage and tenacious defence were such that his men were motivated to fight the enemy by seven to one, six hours after this braveheart  had been killed. He has set an example of courage and qualities seldom equalled in the history of the Indian Army and claimed for himself the first Param Vir Chakra awarded by the nation. Though technically ‘unfit for active duty in war’, he asserted that he had to lead his company at this crucial circumstances and was finaly permitted to go by the commanding officer. Led by incredibly courageous Major Somnath Sharma, 4th Kumaon Regiment had prevented the fall of Srinagar and arguably the Kashmir Valley.

God bless him and his men that fell that afternoon, 72 years ago.

Let their story never be forgotten. Ever…

"पराक्रमो विजयते" 

Major Somnath Sharma had lived, and died by the code of the warrior, he fought in World War II under Colonel K S Thimmayya (later the army chief) in Burma with the British Army. An anecdote speaks tellingly about the character of the young officer. One day, Sharma’s orderly Bahadur was badly wounded in action and was unable to return to the camp. Sharma lifted Bahadur on his shoulders and began walking. When Thimmayya found his officer lagging behind under the weight of his orderly, he ordered him ‘Leave this man, Som and rush back to the camp.’Somnath retorted, ‘Sir, it is my own orderly that I am carrying; he is badly wounded and bleeding, l will not leave him behind.’ He eventually managed to carry Bahadur back, saving his life. He was awarded a ‘Mention in Dispatch’ for this act of bravery.