Battle of Saragarhi
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The Battle of Saragarhi was fought on 12 September 1897 between 21 Sikhs of the 4th Battalion (then 36th Sikhs) of the Sikh Regiment of India, defending an army post, and 10,000 Afghan and Orakazais tribesmen. The battle occurred in the North-West Frontier Province, now a part of Pakistan, which then formed part British India.
The contingent of the 21 Sikhs was led by Havildar Ishar Singh, and all chose to fight to the death instead of surrendering. In recognition of their supreme sacrifice, the British Parliament rose to pay them respects, and each one of them was awarded the Indian Order of Merit. In the West, it has been compared to the Battle of Thermopylae.
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Sikh Regiment
The Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army is presently headquartered in Ramgarh Cantonment, 30 km from the city of Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state, India. From Ramgarh, as and when required, the Sikh Regiment has moved on to a number of locations and participated in several actions. The day of the Battle of Saragarhi, 12 September, is now celebrated as the Regimental Battle Honors Day.
Saga of Saragarhi
Battle of Saragarhi is a saga of supreme sacrifice by a garrison of 21 Sikhs, who laid down their lives defending an army post on the northwestern frontiers of Undivided India. The battle has been ranked as one of very few events of such bravery and has been compared to Thermoplyae, where a small Greek force had faced a large and mighty Persian Army of Xerxes(480 BC). Even UNESCO has described the Battle of Saragarhi as one of eight stories of collective bravery.
Backdrop
In order to consolidate their position and to control the insurgent and inimical activities of some of the local tribal groups, inhabiting the northwestern frontiers of Undivided India, the-then British rulers of India have constructed a number of forts in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), then a part of India, and currently in Pakistan. Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan, a few kilometers apart, were two of such forts. They were located on the Samana ridge of the Hindukush and Sulaiman ranges. As the two forts were not inter-visible, a suitably camouflaged signaling post named Saragarhi was created to provide heliographic communications between the two forts, namely, Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan.
In 1897, such insurgent and inimical activities had increased, and on 3rd and 9th September 1897, troops of Orakazai and Afridi tribes, with allegiance to Afghans, had attacked Fort Gulistan. Both the attacks were repulsed, and a relief column from the Fort Lockhart, on its return trip, reinforced the signaling detachment positioned at Saragarhi, making its strength to one Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) and twenty troops of Other Ranks (ORs). ==
Battle lines
- On 12 September 1897, the troops of Orakazai and Afridi tribes, instigated by the Afghans, mounted fresh attacks, laid a seize on Fort Lockhart and Saragarhi, with the intent to overrunning the latter, and preventing any support reaching to Saragarhi from the former.
- Officers and troops of the Indian army stationed in the Fort Lockhart had counted at least 14 standards (used by troops of Orkazai and Afridi tribal), which according to local configuration, amounted to an assault force of 12000 to 14000 personnel.
- The detachment of 21 Sikh soldiers, positioned at the signaling post of Saragarhi, were aware of the grimness of the position, but decided, in the best martial traditions, to withhold the assaults of 10000 to 12000 armed tribes.
- In view of the determination of these 21 soldiers of the Indian army to continue fighting and defending their position, the enemies are believed to have made them tempting promises to ensure their surrender. These soldiers are believed to have ignored all such overtures.
- For hours the fierce fighting continued, while the enemy suffered losses, the number of the defenders was shrinking too, and their stock of ammunition was also depleting. Sepoy Gurumukh Singh was flashing every detail of the battle through heliographic signals.
- Meanwhile, the enemy set ablaze the area surrounding the signaling post of Saragarhi. Two enemy troopers could make a breach in the wall of the signaling post.
- In the final stages of the battle, hand-to-hand fights ensued.
- The battle has now come very close to Sepoy Gurumukh Singh to continue signaling. He signaled to seek permission to close the heliograph. Permission to this effect was flashed back. He packed the heliograph equipment in its leather bag, took out his rifle and commenced firing on the intruding enemies, killing 20 of them, before he died fighting.
- The tribal set on fire the signaling post of Saragarhi. Each one at the signaling post of Saragarhi had laid down their life - to the last man and to the last bullet.
Standing ovation
Only on the next day, a relief column could reach the signaling post of Saragarhi. All around were signs of the supreme sacrifice of the Sikh soldiers. Later on, the enemies admitted to have lost 180 men and many more wounded.
When a recounting of the heroic deeds of these valiant soldiers was made to the Parliament of the Great Britain, the recitation drew a standing ovation from the members. Saga of Saragarhi was also brought to the notice of Queen Victoria. The world received the details of the battle of Saragarhi with awe and admiration.
Order of Merit
All the 21 Sikh non-commissioned officers and soldiers of other ranks who laid down their lives in the Battle of Saragarhi were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest gallantry award of that time, which an Indian soldier could receive by the hands of the British crown, the corresponding gallantry award being Victoria Cross. This award is equivalent to today's Param Vir Chakra awarded by the President of India.
The names of the 21 recipients of the gallantry award are:
- Havildar Ishar Singh
- Naik Lal Singh
- Lance Naik Chanda Singh
- Sepoy Sundar Singh
- Sepoy Ram Singh
- Sepoy Uttar Singh
- Sepoy Sahib Singh
- Sepoy Hira Singh
- Sepoy Daya Singh
- Sepoy Jivan Singh
- Sepoy Bhola Singh
- Sepoy Narayan Singh
- Sepoy Gurmukh Singh
- Sepoy Jivan Singh
- Sepoy Gurmukh Singh
- Sepoy Ram Singh
- Sepoy Bhagwan Singh
- Sepoy Bhagwan Singh
- Sepoy Buta Singh
- Sepoy Jivan Singh
- Sepoy Nand Singh
See also
External links
- A page from the Sikh Regiment (http://www.info-sikh.com/SSPage1.html)
- A webpage at indian army portal (http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1765/Saragarhi.html)
