Mohan Nath Goswami, AC

Biography

Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami hailed from Lalkuan village in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, born into a family with deep military traditions. His father, an Army veteran, instilled in him a profound sense of patriotism and an early desire to serve the nation. In 2002, he fulfilled his ambition by being inducted into the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), one of the most elite and formidable units of the Indian Army. Through intense training and unwavering commitment, he emerged as one of the toughest and most dependable soldiers in his unit, earning the respect of comrades and superiors alike. Known for leading from the front and volunteering for the most dangerous missions, Lance Naik Goswami played a crucial role in numerous counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. His courage reached legendary status in a single span of eleven days in August–September 2015, during which he took part in three major counter-insurgency operations. In Operation Khurmur he reinforced an ambushed squad, evacuated an injured officer and helped eliminate all nine terrorists. In Operation Lidder Panzal he spearheaded an assault on a cave near the Shamshabari range, neutralising three terrorists and capturing one alive. On the intervening night of 2/3 September 2015, during Operation Sutsalyar in the Haphruda forest of Kupwara, his squad engaged four heavily armed terrorists. When two comrades were injured and pinned down, Goswami and his buddy dashed forward to rescue them under heavy fire. Though hit in the thigh, he charged the remaining terrorists, eliminated two and injured another, before being struck again in the abdomen and finally succumbing to his wounds. His stand saved the lives of his fellow soldiers and ensured the mission's success. For his supreme sacrifice and exceptional gallantry, he was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award.