Video Lecture 1: Immortal Valour — Major Somnath Sharma and the Battle of Badgam

# Video Lecture 1: Immortal Valour — Major Somnath Sharma and the Battle of Badgam
**Instructor:** Prof. Priya Nair | **Duration:** ~05:50 mins

### Scene 1: The Peril of Srinagar (00:00 - 01:30)
"Welcome back, students! Today we step into Unit 2 of *Poorvi*: **Values and Dispositions**.
Values are not mere slogans printed in textbooks; they are forged in moments of supreme testing.
Our first chapter honors **Major Somnath Sharma**, who at age twenty-four became the **first recipient of India's highest wartime gallantry award: the Param Vir Chakra**!"

### Scene 2: The Battle of Badgam (November 3, 1947) (01:30 - 03:00)
"In November 1947, tribal raiders backed by Pakistani forces advanced rapidly toward Srinagar. Their objective was to capture the Srinagar airfield.
If the airfield fell, India could not land troops or supplies, and the Kashmir Valley would be lost!
Major Somnath Sharma and his company of 90 brave soldiers from the **4 Kumaon Regiment** were deployed on patrol duty at Badgam.
Major Sharma had his left arm in a plaster cast due to a cricket injury!
Suddenly, a force of 700 heavily armed infiltrators surrounded their position from three sides, raining down mortar and machine-gun fire!"

### Scene 3: The Immortal Last Message (03:00 - 04:30)
"Outnumbered seven to one, Major Sharma refused to withdraw.
Knowing that the airfield's safety depended on buying time for Indian reinforcements to arrive, he personally filled ammunition magazines and handed them to light machine-gunners with his single functional hand!
When ammunition ran critically low, he transmitted his historic final wireless message to Brigade Headquarters:
*'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.'*
Moments later, an enemy mortar shell landed directly on his ammunition dump. Major Somnath Sharma laid down his life, but his company held the position long enough to save Srinagar!"

### Scene 4: Conclusion (04:30 - 05:50)
"Major Sharma exemplifies selfless duty. In this unit, we will also explore *Somebody's Mother* and Dr. Verghese Kurien's *I Too Had A Dream*. Let's examine our concept notes!"