When it comes to the name Major Mohit Sharma, everyone will recall the story of one of the bravest Para Special Forces officers of India who sacrificed his life battling the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir region. His heroism was acknowledged by the highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra.
But besides this heroic man, there was an equally brave woman – Colonel Rishma Sarin, better known as Lt. Colonel Rishima Sarin or Rishma Sharma. Not only she was the wife of Major Mohit Sharma, but also an experienced serving Indian Army officer maintaining the tradition of her husband in her life.
This article contains all necessary information about the wife of Major Mohit Sharma and includes details about her biography, family, military career, marriage, kids, and life after the martyrdom of the officer.
Who Is Major Mohit Sharma’s Wife?
The wife of Major Mohit Sharma is Colonel Rishma Sarin, who is a member of the Indian Army Service Corps (ASC). Having a family with a rich military history, she too made a pledge to dedicate her life to serve the country, just like her husband.
After the supreme sacrifice of Major Mohit Sharma in 2009, she served the Army for several years more and stayed devoted to her duties both as a soldier and wife. Gradually moving up the ladder of ranks, she reached the rank of Colonel.
Major Mohit Sharma Wife Biography at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
| Full Name | Col Rishma Sarin (also known as Lt Col Rishima Sarin / Rishma Sharma) |
| Profession | Indian Army Officer |
| Rank | Colonel (Promoted from Lieutenant Colonel) |
| Corps | Army Service Corps (ASC) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Gurdaspur, Punjab, India |
| Father | Retired Colonel Mohan Lal Sarin |
| Husband | Major Mohit Sharma (Ashoka Chakra Awardee) |
| Marriage | Married before Major Mohit Sharma’s martyrdom in 2009 |
| Children | Two children |
| Current Status | Senior Serving Indian Army Officer |
Early Life and Family Background of Rishima Sarin
Col Rishma Sarin hails from the district of Gurdaspur in Punjab. She comes from a family where the tradition of joining the army has been continuing since several generations.
- Father: Her father, Retired Colonel Mohan Lal Sarin, served in the Army Service Corps, which inspired her to join the same branch.
- Brother: Her brother is also a serving Army officer in an artillery regiment.
As she grew up in an army atmosphere, it became natural for her to join the army and serve the nation. Unlike other public figures, she is a very private person and dedicates herself to military work only.
Education and Dream of Joining the Army
Impressed by the tradition carried forward by her family, Rishma Sarin decided to take up a career in the army at a very young age. Having completed her education, she successfully passed all the examinations and joined the Indian Army Service Corps (ASC) in 2001.
During her early days as a soldier, she worked with sheer dedication and complete discipline. She spent more than twenty years in her service and got promoted on merit to finally become a Colonel after starting from the ranks of a junior officer.
Army Career and Key Milestones of Col Rishma Sarin
Rishma Sarin has built a distinguished and independent military career through her own grit and achievements.
Key Highlights of Her Career:
- Joined the ASC (2001): Commissioned into the Army Service Corps, managing logistics and administrative support.
- Agniveer Recruiter Milestone (2023): She achieved a significant professional milestone by becoming one of the prominent women officers driving the recruitment process under the new Agniveer scheme.
- Legal Fight for Dignity (Permanent Commission): Col Rishma Sarin was among the courageous women officers who approached the Supreme Court and Armed Forces Tribunal to fight against systemic evaluation biases to ensure that women officers receive their rightful Permanent Commission (PC) based on their overall profile rather than just their initial 5 years of service. Her resilience inside and outside the courtroom helped pave the way for future generations of women in the armed forces.
Marriage of Major Mohit Sharma and Rishima Sarin
Both Major Mohit Sharma and his wife Rishma Sarin not only had an intimate relationship but they also both shared their love for serving the country in their uniforms.
Despite the fact that the couple led a very private life and no one knows the actual date of their marriage, it can be said that they shared a very strong bond of respect, discipline, and patriotism. Their relationship was unique because they both served in the armed forces and thus they were posted separately due to which they had to face many challenges.
A Couple United by Service
The most striking feature about their marriage was that both the husband and wife took great pride in wearing the uniform of the Indian Army.
While Major Mohit Sharma was serving his stint with the prestigious 1 Para (Special Forces), engaging in dangerous missions for counter-terrorism, Rishima Sarin went on with her service in the Army Service Corps.
