Satish Chander Sharma
Satish Chander Sharma | |
|---|---|
| File:Col Satish Chander Sharma.jpg | |
| Allegiance | India |
| Service/ | Indian Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Dogra Regiment |
| Awards | Shaurya Chakra Vishisht Seva Medal Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award |
| Other work | Director, Tiranga Mountain Rescue Foundation |
Satish Chander Sharma, also cited as S. C. Sharma and Col. S. C. Sharma, is a retired Indian Army officer, mountaineer and high-altitude rescue professional. He served in the Dogra Regiment and was awarded the Shaurya Chakra and the Vishisht Seva Medal.[1][2]
Sharma is known for his work in Indian military mountaineering. He led the Indian Army expedition to Annapurna I in 2002, the Indian Army Dogra Regiment expedition to Kangchenjunga in 2004, and the first National Cadet Corps expedition to Mount Everest in 2013.[3][4][5] He received the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award for lifetime achievement for the year 2014.[6]
Early life and education
Sharma studied at Chail Military School. A 2020 alumni profile by Georgians Association Delhi identified him as belonging to Chail, admission number 979, 1969 to 1977, Nalanda House.
Military career
A Georgians Association Delhi profile states that Sharma was commissioned into the 14th Battalion of the Dogra Regiment on 19 December 1981. He served in the Indian Army before retiring as a Colonel.
From 1982 to 1986, Sharma qualified in all four courses of the Mountain and Winter Warfare series at the High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg. The same alumni profile states that he was adjudged best student in three of the courses and overall second student in the remaining course.
Sharma was associated with early operations on the Siachen Glacier. A 2024 defence news report described him as having been part of the first induction team to the Siachen Glacier in 1984.[7] The Georgians Association Delhi profile states that he served on the Siachen Glacier from May to September 1984, later had additional stints on the glacier, and opened a new route on the Zingrulma Glacier in 1989.
In 2002, the Press Information Bureau listed Lieutenant Colonel Satish Chander Sharma, IC-40223, Dogra, among the recipients of the Shaurya Chakra at an investiture ceremony held by the President of India.[1] In 2004, the Gazette of India listed Lieutenant Colonel Satish Chander Sharma, SC, Dogra, among the recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal.[2]
The Georgians Association Delhi profile also states that he raised the Army Mountaineering Institute from 2007 to 2009.
Mountaineering and adventure career
Sharma has been associated with Indian military mountaineering, high-altitude training and adventure sports. A public profile describes him as having participated in more than 20 mountaineering expeditions, including five international expeditions, and as having served once as leader and once as deputy leader of Indian Army Everest expeditions.[8]
Early expeditions and Siachen
Sharma's early mountain career included specialised training and postings connected with high-altitude warfare and mountaineering. His HAWS courses, Siachen Glacier service and Zingrulma Glacier route are recorded in a Georgians Association Delhi profile. The same profile lists his expedition experience as including Indrasen, Neelkanth, Nanda Devi, Kamet, Everest, Annapurna I and Kangchenjunga.
In 1993, The Himalayan Journal recorded Sharma as expedition leader of the Multinational Army Nilkanth Expedition. The expedition attempted Nilkanth in the Garhwal Himalaya.[9]
Jogin massif expedition
In 1997, a Tri-Services expedition organised by the Indian Army under Lieutenant Colonel S. C. Sharma climbed all three summits of the Jogin massif in the Kedar Ganga valley. The massif comprises Jogin I, Jogin II and Jogin III.[10]
Mount Everest expeditions
In 2001, Nepali Times reported that a 12-member Indian Army expedition led by Col. S. C. Sharma had been permitted to attempt Mount Everest during the spring climbing season.[11]
In 2012, Sharma led the NCC pre-Everest expedition to Kamet. The Press Information Bureau stated that the expedition was the second pre-Everest expedition in preparation for the NCC Everest expedition planned for 2013 and comprised Team Leader Col. S. C. Sharma, three officers, ten jawans and 15 NCC cadets.[12]
In 2012, a PIB release also stated that NCC cadets had scaled Deo Tibba as part of the preparation for the 2013 NCC Everest expedition.[13]
In 2013, Sharma led the first Mount Everest expedition of NCC cadets. The Press Information Bureau described him as a renowned mountaineer and stated that the 18-member team included 14 climbing members and four support members. The team trained at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, and also undertook pre-Everest expeditions to Deo Tibba and Kamet, along with winter acclimatisation training at the Siachen Glacier.[5]
The expedition climbed Mount Everest in two groups on 19 and 20 May 2013. NCC cadets from Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, along with Army personnel, reached the summit.[5] A later PIB release described the team as the first pure NCC expedition to summit Mount Everest.[14] The expedition was also reported by The New Indian Express and Business Standard.[15][16]
Annapurna I expedition
