Mohit Sharma, AC, SM was an Indian Army Officer who was posthumuously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peace-time military decoration. Maj Sharma was from the elite 1st Para SF. He was martyred on 21 March 2009 while leading his Bravo Assault Team in Kupwara district. 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 and finally succumbed to injuries. 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. In 2019, Delhi Metro Corporation renamed the Rajendra Nagar metro station as "Major Mohit Sharma metro station".
Early life and education
Mohit was born on 13 January 1978 in Rohtak, Haryana. 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 in Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering, 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.
Military career
In 1995, Major Mohit Sharma left his Engineering and joined NDA to pursue his dream. During his NDA training, he excelled in multiple activities including swimming, boxing and horse riding. His favourite horse was "Indira". He under the training of Col Bhawani Singh become the champion of horse riding. He was also a winner in Boxing under feather weight category. After completing his academics studies in NDA, he joined the Indian Military Academy in 1998. In IMA, he was awarded the rank of Battalion Cadet Adjutant. He got a chance to meet the then President of India K. R. Narayanan at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was commissioned on 11 December 1999. His first posting was Hyderabad in 5th Battalion The Madras Regiment. On completing 3 successful years of Military service, Major Mohit opted for the Para and he became a trained Para Commando in June 2003. He was then posted in Kashmir where he showed his leadership and bravery. He was awarded with the Sena Medal for his bravery. During the third posting, he was given the responsibility to train the Commandos in Belgaum where he instructed for 2 years. Mohit Sharma was then again moved to Kashmir where he made the supreme sacrifice.
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 ‘Ashok Chakra’ on January 26, 2010.
