Thread by @CestMoiz

This tweet landed on my TL yesterday.
Somehow, a lingering thought has stayed with me ever since I first saw it. That thought pertains to the second hashtag in this tweet - #MajSomnathSharmaAirport
I think it is time to share that thought here.
Let's see how it goes ..

https://twitter.com/gautamrajrishi/status/1569974888479494144

Who doesn't know Major Somnath Sharma, India's FIRST PVC, right?
Yes, we may have heard about him alright, but how many know of how much the Nation owes to this man and his indomitable Kumaonis who shed their blood in the mighty critical Battle of Badgam?
#MajSomnathSharmaAirpor

Let me just write it down a bit for those not entirely aware of the impact this young guy and his stubborn bunch of Kumaonis have on the history and GEOGRAPHY of the Motherland to this day.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

They made their last stand not very far from the Srinagar Airport on 03 Nov 1947, at Badgam.
The enemy was literally at the gates of Srinagar and the Airport was the only link of the newly acceded State of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the Nation.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

In fact when the first Indian troops took off for Srinagar from Delhi, they weren't sure whether the Airport was still available for landing, or had already been captured by Packies.
Here's what I wrote in my 1st Kashmir War series
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

https://twitter.com/CestMoiz/status/1188292474999103488

In case the Airfield was lost, they were to divert to Jammu and land there, whereafter they were to move by road to Srinagar!
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

https://twitter.com/CestMoiz/status/1188294527599153153

With winters rapidly setting in, Srinagar, and with it, the entire Kashmir Valley would be lost for good since Banihal would soon become unpassable.
Thankfully, 1 Sikh were able to land and secure the airfield, followed in quick order by 4 Kumaon.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

With 4 Kumaon, came Major Somnath Sharma as well. He literally had to fight his way onboard because he was forbidden for medical reasons, having broken his hand playing hockey.
When destiny beckons, medical advice doesn't matter!
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

https://twitter.com/CestMoiz/status/1189887272440782848

Incidentally, both 1 Sikh and 4 Kumaon would end the campaign with a PVC each.
But that was still some distance away.
For the time being 1 Sikh moved ahead to proactively seek the enemy & destroy him, while 4 Kumaon continued to build up at the Airfield.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

Even though own troops were rapidly building up, the situation was still very critical and fate of the entire Kashmir Valley rested upon the continued availability of the Airfield for buildup of even more troops and logistics.
The enemy was still strong.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

THIS was the situation when Major Somnath Sharma and his gallant Kumaonis found themselves somewhere in Badgam, right between the Pakistani 'raiders' and the Airfield.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

https://twitter.com/CestMoiz/status/1191027762976481286

The enemy, while having correctly guessed the most critical target, had grossly miscalculated one critical aspect - The Stubborn Kumaonis of Maj Somnath Sharma who simply REFUSED to budge from their positions, or for that matter, die easily!!
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

By the time the guns stopped booming, less than 100 Kumaonis had held back an enemy more than 700 strong.
A huge price was paid in terms of Indian blood that afternoon.
But an even greater cost was extracted from the enemy.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

https://twitter.com/CestMoiz/status/1191029649071124481

This was the closest the enemy would ever get to the Airport. EVER.
Here's an account of the battle that went about that day at Badgam.
Do read before moving on.
I insist 🙏
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

https://twitter.com/CestMoiz/status/1323621891169542147

Maj Somnath Sharma had saved the Srinagar Airfield TWICE that day.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

https://twitter.com/CestMoiz/status/1191031995259863041

This very airfield is today's Srinagar Airport.
Ironically, it is one of the few airports in the State Capitals of the Union of India that hasn't YET been named after a political or a historical figure.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

Is it not the apt time to name it as #MajSomnathSharmaAirport, on the 75th anniversary of his supreme sacrifice to ensure the safety and security of the Srinagar Airfield and with it, Srinagar town and the entire Kashmir Valley in fact?

If not for this man and the excellent military leadership displayed by him that day, would not the Crown of Mother India be broken / incomplete?
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

And dare I say, I am not aware of any befitting commemoration to Maj Somnath Sharma in the place of his final battle, in his कर्मभूमि, by the Govt of India, or the State Govt.
75 years later, is it not time to right that wrong?
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

Incidentally, with Kashmir Vale renowned for its Shaivism, I say that the SOMNATH would be the perfect name for the first step a visitor takes in these holy lands when flying in.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport

All said and done, I feel the Nation still owes it to its first Param Vir Chakra awardee to name the Srinagar Airport as #MajSomnathSharmaAirport
The value of his selfless sacrifice is immeasurable indeed. In fact, not many realize this.

https://twitter.com/CestMoiz/status/1188295522962022403

In the end, I'll leave this thread here. So many of our finest have shed their blood in this accursed 'Jannat' that even the entire gold in this world cannot repay the debt owed to them.
This is the least we can do.
#MajSomnathSharmaAirport
:Fin:
🙏

https://twitter.com/CestMoiz/status/1562108522783019009

Adding another thought that just struck me.
If renaming it as #MajorSomnathSharmaAirport is difficult to do, then even naming it as Somnath Airport serves the purpose, given that it is the point of entry into lands renowned for Shiv Bhakti!