Keishing Clifford Nongrum

Captain Keishing Clifford Nongrum, MVC (7 March 1975 – 1 July 1999) was an Indian Army officer of 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award, for exemplary valor in combat during operations in the Kargil War in 1999.

Captain

Keishing Clifford Nongrum

MVC
Born(1975-03-07)7 March 1975
Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Died1 July 1999(1999-07-01) (aged 24)
Point 4812, Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Army
Years of service1997-1999
Rank Captain
Service numberSS-37111
Unit12 JAK LI
Battles/warsKargil War
Awards Maha Vir Chakra

Early years and career

Nongrum was born and brought up in Shillong, Meghalaya, India, in a Christian family. His father, Keishing Peter, worked at State Bank of India while his mother, Saily Nongrum, is a housewife.[1]

Nongrum received his high-school education from Don Bosco Technical School, Shillong and attended St. Anthony's College, Shillong. He was a bright student who consistently performed well in academics and sports. He graduated from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai and commissioned into the 12th battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry.

Kargil War

At the outbreak of war, his battalion was posted to the Batalik sector.[2] The mission was assigned to 12 JAK LI on 30 June 1999 to capture the strategically important Point 4812 in the Batalik sector. Capt Nongrum was tasked to lead the assault team for this critical mission.[3] Capt Nongrum was awarded the Mahavir Chakra for his gallant action in this operation.

The Maha Vir Chakra citation reads as follows:

CITATION

LIEUTENANT KEISHING CLIFFORD NONGRUM

12 JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY

On the night of 30 June/1 July 1999, in the operations to capture Point 4812 in the Batalik Sector, Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum was tasked to assault the feature from the southeastern direction. Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum led his column over the near impossible vertical feature. On reaching the top, his column encountered strong enemy opposition. The enemy was well entrenched in interconnected bunkers, carved out of boulders, and remained invulnerable to even artillery fire.

The enemy pinned down the column of Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum with heavy and accurate automatic fire for about two hours. On seeing the futility of own fire against the fortified enemy position, Lieutenant Keishing Nongrum, with utter disregard to his personal safety, charged through the fire zone. Closing in with the first position, he threw grenades into it and killed six enemy soldiers. He then tried to snatch the universal machine gun of the enemy from the second enemy position and received a volley of bullets.

The audacious action of Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum stunned the enemy giving valuable reaction time to his troops to close in and finally clear the position. Though severely wounded, Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum refused to be evacuated and fought valiantly till he succumbed to his injuries. This act resulted in the ultimate capture of Point 4812.

Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum displayed conspicuous bravery, dogged determination and raw courage in the face of the enemy and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

— [4]

Legacy

Lt. Keishing Clifford Nongrum was honored by Maha Vir Chakra for his extra ordinary valor and supreme sacrifice. He is the only person from the state of Meghalaya to have won this distinct and prestigious honor. A bust of Lt. Keishing Clifford Nongrum has been recently inaugurated at Rhino Museum Shillong in his memory.[5]

References
  1. Capt. Clifford K Nongrum: First and the only Maha Vir Chakra recipient from Meghalaya
  2. "This Unsung Hero's Act of Extraordinary Courage Led the Indian Army to Victory in the Kargil War". The Better India. 26 July 2016.
  3. "Capt Keishing Clifford Nongrum MVC | Honourpoint".
  4. Maha Vir Chakra, Official Website of the Indian Army
  5. "Kargil war martyr Capt Clifford K Nongrum's bust unveiled in Shillong". The Northeast Today. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2018.

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