Keishing Clifford Nongrum
| Captain Keishing Clifford Nongrum | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 7, 1975 Shillong, Meghalaya, India |
| Died |
July 1, 1999 (aged 24) Point 4812, Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Allegiance |
 Republic of India |
| Service/branch | Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1997-1999 |
| Unit | 12 JAK LI |
| Battles/wars | Kargil War |
| Awards | Maha Vir Chakra (posthumous) |
Keishing Clifford Nongrum (March 7, 1975 – July 1, 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.
Early years and career
Nongrum was born and grew 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]
Capt. K. Clifford Nongrum received his high-school education from Don Bosco Technical School in Shillong and completed his college from 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 later was commissioned into the 12th battalion of the Jammu And Kashmir Light Infantry.
Kargil War
On the night of 30 June/1 July 1999, in the operations to capture Point 4812, Capt. Keishing Clifford Nongrum was tasked to assault the feature from the southeastern direction. Capt. 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 Capt. Nongrum's column down with heavy and accurate automatic fire for about two hours. On seeing the futility of own fire against the fortified bunkers, Capt. Nongrum, with utter disregard to his personal safety, charged through the fire zone. Closing in with the first bunker, he threw grenades into it and killed six enemy soldiers. He then tried to snatch the universal machine gun of the enemy from the bunker and received a volley of bullets. The audacious action of Capt. Nongrum stunned the enemy, giving valuable reaction time to his troops to close in and finally clear the position. Though severely wounded, Capt. Nongrum refused to be evacuated and fought valiantly till he succumbed to his injuries. This act resulted in the ultimate capture of Point 4812. For conspicuous gallantry and supreme sacrifice, Capt. Keishing Clifford Nongrum was honored with the Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously.
Legacy
Capt. 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 Capt. Clifford Nongrum has been recently inaugurated at Rhino Museum Shillong in his memory.[2]