Who Was Major Mohit Sharma?
One of the best and bravest of Indian Army’s 1 Para (Special Forces) was Major Mohit Sharma, who had emerged as a national hero because of his unmatched bravery during counter-terrorism missions in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
He was honored posthumously with the Ashoka Chakra, which is the highest civilian award of India for peace time gallantry for his selfless service during an anti-terror mission in Kupwara district in March 2009.
Major Mohit Sharma Biography at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
| Full Name | Major Mohit Sharma |
| Nickname | Chintu (by family), Mike (by course mates) |
| Date of Birth | 13 January 1978 |
| Birthplace | Rohtak, Haryana, India |
| Hometown | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh |
| Parents | Shri Rajendra Prasad Sharma & Smt. Sushila Sharma |
| Regiment | 1 Para (Special Forces) |
| Rank | Major |
| Gallantry Awards | Ashoka Chakra (Posthumous), Sena Medal |
| Date of Martyrdom | 21 March 2009 |
| Place of Martyrdom | Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir |
Early Life and Childhood
Major Mohit Sharma was born on January 13, 1978 to a disciplined, patriotic and educated family. Though born in Rohtak, Haryana, he grew up in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh where he did all his schooling.
Right from his childhood days, Mohit had the passion of becoming a soldier of the Indian Army. He is remembered by friends and relations as an enthusiastic and courageous boy who actively indulged in games and other extra curricular activities that later proved to be helpful in shaping his future career.
Education and Entry into the Indian Army
Mohit Sharma after getting through with his studies, continued his education in preparation for a career in the armed forces.
His commitment enabled him to pass the selection procedure to become an officer at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai where he received thorough military training that helped develop his leadership, endurance, and fighting abilities.
In 1999, he was commissioned into the Indian Army, and thus began his exciting military career.
Beginning of His Army Career
Almost immediately after being commissioned, Major Mohit Sharma began working in areas of operation where discipline and valor had to be shown each day.
His determination, tactical skills, and cool-headedness soon won him the admiration of his superiors and colleagues. In the initial few years of his career, he gained experience in counter-insurgency operations and showed that he was an able commander.
He thus earned enough to become eligible to join one of the best regiments of the Army—the 1 Para (Special Forces).
Joining the Elite Para Special Forces
The induction into the Para Special Forces is regarded as one of the most difficult accomplishments within the Indian Army.
Major Mohit Sharma managed to overcome the challenging probation period, which involves being physically fit, mentally strong, and survival-oriented. Having earned the respected Maroon Beret, he was officially included in 1 Para (Special Forces).
Being a Special Forces Officer, he took part in many dangerous missions in the area where every move can cost a life.
The Undercover Mission That Made History
One of the most outstanding events in the career of Major Mohit Sharma was his intelligence mission in the form of an undercover operation against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dressing up as “Iftikhar Bhatt,” he wore a large beard and behaved like a local to infiltrate the ranks of militants associated with the group called Hizbul Mujahideen. He spent several months living among the terrorists despite being exposed to great danger to his life. With his quick presence of mind, he could extract vital information and neutralize the top-ranking terrorists from inside. His courageous mission made him win his first Sena Medal.
Final Operation in Kupwara and Supreme Sacrifice
On 21 March 2009, Major Mohit Sharma was guiding the Bravo Assault Team of 1 Para (SF) in the thick Haphruda Forest of Kupwara to locate infiltrating terrorists. The team was fired upon from three sides by infiltrating terrorists, severely wounding four of his commandos.
Undeterred by his own life and ignoring all risks to himself, Major Mohit crawled on his belly amidst intense enemy gunfire to drag two of his wounded comrades to safety. He lobbed grenades and killed two terrorists. Despite being seriously wounded in his chest, he never surrendered to any fear and continued to guide his troops. Two more terrorists were killed by him in hand-to-hand fight until he was no longer able to continue fighting and died due to his injuries.
Life After Major Mohit Sharma’s Martyrdom
The sacrifice made by Major Mohit Sharma on 21 March 2009 left a permanent mark on the life of his family. While the entire country was mourning for its martyr, there was a great personal loss faced by his wife, Rishma Sarin.
Rather than retiring from the army, she transformed her sorrow into a sense of obligation and decided to remain in uniform. On 26 January 2010, she was standing in full dignity before the President of India receiving the Ashoka Chakra that belonged to her dead husband.