In 2002, Sharma led the first Indian Army expedition to Annapurna I. The expedition was flagged off on 15 March 2002 by General S. Padmanabhan, Chief of the Army Staff. The 17-member Army team was selected after training at Beas Kund glacier near Manali and winter training at the Siachen Glacier.[3]
The Indian Army expedition reached the summit on 6 May 2002. A Press Information Bureau release stated that four Indian Army climbers and three Sherpas reached the summit and described it as the first Indian expedition to climb Annapurna I.[17] A later PIB release marked the expedition's return and flag-in ceremony.[18]
Sharma authored an account of the expedition in The Himalayan Journal. The account stated that 65 members of the Indian Army participated, four members reached the summit on 6 May 2002, and the expedition pioneered a route later referred to as the Indian Route to the top of Annapurna I.[19] An Atlas of Army Adventure also lists the first Indian route on Annapurna I as having been led by Lieutenant Colonel S. C. Sharma in 2002.[20]
Kangchenjunga expedition
In 2004, Sharma led a 22-member Indian Army expedition from the Dogra Regiment to Kangchenjunga. According to the Ministry of Defence, six climbers from the expedition reached the summit on 10 October 2004. The Ministry of Defence annual report stated that after this expedition, India became the second country after Japan to have climbed Kangchenjunga from both the east and west sides.[4]
A report by The Times of India also stated that the Army expedition led by Lieutenant Colonel S. C. Sharma reached the summit on 10 October 2004 and placed six team members on the summit of Kangchenjunga.[21] The Telegraph also reported the successful ascent.[22]
Major expeditions and mountains
| Year | Mountain or area | Role | Result or note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Siachen Glacier | Indian Army officer | Reported as part of the first induction team to the Siachen Glacier | [7] |
| 1989 | Zingrulma Glacier | Indian Army officer | Alumni profile states that he opened a new route | |
| 1993 | Nilkanth | Leader, Multinational Army Nilkanth Expedition | Expedition recorded in The Himalayan Journal | [9] |
| 1997 | Jogin I, Jogin II and Jogin III | Expedition organised by Indian Army under Lt Col S. C. Sharma | All three summits climbed | [10] |
| 2001 | Mount Everest | Leader, Indian Army expedition | A 12-member Indian Army expedition led by him was permitted to attempt Everest | [11] |
| 2002 | Annapurna I | Leader, Indian Army expedition | Four Indian Army climbers reached the summit on 6 May 2002 | [17][19] |
| 2004 | Kangchenjunga | Leader, Indian Army Dogra Regiment expedition | Six climbers reached the summit on 10 October 2004 | [4][21] |
| 2012 | Deo Tibba | Pre-Everest training expedition | Preparatory climb before the 2013 NCC Everest expedition | [13] |
| 2012 | Kamet | Leader, NCC pre-Everest expedition | Preparatory expedition for the 2013 NCC Everest expedition | [12] |
| 2013 | Mount Everest | Leader, first NCC Mount Everest expedition | NCC and Army climbers reached the summit in two groups on 19 and 20 May 2013 | [5][14] |
| Not specified | Indrasen, Neelkanth, Nanda Devi, Kamet, Everest, Annapurna I and Kangchenjunga | Expedition member or leader | Listed in an alumni profile as part of his broader expedition career |
Tiranga Mountain Rescue
After retiring from the Indian Army, Sharma became associated with Tiranga Mountain Rescue Foundation. A 2024 defence news report described a 26-member TMR delegation as being led by founder Hemant Sachdev and Director Col. S. C. Sharma. The report also stated that Sachdev and Sharma had been instrumental in shaping the foundation's ethos and operations.[7]
Tiranga Mountain Rescue is a non-profit organisation founded by Hemant Sachdev and affiliated with the Indian Army since 2016. It provides trained avalanche rescue professionals who are deployed in snow-bound and difficult areas during the winter season. The organisation has provided avalanche rescue support and mountain-craft training to Indian Army personnel.[23]
In 2022, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacted with a TMR team in New Delhi. The Ministry of Defence stated that TMR had helped save the lives of Armed Forces personnel from threats such as avalanches, besides raising awareness and providing training. The release also stated that there had been no Army casualty in locations where TMR was deployed.[23]
In September 2024, the Indian Army signed a memorandum of understanding with TMR at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, Delhi Cantonment. The Ministry of Defence stated that the MoU was intended to improve rescue and survival operations in mountainous terrain. It also stated that TMR would conduct customised training programmes for Army instructors in avalanche rescue and survival skills.[24]
The 2024 MoU built on the initial agreement made with Northern Command in 2016, followed by agreements with Eastern and Central Commands in 2021 and 2024. The Ministry of Defence stated that 15 TMR teams were already deployed in various regions alongside the Indian Army and that the rescue teams had saved lives in avalanche-prone areas.[24] The MoU was also reported by ThePrint and The Economic Times Government.[25][26]
