ColonelSonam Wangchuk, MVC is 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 feet as a Major during Kargil War, he is known as the Lion of Ladakh in the Indian Army.
Born in 1964 in Sankar, Col. Wangchuk is a native of Khakshal, a region near Leh town of the Indian union territory of Ladakh. His mother is the sister of Mr Thupstan Chhewang and niece of Kushok Bakula Rinpochhey.[1] He moved to Solan, Himachal Pradesh in the year 1969 at the age of about five years. There he studied at St. Luke's till fourth standard. Later in 1973, his family moved to Dharamshala where he studied at 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 Barakhamba Road, and took a bachelor's degree in History, from the Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi. He cites a relative Colonel Wangdus as the inspiration for his joining the Indian Army, although his father desired him to become a civil servant.[2]
Military careeredit
Wangchuk attended the Officers Training Academy in Chennai and was commissioned into the 4th battalion of the Assam Regiment as a Second Lieutenant.[3] 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.[4]
Maha Vir Chakra Citationedit
Sonam Wangchuk's Maha Vir Chakra citation reads:
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[5] 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.[6]
^Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Awardee: Lt Col Sonam Wangchuk, MVC @ TWDI
March 17, 2024
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For the Ladakhi social reformer see Sonam Wangchuk engineer Colonel Sonam Wangchuk MVC is 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 feet as a Major during Kargil War he is known as the Lion of Ladakh in the Indian Army ColonelSonam WangchukMVCBorn 1964 05 11 11 May 1964 age 59 Sankar Leh district Ladakh IndiaAllegiance IndiaService wbr branch Indian ArmyYears of service1987 2018RankColonelService numberIC 45952MUnitAssam Regiment The Ladakh ScoutsBattles warsKargil WarAwardsMaha Vir ChakraSpouse s Padma Angmo Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Military career 3 Maha Vir Chakra Citation 4 Awards and decorations 5 ReferencesEarly life and education editBorn in 1964 in Sankar Col Wangchuk is a native of Khakshal a region near Leh town of the Indian union territory of Ladakh His mother is the sister of Mr Thupstan Chhewang and niece of Kushok Bakula Rinpochhey 1 He moved to Solan Himachal Pradesh in the year 1969 at the age of about five years There he studied at St Luke s till fourth standard Later in 1973 his family moved to Dharamshala where he studied at 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 Barakhamba Road and took a bachelor s degree in History from the Sri Venkateswara College University of Delhi He cites a relative Colonel Wangdus as the inspiration for his joining the Indian Army although his father desired him to become a civil servant 2 Military career editWangchuk attended the Officers Training Academy in Chennai and was commissioned into the 4th battalion of the Assam Regiment as a Second Lieutenant 3 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 4 Maha Vir Chakra Citation editSonam Wangchuk s Maha Vir Chakra citation reads Mahavir Chakra MVC Awardee Maj Sonam Wangchuk MVCGazette 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 5 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 6 Awards and decorations edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Maha Vir Chakra Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal Operation Vijay StarSiachen Glacier Medal Operation Vijay Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service MedalVishesh Seva Medal 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service MedalReferences edit Rediff On The NeT Special On an icy ridge sipping sattu ready to move in for the kill http www reachladakh com in conversation with col sonam wangchuk 2466 html dead link Rediff On The NeT Special Ladakh Scouts The Heroes of Batalik President Kovind Released Lion of Ladakh on Col Sonam Wangchuk MVC Havildar Tsewang Rigzin VrC Mahavir Chakra MVC Awardee Lt Col Sonam Wangchuk MVC TWDI Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sonam Wangchuk amp oldid 1162449322, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
