Battle of Saragarhi (12th September 1897)

Event

21 soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment (now 4th Sikh) and a non-combatant (Daad) defended the Saragarhi communication post.

Location

Saragarhi, situated between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan, in NWFP (now Pakistan).

Opposition

8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribal militants.

Leader

Havildar Ishar Singh.

Duration

The battle lasted for 7 hours, resulting in the death of 200 militants and 600 others being injured.

Result

All 21 soldiers were martyred; Saragarhi post was lost, but they delayed the attack, safeguarding the British forts.

Strategic Importance of Saragarhi

• Communication Post: It was a critical link between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan.
• Impact of Loss: The loss of Saragarhi would have isolated the forts, leaving British troops and their families vulnerable to attacks.

Honours for the Martyrs

• Indian Order of Merit: Awarded to all 21 soldiers by Queen Victoria, equivalent to the Victoria Cross.
• Obelisk Memorial: Built by the British using bricks from Saragarhi.
• Saragarhi Day: Declared by the Punjab government in 2017 to honour their sacrifice.
• Pakistani Honour: The Khyber Scouts regiment still honours the Saragarhi martyrs with a guard and salute at Fort Lockhart.

Additional Information

Historical Context: Originally built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the forts were later renamed by the British.