In 2026, the Ministry of Defence described TMR as India's pioneering high-altitude rescue organisation during a photo exhibition titled A Decade of Silent Service to the Nation. The release stated that TMR had led and supported rescue missions during the Manipur Tupul landslide in 2022, the Sikkim glacial lake outburst floods in 2023, the Wayanad floods in 2024, and the Dharali landslide and flash floods in 2025. It also referred to TMR's work in the retrieval of remains from the 1968 AN-12 air crash near Rohtang and recovery operations for BRO workers in Mana, Uttarakhand.[27]
Aviation and Defence Universe reported in 2026 that TMR had helped save more than 300 soldiers and had reduced annual avalanche fatalities from 38 in 2016-17 to fewer than 3 by 2023-24.[28] DD News and NewsOnAir also reported on TMR's decade of service with the Indian Army.[29][30]
Awards and honours
- Shaurya Chakra[1]
- Vishisht Seva Medal[2]
- Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, lifetime achievement, 2014[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "President confers gallantry and distinguished service awards". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 29 October 2002. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Gazette of India, 2004, No. 477". Internet Archive. Government of India. 24 April 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Annapurna-1 Expedition Flagged Off". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 15 March 2002. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Annual Report 2004-05 (PDF) (Report). Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 2005. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "NCC Cadets Scaled Mount Everest". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "National Sports and Adventure Awards". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "CDS General Anil Chauhan Commends Tiranga Mountain Rescue Foundation for Exemplary Service". SSBCRACK. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedShilaroo - ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sharma, S. C. (1994). "Multinational Army Nilkanth Expedition, 1993". The Himalayan Journal. 50. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Abbey, Ashok (2020). "Kedar Ganga Valley". The Himalayan Journal. 75. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Spring climbing". Nepali Times. 9 March 2001. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "NCC Pre-Everest Expedition to Mt Kamet Flagged off". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "NCC Cadets Scale Deo Tibba Peak". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Welcome Ceremony of NCC Mount Everest Expedition Team 2013". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "In a first, NCC expedition scales Mount Everest". The New Indian Express. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "In a first, NCC expedition scales Mount Everest". Business Standard. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Army Chief commends first Indian expedition to Annapurna-I". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 7 May 2002. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Annapurna-1 Expedition flagged-in". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 19 June 2002. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Sharma, S. C. (2003). "Indian Army Annapurna I Expedition, 2002". The Himalayan Journal. 59. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "An Atlas of Army Adventure". FlipHTML5. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Army on the top, after 27 years". The Times of India. 10 October 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Briefs 20-10-2004". The Telegraph. 20 October 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh interacts with Tiranga Mountain Rescue team in New Delhi". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Indian Army signs MoU with Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR)". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Army initiates measures to boost rescue and survival operations in mountainous terrains". ThePrint. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Indian Army signs MoU with TMR for customised rescue training programs for instructors". The Economic Times Government. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Raksha Mantri visits Tiranga Mountain Rescue's photo exhibition in New Delhi marking 10 years of dedicated service to the nation". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Tiranga Mountain Rescue Marks a Decade of Silent Service to Nation". Aviation and Defence Universe. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Defence Minister lauds Tiranga Mountain Rescue for decade of service". DD News. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlights 10 years of Tiranga Mountain Rescue with Indian Army". NewsOnAir. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
Further reading
- "An Atlas of Army Adventure". FlipHTML5. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- "Across the Frozen Himalaya" (PDF). Central University of Sikkim Repository. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
- "A School Teacher in Kaza". shyamgopan.com. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
External links
- Indian Army Annapurna I Expedition, 2002, The Himalayan Journal
- NCC Cadets Scaled Mount Everest, Press Information Bureau
- Indian Army signs MoU with Tiranga Mountain Rescue, Press Information Bureau
- Tiranga Mountain Rescue photo exhibition marking 10 years of service, Press Information Bureau
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