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==Early life and family== | ==Early life and family== | ||
Rattan Nath Sharma was born on 23 November 1926 in [[Kangra district|Kangra]], in the British province of [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], the son of Shri Hari Charan Dixit.<ref name="Chakravorty">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzizVBSb4YsC&q=Vijay+Kumar+Berry+mvc&pg=PA110|title=Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners|last=Chakravorty|first=B.|date=1995|publisher=Allied Publishers|year= 1995|isbn=9788170235163 |page=327 |language=en}}</ref> Prior to joining the [[Indian Army]] he attended the D.{{nbsp}}S.{{nbsp}}V.{{nbsp}}High School in Kangra.<ref name="WDIT"/> After finishing school, he briefly worked for the [[Indian Revenue Service]] but left after six months when a man tried to bribe him.<ref name="Hindustan Times">{{cite web |title=People from all walks of life bid adieu to 1971 war hero |url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-jalandhar/20111227/282643209402117 |website=pressreader.com |publisher=Hindustan Times |accessdate=18 July | Rattan Nath Sharma was born on 23 November 1926 in [[Kangra district|Kangra]], in the British province of [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], the son of Shri Hari Charan Dixit.<ref name="Chakravorty">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzizVBSb4YsC&q=Vijay+Kumar+Berry+mvc&pg=PA110|title=Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners|last=Chakravorty|first=B.|date=1995|publisher=Allied Publishers|year= 1995|isbn=9788170235163 |page=327 |language=en}}</ref> Prior to joining the [[Indian Army]] he attended the D.{{nbsp}}S.{{nbsp}}V.{{nbsp}}High School in Kangra.<ref name="WDIT"/> After finishing school, he briefly worked for the [[Indian Revenue Service]] but left after six months when a man tried to bribe him.<ref name="Hindustan Times">{{cite web |title=People from all walks of life bid adieu to 1971 war hero |url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-jalandhar/20111227/282643209402117 |website=pressreader.com |publisher=Hindustan Times |accessdate=18 July 2020}}</ref> He was married to Subhash and they had two daughters and one son: Meera, born in 1960; Anita, born in 1963; and Sandeep, born in 1969.<ref name="WDIT"/> | ||
==Military career== | ==Military career== | ||
Sharma was [[officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] into the [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] on 28 August 1949, and was [[mentioned in dispatches]] for his performance during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].<ref name="Chakravorty"/> By the time of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], Sharma was a [[lieutenant colonel]], and was commanding officer of the 21st Battalion, Punjab Regiment in the Poonch area in the [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] sector of the Western Front. On 9 December 1971, Sharma's battalion was tasked with capturing a fortified [[Pakistan Army]] position named Nangi Tekri, overlooking the [[Poonch River]]. The Pakistani positions were strongly held, dispersed and mutually supporting, but the capture of them was considered critical as they dominated the river and nearby roads.<ref name="Chakravorty"/><ref name="Indian Army"/> | Sharma was [[officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] into the [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] on 28 August 1949, and was [[mentioned in dispatches]] for his performance during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].<ref name="Chakravorty"/> By the time of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], Sharma was a [[lieutenant colonel]], and was commanding officer of the 21st Battalion, Punjab Regiment in the Poonch area in the [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] sector of the Western Front. On 9 December 1971, Sharma's battalion was tasked with capturing a fortified [[Pakistan Army]] position named Nangi Tekri, overlooking the [[Poonch River]]. The Pakistani positions were strongly held, dispersed and mutually supporting, but the capture of them was considered critical as they dominated the river and nearby roads.<ref name="Chakravorty"/><ref name="Indian Army"/> | ||
The assault began the next day, and was met by intense [[artillery]] and [[small arms]] fire, which slowed progress and caused heavy casualties. Despite this, Sharma encouraged his men to press on, leading them from the front throughout with complete disregard for his personal safety. Over the next two days, the battalion made progress under his cool leadership, and the position was finally captured in fierce hand-to-hand fighting on 12 December. The Pakistani defenders suffered 13 killed, three wounded and one captured in the battle. For his exemplary courage and outstanding leadership during this operation, the Indian government awarded Sharma the [[Maha Vir Chakra]],<ref name="Chakravorty"/><ref name="WDIT">{{Cite web|url=http://twdi.in/node/1484|title=Brig Rattan Nath Sharma, MVC|publisher=The War Decorated India & Trust |accessdate=19 July | The assault began the next day, and was met by intense [[artillery]] and [[small arms]] fire, which slowed progress and caused heavy casualties. Despite this, Sharma encouraged his men to press on, leading them from the front throughout with complete disregard for his personal safety. Over the next two days, the battalion made progress under his cool leadership, and the position was finally captured in fierce hand-to-hand fighting on 12 December. The Pakistani defenders suffered 13 killed, three wounded and one captured in the battle. For his exemplary courage and outstanding leadership during this operation, the Indian government awarded Sharma the [[Maha Vir Chakra]],<ref name="Chakravorty"/><ref name="WDIT">{{Cite web|url=http://twdi.in/node/1484|title=Brig Rattan Nath Sharma, MVC|publisher=The War Decorated India & Trust |accessdate=19 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Indian Army"/> the second-highest award for gallantry available to members of the [[Indian Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mahavir Chakra|url=https://www.india9.com/i9show/Mahavir-Chakra-27619.htm |website=india9.com|accessdate=13 July 2020}}</ref> The award was promulgated on Independence Day in 1972.<ref name="Indian Army">{{Cite web|url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/rattan-nath-sharma|title=LT COL Rattan Nath Sharma Maha Vir Chakra|publisher=Indian Army, Govt of India official website|accessdate=19 July 2020}}</ref> | ||
==Later life== | ==Later life== | ||
Sharma rose to the rank of [[brigadier]] before his retirement from the army in 1977,<ref name="Hindustan Times"/> after which he was the [[CEO|chief managing director]] of the [[Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative]].<ref name="Hindustan Times"/> He lived in [[Palampur, Himachal Pradesh]], and after his retirement from the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative he worked for social causes, particularly looking after ex-soldiers and the poor. He died on 24 December 2011, as a result of being struck by a speeding vehicle while waiting for a bus. He was cremated with full military honours at his home village of Ghugar.<ref name="WDIT"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Maha Vir Chakra awardee who died in accident cremated with full military honours |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maha-Vir-Chakra-awardee-who-died-in-accident-cremated-with-full-military-honours/articleshow/11262215.cms |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com |accessdate=18 July | Sharma rose to the rank of [[brigadier]] before his retirement from the army in 1977,<ref name="Hindustan Times"/> after which he was the [[CEO|chief managing director]] of the [[Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative]].<ref name="Hindustan Times"/> He lived in [[Palampur, Himachal Pradesh]], and after his retirement from the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative he worked for social causes, particularly looking after ex-soldiers and the poor. He died on 24 December 2011, as a result of being struck by a speeding vehicle while waiting for a bus. He was cremated with full military honours at his home village of Ghugar.<ref name="WDIT"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Maha Vir Chakra awardee who died in accident cremated with full military honours |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maha-Vir-Chakra-awardee-who-died-in-accident-cremated-with-full-military-honours/articleshow/11262215.cms |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com |accessdate=18 July 2020}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||