Recently, the 127th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi was observed on 12th September 2024.

Battle of Saragarhi (12th September 1897) Event: 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment (now 4th Sikh) and a non-combatant (Daad) defended Saragarhi communication post. Location: Saragarhi, between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan, NWFP (now in Pakistan). Opposition: 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribal militants. Leader: Havildar Ishar Singh. Duration: Fought for 7 hours, killing 200 militants and injuring 600. Result: All 21 soldiers martyred; Saragarhi post was lost but they delayed the attack, safeguarding British forts. Strategic Importance of Saragarhi Communication Post: Critical link between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan.

Impact of Loss: Isolating forts would expose British troops and their families 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 Punjab government in 2017 to honour their sacrifice. Pakistani Honour: Khyber Scouts regiment still honours 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.