Chanchal Manohar Singh
BATTLE OF SARAGARHI DEPICTING BRAVERY OF THE SIKHS
(September 12,1897) (129th ANNIVERSARY)
The battle of Saragarhi was an epic last-stand in which 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th
Sikh Regiment of British Indian Army since redesignated as the 4th Battalion of the
Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army fought against an estimated number of 8,000-
10,000 (according to some sources 14,000) Afghan tribesmen. This battle is
considered to be among the five most important battles fought in world history. This
battle is considered one of the finest last stand in the military history of the world.
This battle shows the heroic fight by 21 soldiers against heavy odds in the Tirah
Region of North-Western Frontier Province which now falls in the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
In this battle the headquarter and four companies were located in Fort Lockhart in
the eastern end of the ridge and other four companies were stationed at its western
end, each housing a large number of Sikh troops with small outposts at strategic
points. These companies were deployed to defend Samana Ridge. At that time
Saragarhi was a small village in the border district of Kohat, situated in the Samana
Range which was located in the North West Frontier Province of British India. Today
Saragarhi is situated on the Samana Ridge in the rugged border area between the
Orakzai of and Hangu districts. Saragarhi was a small picket perched on a rocky-rib
cropping up transversely across the Samana Ridge, a hill which featured 8 kms in
length separating the Kurram and the Khanki valleys half-way.
The outpost Saragarhi was a small signalling post with a heliograph tower which
existed between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan to relay messages because the two
main Forts lacked a direct line of sight. Thus Saragarhi was a critical post for the
British which was helping to monitor aggressive moves by the Afghans. These two
forts had been established by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) in 1837 during his
western expedition (1813-1837) extending the Sikh Empire across the Indus River
and deep into the Afghan controlled North-West Frontier Province reaching the
natural barrier of the Khyber Pass. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had modernized Punjabi
army which fought very bravely in this campaign in the North-Western Frontier
Province.
Fort Gulistan was about 2.8 km from Saragarhi and Fort Lokhart about 4.8 km from
Saragarhi,the total distance between the two forts was between 4.8 kms and 8 kms.
An Australian who witnessed the Saragarhi Battle commemorates that the Sikh
soldiers fought like ‘demons’. In the annals of military history of the world it is the
greatest tale of valour ever recorded.
Orkzai and Afridi tribesmen attacked Fort Gulistan twice, on September 3, 1897 and
September 9, 1897 but were repulsed both times with heavy losses on both sides.
Angered at their defeat they tried to find a smaller target to attack. Thus they chose
Saragarhi which was a square stone block house. They surrounded Saragarhi to
make it impossible to receive reinforcement from those who were besieged in the
two Forts. The leader Havildar Ishar Singh refused to surrender and 21 soldiers, in
addition to a non-combatant sweeper, undaunted by the grim and hopeless situation
fought back with a hard hearted determination.
It is the overwhelming difference in number and ratio of the troop formation
defending the post to the 8000-10000 (according to some sources 14,000) Afridi and
Orakzai tribesmen which made this battle a unique in its own kind.Without the help of
Saragarhi post it was impossible to receive reinforcement by those who were
besieged in the two Forts, each housing four battalions.
On September 12, 1897 at around 9 am 6000-10,000 (14,000) Afghans reached the
signalling post at Saragarhi where Havildar Ishar Singh was the commander. The
defenders as already mentioned were 21 soldiers equipped with rifles from the 36th
Sikh Regiment now redesignated as the 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment and one
non-combatant sweeper.
Havildar Ishar Singh refusing to surrender despite being heavily outnumbered and
told that no reinforcement could be obtained held the ground for roughly 6-7 hours.
The continuous firing from the besiegers took its toll. Several casualities occurred on
both sides. Sepoy Gurmukh Singh continuously signalled the unfolding events and
enemy casuality counts back to Fort Lockhart until the final moments of the battle
where 21 Sikh soldiers and one non-combatant sweeper fought to death and were
killed after inflicting heavy casualities estimated to be 180 according to Afghan
sources and 600 according to British / colonial records. Several soldiers were injured
on both sides. The only surviving soldiers was Sepoy Gurmukh Singh who through
visual signals sought the permission from the headquarter at Fort Lokhart to stop
signalling and to take up his rifle and join the combat. He was given the permission.
Thus allowed deciding not to surrender Sepoy Gurmukh Singh started single handed
to attack the enemy. He packed up the heliograph and held the door of his signalling
shed and killed forty Afghans and Pashtuns who had tried to set fire to Saragarhi. It
is said that while dying he yelled repeatedly “Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal”. Finally
he was also killed. Official military accounts estimated that around 180-200 Afghans
died in this battle. Some historical estimates place the number ranging from 600 to
upwards of 1000. About 600 bodies were discovered at the Saragarhi post after the
battle. The number of killed and wounded British Indian Army soldiers was between
600-1400. Thus, it was the last stand.
In this battle which was a last stand fought during the Tirah Campaign between the
British Indian Army and Afghan tribesmen, tactically the Afghan tribal forces won by
capturing the outpost, but strategically and morally, the 21 soldiers and the noncombatant
sweeper won by holding their ground and prevented a larger disaster.
To honour these 21 selfless, committed and courageous warriors and the noncombatant
sweeper were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, which
was the highest gallantry award at that time.
In 2015 and 2016 on September 12, the British Armed Forces officially
commemorated the event in the Armoury House in Central London.
After the battle British Indian relief forces captured the ruined post of Saragarhi two
days later i.e., on September 14, 1897 after delaying action allowing nearby forts to
successfully fend off subsequent attacks.
The Names of the 21 Brave Soldiers
1. Havildar Ishar Singh 12. Sepoy Narayan Singh
2. Naik Lal Singh 13. Sepoy Gurmukh Singh
3. Lance Naik Chanda Singh 14. Sepoy Jivan Singh
4. Sepoy Sunder Singh 15. Sepoy Gurkukh Singh (Signaler)
5. Sepoy Ram Singh 16. Sepoy Ram Singh
6. Sepoy Uttar Singh 17. Sepoy Bhagwan Singh
7. Sepoy Sahib Singh 18. Sepoy Bhagwan Singh
8. Sepoy Hira Singh 19. Sepoy Buta Singh
9. Sepoy Daya Singh 20. Sepoy Jivan Singh
10. Sepoy Jivan Singh 21. Sepoy Nand Singh
11. Sepoy Bhola Singh 22. The sweeper who fought
like a soldier in spirit
In 2019 The Punjab Government gave a grant of Rs.1 crore for the development and
beautification of Saragarhi Memorial in Firozpur to develop it as a Tourist Centre.
The valour and tenasiousness of the Saragarhi soldiers won wide acclaim. Their
next-of-kin were each granted Rs.500 in cash and two squares (50 acres) of land. A
memorial in the form of an obelisk standing on a base built with stones from
Saragarhi post was raised at the site by the government. Two memorial Gurdwaras
were established with public contribution one at Amritsar and one at Ferozepur
because many of the soldiers belonged to Ferozpur. This battle was last stand in the
real sense of the words. Every year 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment of Indian Army
commemorates 12 September as Saragarhi Day.
Dr. Amrit Kaur Retd. Professor Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab
Email: amritkaurchd40@gmail.com