Operation Gulmarg

Real heroes. When you think of a hero, do film stars come to mind? This chapter is about a real one: Major Somnath Sharma, the first person in India to receive the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest award for bravery in war.

His name is etched (carved, so it cannot be rubbed out) in history: on the Honour Wall of the National War Memorial, in patriotic songs, in books and stories.

The story in one line. Ninety Indian soldiers foiled (stopped) the plan of about five hundred infiltrators (people who sneak into a place) who wanted to capture Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley, and strike a blow to newly independent India.

Operation Gulmarg. In August 1947, Pakistan launched Operation Gulmarg to annex (take over) the Kashmir Valley.

This broke an agreement with Hari Singh, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan had promised not to attack the state.

Instead, the Pakistani Army trained and armed about a thousand invaders who knew the mountain passes and the land very well.

Their aim: start a revolt in Kashmir, overthrow the government, and capture the territory. That would have given them control of important passes, peaks and rivers.

The dates:

• 22 October 1947: the operation began and the invaders entered Kashmir;
• 26 October 1947: the Princely State became a part of India;
• 27 October 1947: India sent troops to defend the people of Kashmir and India's borders.

A contingent (group) of troops was airlifted (flown) into Srinagar, because the road through Pathankot was in poor condition. There was no time to lose.

31 October 1947: D Company of the 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment, led by Major Somnath Sharma, was flown in.

His left hand was in plaster. He could have stayed behind. Instead he told his senior officers: 'I know my men better than anyone else, and if they are going into action, they are not going in without me.'