Major Somnath Sharma, born on 31 January 1923, came from a well-known military family, his father, Major General Amar Nath Sharma, was also a military officer (retired as Director General of the Armed Medical Services) as were his brothers Lt. General Surindar Nath Sharma (retired as Engineer-in-chief) and General Vishwa Nath Sharma (retired as Chief of Army Staff, 1988-1990), and his sister Major Kamla Tewari (Medical Doctor). He did his schooling at Sherwood College, Nainital, before enrolling at the Prince of Wales Royal Military College in Dehra Dun and later joined the Royal Military Academy.He was the first recipient of the prestigious and honorable Param Vir Chakra given to soldiers who show outstanding courage and valor in the face of the enemy whether on land, at sea, or in the air
Som, as his friends and family called him, used to spend time with his maternal grandfather Pandit Daulat Ram in Srinagar. His favourite pastime was listening to his grandfather’s on the Bhagavad Gita. This influence of Krishna’s teachings to Arjun were to remain with Somnath till his last breath. At the age of 10, Som enrolled at the Prince of Wales Royal Military College in Dehra Dun and later joined the Royal Indian Military Academy. His maternal uncle Captain Krishna Dutt Vasudeva who belonged to this regiment had died defending a bridge on the River Slim in Malaya against the Japanese. His bravery had made it possible for hundreds of his jawans to cross over to safety. The example of his uncle greatly influenced him during his career.
He was selected to join the IMA, Dehra Dun in May 1941 where he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the 8/19 Hyderabad Regiment. He saw action in Burma at the tender age of 21 and he was appointed D.A, and Q.M.G at his Brigade Headquarters, often being mentioned in army ranks for his eficiency of work. He was later posted to Malaya to assist in the rehabilitation of the population. ON his return to India he was posted to the communal strife torn Punjab, where the army had to be called in to maintain law and order.He was commissioned in the Kumaon Regiment on 22 February 1942. The first recipient of India's highest war-time gallantry award, Param Vir Chakra, Major Somnath Sharma displayed exemplary courage and valour during the Pakistani invasion of Jammu & Kashmir, which began on 22 October 1947. Somnath Sharma was a part of the D Company of 4 Kumaon regiment, which was airlifted to Srinagar on 31 October. Though he was injured at that time as he suffered a fracture while playing hockey and was advised rest, he pleaded to go with his company.
Somnath 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.
In October 1947, armed tribals cross the border near Muzaffarabad, burn the twon and overrun Uri. They also manage to capture the power station that supplies eletcricity to Srinagar, plunging the city into darkness. Reports suggest that the armed groups include regulars from the Paksitani Army “in mufti”. Major SK Sinha who was responsible for logistical arrangements in the face of this upcoming battle says this about the troops ‘It was indeed inspiring to see grim determination writ large on their faces. They were all determined to do their best, no matter what handicap they had to contend with. I had never before seen such enthusiasm and fervour for duty.’
Although technically ‘unfit for active duty in war’ (with a broken arm and a plaster from wrist to the elbow), Major Sharma insisted that he had to lead his company. He took charge of his new assignment at Srinagar airport on 1st Nov. On 3 November, D Coy led by Major Sharma was undertaking reconnaissance tasks when his company was ordered on a fighting patrol to Badgam Village in the Kashmir Valley, they subjected to indiscriminate firing from the Pakistani raiders. They were heavily outnumbered. He was soon surrounded by the enemy from three sides and his company sustained heavy casualties from the ensuing artillery bombardment. He realized the importance of holding onto his position as both the city of Srinagar and the airport would be vulnerable if it were lost. Major Somnath Sharma rushed out into the open and gave instructions to his company not to withdraw. 
Keeping his nerve, he skillfully directed the fire of his sections into the ever-advancing enemy. Under heavy fire and outnumbered seven to one, Major Somnath Sharma and his troops fought till last blood and halted the advance of Pakistani invaders for a few crucial hours till Indian reinforcements arrived. The company held on for a long time. He held back the enemy for a long and crucial time, which helped to stem the enemy advance on Srinagar.When heavy casualties adversely affected the firing power of his company, 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 busy fighting the enemy, a mortar shell exploded on the ammunition near him. Three days later, Major Sharma’s body was recovered. Though mutilated beyond recognition, a few pages of the Gita that he always kept in his breast pocket and the empty leather holster of Tewari’s pistol helped to identify the body. The pistol was gone.His last message to Brigade HQ received a few moments before he was killed was: "The enemies 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." He gave up his life on the battlefield, but did not yield an inch to the enemy, thus setting a rare example in Indian military lore.