Major Mohit Sharma, AC, SM, remains one of the most revered figures in the history of the Indian Army’s Special Forces.
From the halls of National Defence Academy to dense, blood-stained forests of Kupwara, his journey is a testament to the “Balidan” (Sacrifice) ethos of the Para SF.
Early Life
Born on January 13, 1978, in Rohtak, Haryana, Mohit Sharma was the second child of Shri Rajendra Prasad Sharma and Smt. Sushila Sharma.
Known affectionately as “Chintu” at home, he was far from stereotypical stoic soldier in his youth.
Mohit was a gifted musician who could master almost any instrument he picked up—from the guitar and synthesizer to the mouth organ.
He was particularly fond of singing Hemant Kumar’s classics, often enthralling family and friends with his soulful voice.
After completing his schooling at Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad, in 1995, he initially enrolled in an engineering college in Maharashtra.
Within months, he cleared the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam and left his engineering dreams behind to join the India Squadron at the academy, where his coursemates nicknamed him “Mike.”
At the academy, he excelled as a champion horse rider and a featherweight boxing champion.
Para SF
Mohit was commissioned into the 5th Battalion of the Madras Regiment in 1999.
His first posting was in Hyderabad, By June 2003, he successfully completed the probation and joined the elite 1 Para (SF).
The Special Forces transformed “Mike” into a lethal operative.
He wasn’t just a soldier; he was a counter-terrorism expert who combined physical grit with sharp intelligence.
He served as an instructor at Commando Wing in Belgaum, where he trained next generation of warriors, before returning to valley for what would be his final assignments.
Iftikhar Bhatt
One of most cinematic chapters of Major Mohit Sharma’s career was a deep-cover intelligence operation in 2004.
To neutralize a high-value target from Hizbul Mujahideen, Mohit went “off the grid.”
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He grew a long, thick beard, adopted local Kashmiri attire, and took on the alias “Iftikhar Bhatt.”
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He successfully befriended two dreaded terrorists, Abu Torara and Abu Sabzar.
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He convinced them that he was a disgruntled youth seeking revenge for his brother’s death at the hands of the Indian Army.
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During the mission, the terrorists grew suspicious and questioned his identity.
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Mohit threw his weapon down and told them, “If you don’t trust me, kill me.”
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Shaken by his apparent conviction, the terrorists let their guard down.
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Seizing the perfect moment, Mohit eliminated both of them with his 9mm pistol and safely returned to his unit with vital intelligence.
For this extraordinary act of undercover bravery, he was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry).
Hafruda Forest (2009)
On March 21, 2009, Major Mohit Sharma led the Bravo Assault Team into dense Haphruda Forest in Kupwara to intercept a group of infiltrating terrorists.
The team was ambushed from three directions.
In the initial heavy exchange of fire, four of his commandos were critically wounded.
Realizing his men were pinned down, Major Sharma did the unthinkable:
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He crawled under a hail of bullets to drag two of his injured teammates to safety.
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Despite being shot in the chest, he refused to retreat.
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He threw grenades and engaged the terrorists in close-quarter combat, killing two.
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Though bleeding profusely and nearing his end, he charged again, killing two more terrorists before succumbing to his injuries.
His actions that day saved his team and ensured the elimination of the infiltrating group.
In 2010, he was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
“It’s better to die for something than to live for nothing.” — Major Mohit Sharma
Today, the Rajendra Nagar Metro Station in Ghaziabad is named in his honor, ensuring that every commuter is reminded of the man who lived as a musician and died as a lion.