Ashoka Chakra – India’s Highest Peacetime Gallantry Award
For displaying exceptional courage, leadership, and selfless devotion to duty, Major Mohit Sharma was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
The award recognized:
- Exceptional courage under enemy fire
- Saving fellow soldiers despite grave danger
- Continuing the mission after being seriously injured
- Eliminating terrorists during the operation
- Demonstrating leadership of the highest order
His Ashoka Chakra citation remains one of the finest examples of military heroism in modern Indian history.
Major Mohit Sharma and Rishima Sarin’s Children
It is a known fact that the couple is blessed with two children.
Due to their high security concerns, privacy issues, and because they are military officers, their names, pictures, and education background have been purposely kept away from any kind of media attention. In this way, they have been able to bring their children up in peace while maintaining the great heritage left by their father.
Next of Kin (NOK) Policy Discussion
With the killing of Major Mohit Sharma, the issues related to the NOK policy of the Indian Army have come into public limelight.
The parents of Major Mohit Sharma had reservations about the existing rules where the widow is considered as the first NOK for the purposes of pension and official ceremonies. It was felt that the policy must take care of the interests of both the surviving widowed parents of martyred soldiers and the widow. However, from the information available, it appears that Rishma Sarin abided by all the official rules of the Indian Army in handling her problems.
Why Rishima Sarin and the Family Returned to the Headlines
Interest in the family became relevant again owing to significant entertainment-related news. In late 2025, the family of Major Mohit Sharma turned to the Delhi High Court concerning the Bollywood action movie “Dhurandhar” (featuring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar).
What was the ‘Dhurandhar’ Movie Controversy?
- Family’s Concern: Extensive social media hype and media reports claimed that Ranveer Singh’s character was based on Major Mohit Sharma’s covert undercover operations (the “Iftikhar Bhatt” mission).
- Court Petition: Major Mohit Sharma’s elderly parents and his brother Madhur Sharma petitioned the High Court to ensure their son’s legacy was not commodified or misrepresented without family consent.
- The Outcome: The filmmaker clarified that the film was a fictionalized account and not a biopic of Major Mohit Sharma. The Delhi High Court took the family’s concerns seriously and directed the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) to handle the matter properly. This event renewed the public’s interest in the inspiring life of Col Rishma Sarin and the legacy of Major Mohit.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Colonel Rishma Sarin lives a very disciplined life, and the value of her individual assets or net worth is not known publicly. She is a Colonel of the Indian army, and the salary and other benefits she receives are very structured as per the scale provided by the Government of India for the armed forces.
Lesser Known Facts About Col Rishma Sarin
- She belongs to a hardcore military family (Father: Retired Colonel, Brother: Artillery Officer).
- She was commissioned into the Indian Army in 2001, meaning she has served the nation for over 25 years.
- She bravely accepted her husband’s posthumous Ashoka Chakra in January 2010.
- She was a petitioner in the landmark struggle of women officers pushing for structural reform regarding Permanent Commissions in the Indian Army.
- She has broken corporate/military glass ceilings by rising to the rank of Colonel while managing her family responsibilities as a single mother.
Conclusion
Lt Col Rishima Sarin is no ordinary person who can be called merely the wife of Maj Mohit Sharma who was honored with Ashoka Chakra. She has made a glorious career for herself and kept alive the heritage of one of the most courageous soldiers that India has ever seen. With her dedication and love for the country, she keeps inspiring people all around the world. On the other hand, Maj Mohit Sharma’s valor and sacrifice serve as a living testimony of his love and patriotism for his motherland.
FAQs
Who is Major Mohit Sharma’s wife?
Major Mohit Sharma’s wife is Lt Col Rishima Sarin, a serving officer in the Indian Army Service Corps (ASC).
What is the rank of Rishima Sarin?
She holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army.
Did Major Mohit Sharma receive the Ashoka Chakra?
Yes, he was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his exceptional bravery.
How many children did Major Mohit Sharma and Rishima Sarin have?
According to public reports, they have two children.
Is Rishima Sarin still serving in the Army?
Yes, she continues to serve as an officer in the Indian Army.
Why is Major Mohit Sharma famous?
He is remembered for his bravery, undercover counter-terrorism operations, and receiving the Ashoka Chakra.
Where is Rishima Sarin from?
She is from Gurdaspur, Punjab, India.