Major Aashish Dhonchak Posthumously Awarded Shaurya Chakra for Supreme Sacrifice in Kashmir

In a moment that captured the nation's heart, President Droupadi Murmu honored the ultimate sacrifice of Major Aashish Dhonchak by conferring the Shaurya Chakra posthumously at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Thursday. His mother Kamla Devi and wife Jyoti stood with quiet dignity as they received India's third-highest peacetime gallantry award, representing a son and husband who gave everything for his country.

Major Dhonchak's story is one of extraordinary courage under fire. On September 13, 2023, during a dangerous search-and-destroy operation in the dense forests of Kokernag, Anantnag district, the 36-year-old officer from Panipat faced his final battle. When terrorists opened fire, he took severe gunshot wounds but refused to back down. Even as his life ebbed away, he kept firing with deadly accuracy, giving his team the cover they needed to eliminate the terrorists.  

President Droupadi Murmu's Tribute

President Murmu's tribute perfectly captured his heroism: "Despite his injuries, he continued to pin down the terrorists with precision fire, allowing his team to take cover and eliminate the terrorists. The officer displayed raw courage and exemplified true leadership from the front."= This wasn't Major Dhonchak's first recognition for bravery. Just weeks before his martyrdom, he had been awarded the Sena Medal on August 15, 2023, for earlier acts of courage while serving with the 19th Rashtriya Rifles.

Early Life of Major Dhonchak

 Born on October 23, 1987, Aashish had dreamed of army life since childhood. He joined as a Lieutenant in June 2013 while pursuing his MTech from Dehradun. His journey took him from Rajouri to Meerut, then Bathinda, before his promotion to Major in 2018 brought him back to the challenging terrain of Jammu and Kashmir.

The boy who once won gold in badminton at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Panipat's NFL township had grown into a fearless soldier who understood that some battles are worth dying for. His legacy lives on not just in the medal his family now holds, but in the lives he saved and the terrorists he stopped from harming innocent people. 

Major Aashish Dhonchak proved that true heroes don't just fight for victory – they fight so others can live in peace.