Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum was born on 7 March 1975 in Shillong, Meghalaya, to Shri Peter Keishing and Smt. Saily Nongrum. Belonging to a family with Tangkhul Naga and Khasi heritage, he was raised according to the Khasi matrilineal tradition and proudly carried his mother's surname, Nongrum. He completed his schooling at Don Bosco Technical School, Shillong, and graduated in Political Science from St. Anthony's College, Shillong. An outstanding sportsman, he captained his school football team, excelled in boxing, and founded the Kiew Shaphrang Sports Club in 1993 to encourage local youth to participate in sports.
Driven by a lifelong dream of serving the nation, he joined the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, as part of the 64th Short Service Commission Course. He was commissioned into the 12th Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry in 1997, where he quickly established himself as a courageous and highly motivated young officer.
During the Kargil War, 12 JAK LI was deployed in the Batalik Sector under Operation Vijay. On the night of 30 June–1 July 1999, Lieutenant Nongrum was entrusted with leading the assault on the strategically vital Point 4812. His assault team climbed an almost vertical cliff under extremely difficult conditions before encountering heavily fortified enemy bunkers. When the advance was halted by accurate enemy automatic fire, Lieutenant Nongrum displayed extraordinary courage by charging the enemy positions alone. He destroyed the first bunker with grenades, killing six enemy soldiers, and then attempted to seize the enemy's universal machine gun from the second bunker. During this action, he was critically wounded by enemy fire. Despite severe injuries, he refused evacuation and continued fighting until he made the supreme sacrifice. His fearless assault stunned the enemy, inspired his men to continue the attack, and ultimately resulted in the capture of Point 4812.
For displaying conspicuous bravery, indomitable courage, and supreme devotion to duty in the face of the enemy, Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. Following his sacrifice, he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain. He remains the only recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra from the state of Meghalaya, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of soldiers and young people across Northeast India.