Legendry Personalities of District Kangra – Himachal Pradesh

By | July 1, 2020

Captain Vikram Batra:

  • Captain Vikram Batra was born to Jai Kamal Batra and GL Batra in the Palampur region- in a village called Ghuggar.
  • He enrolled in the Indian Military Academy in 1996.
  • He was posthumously honoured with the Param Vir Chakra- the country’s highest honour for bravery for his gallant and fearless efforts in the Kargil War, which was fought between India and Pakistan in the year 1999.

Major Sudhir Kumar:

  • Major Sudhir Kumar hailing from District Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), was commissioned into the 3rd Jat Regiment on 11 June 1988.
  • On 29 August 1999, Major Kumar led an assault on a militant hideout in Kupwara district.
  • For his conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy, Major Sudhir Kumar was awarded the highest peace-time gallantry medal, Ashoka Chakra, posthumously.

Major Somnath Sharma: 

  • Major Somnath Sharma was also hailing from district Kangra.
  • He was commissioned in the Kumaon Regiment on 22 February 1942.
  • He belonged to a soldier’s family of the district.
  • His father Amarnath Sharma retired as Major General and his brother General V.N. Sharma, served as the Chief of Army Staff during 1988 to 1990.
  • During the Second World War, Major Somnath had fought in the Arakan Operations and during tribal invasion of Jammu & Kashmir in 1947.
  • Major Sharma fought to his last breath and his last message to Brigade HQ, received a few moments before he was killed 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.”
  • His answer is now part of the Army lore. He has set an example of courage and qualities, seldom equalled in the history of the Indian Army.
  • Major Sharma was awarded India’s first and highest war-time gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra, Posthumously.
  • His Father Major General Amarnath Sharma received this award on behalf of his brave son.

Captain Saurabh Kalia: 

  • Hailing from Palampur in District Kangra Captain Saurabh Kalia (1976–1999) was an officer of the Indian Army who died during the Kargil War while being held as a prisoner of war by the Pakistani security forces.
  • A museum has been raised in his memory at his native place in Palampur.
  • Saurabh Kalia’s personal belongings such as photographs, uniforms, shoes and mementoes are kept in a separate room, named as ‘Saurabh Smriti Kaksha’ (a museum), in his house known as ‘Saurabh Niketan’.
  • Government of Himachal Pradesh has also raised a memorial park named as ‘Saurabh Van Vihar’ covering an area of 14 hectares in Palampur and renamed a street in the town as Capt Saurabh Kalia Marg and the locality as ‘Saurabh Nagar’.
  • In Amritsar, where Saurabh took birth, his statue has been erected in a memorial.

Paras Dogra: 

  • Kangra born Paras Dogra is an Indian cricketer who made his debut in first class cricket in 2001.
  • Paras is a defensive right-handed batsman and a right-arm leg- break bowler.
  • He was signed by Rajasthan Royals in Indian Premier League (IPL).
  • Paras Dogra made his IPL debut in the season of 2010.

Read also: History of District Kangra

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