The Battle of Saragarhi is an unparalleled tale of sacrifice, unmatched worldwide. It commemorates the bravery of 21 valiant soldiers of the Sikh Regiment who defended the Saragarhi Fort against an assault by 10,000 Pathans on September 12, 1897. These warriors made the ultimate sacrifice while defending the fort, creating a chapter in Indian history that inspires future generations.

In 1897, a rebellion led by Mullah was rising in the North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan), where Pathans began attacking military personnel everywhere. The 36th Sikh Battalion (now the 4/11 Sikh Regiment), formed just ten days earlier in Jalandhar under the command of Colonel Cook, was ordered to reach Fort Lockhart, situated in the hilly region of the border area. Saragarhi and Gulistan were famous outposts of this fort. Saragarhi, an isolated outpost, was commanded by Havildar Ishar Singh, with Naik Labh Singh, Lance Naik Chand Singh, and 18 other soldiers.

On September 12, 1897, thousands of Afridi and Orakzai Pathans attacked the outpost, surrounding both Saragarhi and Gulistan. Lieutenant Colonel Haughton, the commanding officer of Fort Lockhart, established contact with Saragarhi, where heliograph messages were being received. Four companies were stationed at this outpost. On September 3 and 9, 1897, tribal forces launched attacks on the Gulistan outpost, which were repelled with significant enemy losses. Feeling the sting of these defeats, thousands of Pathans launched a massive assault on the Saragarhi outpost on September 12, 1897. The brave Sikh soldiers inside this small outpost fiercely defended against multiple attacks, killing over 200 Pathans during a six-hour battle.

Sepoy Gurmukh Singh sent a message via heliograph to Colonel Haughton, informing him of the heavy assault on the Saragarhi outpost. Under the commander’s orders, the soldiers began firing in response. After half an hour of gunfire, Naik Labh Singh, Bhagwan Singh, and Sepoy Jeevan Singh stepped outside the outpost to continue firing at the Pathans. The soldiers inside the Saragarhi outpost requested additional arms and ammunition, but assistance could not reach them. As they fought bravely, Bhagwan Singh was martyred, and Labh Singh was severely wounded. Jeevan Singh and Labh Singh retrieved Bhagwan Singh’s body and brought it inside the outpost. Despite his injuries, Labh Singh continued firing until he collapsed. The brave Sikh soldiers exemplified the words of Guru Gobind Singh Ji: “When one fights against 125,000, only then can one be called Gobind Singh.”

One by one, the courageous soldiers were martyred, and when their ammunition ran out, they resorted to fighting with swords and bayonets. The Sikh soldiers’ exceptional marksmanship and bravery prevented the enemy from approaching the outpost. As a last resort, the enemy set fire to the dry bushes around Saragarhi’s outpost and attempted to break through a wall. By the time most of the soldiers had fallen, Sepoy Gurmukh Singh, the heliograph, continued updating the fort commander about the situation. With only two soldiers left, Havildar Ishar Singh remained alone amidst the bodies of his 20 fallen comrades. He took his rifle and positioned himself near the gate of the Saragarhi outpost, where the enemy was attempting to breach. Calmly, as if at a firing range, he aimed his rifle and took down many Pathans before finally achieving martyrdom by shooting himself in the chest. A profound silence enveloped the area, only broken when the enemy realized there was no one left to fight. The Pathans, in retaliation, looted the belongings of the martyred soldiers and set fire to the outpost.

The heroic deeds of these brave soldiers were first brought to public attention by the English newspaper “Pioneer” in Allahabad. The editor wrote several articles about this saga, which led to a public outcry in Britain, demanding recognition for the extraordinary bravery of these Sikh soldiers. In response to these articles, it was decided to establish the Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara at Amritsar’s Kesari Bagh, Ferozepur, and Waziristan, where the soldiers had attained martyrdom. Most of the martyrs were from Ferozepur and Amritsar. The historic Saragarhi Gurdwara in Ferozepur was constructed for 27,118 rupees, raised through public donations. It was completed in 1902, and inaugurated on January 18, 1904, by Sir Charles Montgomery Rivaz, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.

Such sacrifice and bravery, displayed by Sikh soldiers on the North-West Frontier, had never been witnessed before. As a result, the Indian Heroes Fund was established, with generous contributions from Queen Victoria and others in India and England. Each of the 21 soldiers was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest military honour of the time, and their widows received a pension and a cash reward of 500 rupees. Additionally, their dependents were granted 50 acres (two Murabbas) of land. The Battle of Saragarhi is counted among the world’s ten greatest battles. The unparalleled sacrifice of these Sikh soldiers is still taught in schools in England, France, and several other countries.

The names of the brave soldiers who attained martyrdom in the Battle of Saragarhi are Havildar Ishar Singh, Naik Labh Singh, Lance Naik Chanda Singh, Sepoys Sunder Singh, Sahib Singh, Uttam Singh, Narain Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Jeevan Singh, Ram Singh, Heera Singh, Daya Singh, Bhola Singh, Bhagwan Singh, Boota Singh, Anand Singh, and Bhagwan Singh. These martyrs are deeply revered and honoured.

The historical Gurdwara Saragarhi Sahib in Ferozepur Cantonment has also established a museum to honour the Sikh warriors of the 1897 battle, along with a unique “Saragarhi War Memorial.” At the centre of the memorial stands a 31-foot-high tower on a 4-foot-high circular platform. Beautiful lights will be installed on the memorial to enhance its attractiveness at night. This historic monument will be a remarkable attraction for tourists from across the globe. A statue of Havildar Sardar Ishar Singh, the hero of the Saragarhi War, standing 8 feet tall, is displayed at the entrance of the memorial. Additionally, a 41-foot-long mural wall depicting scenes from the battle has been erected.

Photo courtesy : Saragarhi Museum, Ferozepur