AdvAcademy01 at 13:01, 13 April 2026

2026-04-13T13:01:54Z

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{{Short description|Indian army Colonel; Maha Vir Chakra recipient (1964–2026)}}
{{for|the Ladakhi social reformer|Sonam Wangchuk}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Colonel]]
| name = Sonam Wangchuk
| honorific_suffix = [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]]
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1964|5|11}}
| birth_place = Sankar, [[Leh district]], Ladakh, India
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2026|4|10|1964|5|11}}
| death_place =
| nickname =
| birth_name =
| allegiance = India
| branch = [[Indian Army]]
| serviceyears = 1987–2018
| rank = [[Colonel]]
| servicenumber = IC-45952M
| unit = 4 [[Assam Regiment]] [[Ladakh Scouts]]
| commands =
| battles = [[Kargil War]]
| awards = [[Maha Vir Chakra]]
| spouse = Padma Angmo
| signature =
| website = 
| module =
}}

[[Colonel]] '''Sonam Wangchuk''', [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] (11 May 1964 – 10 April 2026) was an [[Indian Army]] veteran, who served with the [[Assam Regiment]] and the [[Ladakh Scouts]]. He was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]], India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, during his successful operation in the [[Kargil War]]. Due to his exemplary feat as a Major during the Kargil War, he is known as the '''Lion of Ladakh''' in the Indian Army.

==Early life and education==

Born on 11 May 1964 in [[Sankar Monastery|Sankar]] suburb of [[Leh]], Wangchuk was a native of Khakshal suburb of Leh of the Indian union territory of [[Ladakh]]. His mother was the sister of India Politician [[Thupstan Chhewang]] and niece of [[Lama|Buddhist monk]] [[19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche|Kushok Bakula Rinpochhey]].<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jun/18kash5.htm Rediff On The NeT Special: On an icy ridge, sipping sattu, ready to move in for the kill]</ref> In 1969, at the age of about five years, he moved to [[Solan]] in [[Himachal Pradesh]], where he studied at St. Luke's School till the fourth standard. Later in 1973, his family moved to [[Dharamsala|Dharamshala]] where he studied at [[Sacred Heart High School|Sacred Heart High School]]. Here he had close interactions with the [[Dalai Lama]] as his father was serving as the security officer of the [[14th Dalai Lama]].

In 1975, his father was transferred to Delhi. In Delhi he was educated at The [[Modern School (New Delhi)|Modern School Barakhamba Road]], and took a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in History, from the [[Sri Venkateswara College]], [[University of Delhi]].

He cited a relative, Colonel Wangdus, as the inspiration for his joining the Indian Army, although his father desired him to become a civil servant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reachladakh.com/in-conversation-with-col-sonam-wangchuk/2466.html |title =In Conversation with Col. Sonam Wangchuk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812052528/http://www.reachladakh.com/in-conversation-with-col-sonam-wangchuk/2466.html |archive-date=2014-08-12}}</ref>

==Military career==
Wangchuk attended the [[Officers Training Academy]] in [[Chennai]] and was commissioned into the 4th battalion of the [[Assam Regiment]] as a Second Lieutenant.<ref name="rediff">[http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jun/18kash5a.htm Rediff On The NeT Special: Ladakh Scouts: The Heroes of Batalik]</ref> He was posted to Ukrul in northeast India as a company commander. He then served in Sri Lanka as a part of the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]]. He was later posted to the Indus Wing of the [[Ladakh Scouts]]. In 1999, at the outbreak of the [[Kargil War]], then Major Wangchuk led an operation against [[Pakistani]] troops in the Chorbat La pass, on 31 May which was the first successful operation of the war, for which he was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]]. On 21 August 2017, President [[Ram Nath Kovind]] released a documentary named "Lion of Ladakh" about the troops under Wangchuk who repelled enemy forces from Chorbat La.<ref name="SSBToSuccess">[http://www.ssbtosuccess.com/2017/08/resident-ramnath-kovind-lion-of-ladakh-col-sonam-wangchuk-mahavir-chakra.html President Kovind Released "Lion of Ladakh" on Col Sonam Wangchuk (MVC)]</ref>

==Death==
Wangchuk died from a heart attack on 10 April 2026, at the age of 61.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, Renowned Kargil War Hero, Dies of Heart Attack |url=https://shop.ssbcrack.com/blogs/blog/colonel-sonam-wangchuk-renowned-kargil-war-hero-dies-of-heart-attack |access-date=10 April 2026 |publisher=SSB Crack |date=10 April 2026}}</ref>

==Maha Vir Chakra citation==
Sonam Wangchuk's Maha Vir Chakra citation reads:

<blockquote>
'''Mahavir Chakra (MVC) Awardee: Maj Sonam Wangchuk, MVC'''
 

Gazette Notification: 17 Pres/2000,15.8.99
Operation: Vijay - Kargil
Date of Award: 1999
 
 
'''Citation:'''
 
On 30 May 1999, Major Sonam Wangchuk was leading a column of The Indus Wing, Ladakh Scouts as a part of ongoing operations in Op VIJAY in the Batalik Sector. The column was tasked to occupy Ridge Line on the [[Line of Control]] in a glaciated area at a height of about 5,500 metres. This was essential so as to pre-empt its occupation by the enemy and any subsequent infiltration.
 
 
While moving towards the Line of Control, the enemy ambushed the column by firing from a vantage position. In the process, one NCO<ref>Havildar Tsewang Rigzin,VrC</ref> of The Ladakh Scouts was killed. Major Sonam Wangchuk held his column together and in a daring counter ambush, led a raid on the enemy position from a flank, killing two enemy soldiers. The officer also recovered one heavy machine gun and one Universal machine gun, ammunition, controlled stores and three dead bodies of the enemy personnel.
 
 
Thereafter, the officer took stock of all forces along the Chorbatla axis in the Batalik Sector and cleared the axis up to the Line of Control of all enemy intrusions at great risk to his life.
 
 
Major Sonam Wangchuk displayed exceptional bravery and gallantry of the highest order in the presence of enemy fire and in extreme climatic conditions in the glaciated area.<ref>[http://twdi.in/node/1489 Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Awardee: Lt Col Sonam Wangchuk, MVC @ TWDI]</ref></blockquote>

==Awards and decorations==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|[[File:Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Operation Vijay star.svg|105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND Siachen Glacier Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND Videsh Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|[[Maha Vir Chakra]]
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Special Service Medal]]
|[[Operation Vijay Star]]
|-
|[[Siachen Glacier Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Operation Vijay]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Sainya Seva Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|High Altitude Service Medal]]
|-
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Videsh Seva Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|50th Anniversary of Independence Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wangchuk, Sonam}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:2026 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Leh district]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhists]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:Kargil War]]
[[Category:Modern School (New Delhi) alumni]]

Sonam Wangchuk (soldier) - Revision history

AdvAcademy01 at 13:01, 13 April 2026