Ukhrul, July 1: On the 26th death anniversary of Captain Keishing Clifford Nongrum, a gallant officer of the Indian Army who laid down his life during the Kargil War in 1999, the people of Meghalaya, Ukhrul, and the entire nation solemnly remember and honour his supreme sacrifice.
Captain Nongrum’s connection to Manipur’s Ukhrul lies through his father, Peter Keishing, from Nambashi village under Kamjong District, who worked with the State Bank of India. His mother, Saily Nongrum, is Khasi, and in keeping with Khasi matrilineal tradition, Capt. Nongrum carried his mother’s surname. Born of Tangkhul Naga and Khasi parentage, he embodied the cultural confluence of two distinct communities.
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He completed his high school education at Don Bosco Technical School in Shillong and graduated with a degree in Political Science from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong. He later trained at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai before being commissioned into the 12th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (12 JAK LI).
Hailed as one of Meghalaya’s bravest sons, Capt. Nongrum was martyred on July 1, 1999, during a daring assault to capture the strategically vital Point 4812 in the Batalik sector of Jammu & Kashmir. At just 25 years of age, he displayed exceptional courage, leadership, and unyielding devotion to duty under intense enemy fire. For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest wartime gallantry award.
As citizens, officials, and members of the armed forces pay tributes and recall the courage of this young officer, his story continues to inspire generations. His memory is especially poignant as the nation prepares to observe Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, remembering all the heroes of the 1999 conflict.
Captain Nongrum remains the only officer from Meghalaya to receive the Maha Vir Chakra. His legacy lives on in the hearts of a grateful nation.
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Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma took to X saying, “On the 26th death anniversary of Capt. Keishing Clifford Nongrum, we remember and honor one of Meghalaya’s bravest sons…”
