The Battle of Saragarhi, fought on September 12, 1897, was a remarkable confrontation between 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment and 10,000 Afghans at the Saragarhi fort in what is now Pakistan. The fort was a crucial communication link between the Gulistan and Lockhart forts. The Afghans aimed to sever this connection by attacking Saragarhi. Led by Havildar Ishar Singh, the Sikh soldiers displayed extraordinary bravery, defending the fort for about six hours and killing around 600 attackers. Despite the fort’s walls crumbling, the soldiers never surrendered and were ultimately martyred. In recognition of their valor, the British government awarded them the “Indian Order of Merit,” the highest military honor at the time. The battle’s intensity is depicted in the 2019 film *Kesari*, starring Akshay Kumar.
Comments