… and we were young!

Here dead lie because we did not choose,
To live and shame the land from which we sprung.
Life, to be sure is nothing much to lose,
But young men think it is, and we were young.

A. E. Houseman

In the backdrop of scenic town of Hangu is even more scenic Samana Ridge. It now delineates the exact border between Orakzai and Hangu Districts in the province of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. Back in the days of Raj it demarcated the boundary between the settled province of the British North-West Frontier and the volatile tribal land  inhabited by Orakzais and Afridis towards north and north-west, and Mohmands towards north-east. It hosted a series of outposts on the Britain’s settled frontier overlooking the shady region of Tirah, the venue of Tirah Campaign towards the end of 19th century.

It so happened that in 1897, Afridis who were in an agreement with the British to keep Khyber Pass open (they received annual sums on the understanding not to raid and plunder the caravans passing through) since the conclusion of Afghan War in 1880, decided to revolt. Orakzais were to join them later making it the most significant uprising in the Colonial Frontier. It was to mobilize the largest military contingent for British and Indian units since the War of Independence of 1857. Building on their lashkars on the go as Afridis joined Orakzais they aimed at attacking Hangu and with it Samana Ridge, the frontier to the settled lands. Here they would invest Saragarhi, a small picket manned by 21 Sikh soldiers, attack and capture it but not before the 21 would give this lashkar of thousands a bloody fight in a stand to the last man, last round. The Battle of Saragarhi will be remembered in the annals of military history as one heroic stand in which all of the 36th Sikhs’ Bahadurs on that post fell to their glory.

The Romance at Thal and Samana

In 2003, I and Mani were to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. I was stationed at Thal since 2000 and Mani had joined me after our marriage (good old days when Thal was still a family station, this status was subsequently lost to being an operational outpost in the ongoing War on Terror). While at Thal, the gateway to Kurram Agency, we decided to commemorate one year of companionship through a visit and short stay at the nearby hill station of Samana, the then NWFP frontier with Orakzai Agency. Samana housed Divisional Battle School and was a refreshing abode when we visited in early August. It was a nice stay with our moments of simple fun and laughter.

At Samana Children Park : 2003

Not much of a military establishment Samana still had some places of interest. A colonial era fort, two in fact, and a memorial obelisk commemorating a battle action from 1897. I don’t vividly recall the exact inscription on the obelisk back then (the only picture with me being that of the monument snapped in the background as I stood in front) but it said something about the gallant action by Sikh soldiers who fought the Pathan lashkar on this remote outpost of Colonial frontiers. 36th Sikh it was and there were names of 21 soldiers inscribed on it. It left me with a riddle as to what business Sikhs had on this desolate outpost on the North-Western frontier. For finding the answer, dear reader, we will head back to late 19th century and its Pathan uprising.

Samana in 1897

Tribal uprisings on the Frontier had a habit of appearing out of nowhere, and that of 1897 was no exception. There was some warning in 1897, because the tribal gatherings (jirgahs) had been debating the pros and cons of a rising against the government, but no-one could have guessed the extent of the uprising, nor the speed with which it swept through the tribal areas like prairie fire. From Swat to Waziristan the tribes rose in their tens of thousands – Afridis and Orakzais, Mahsuds and Mohmands – egged on by their religious leaders, the Hadda Mullah and the Mullah Powindah.

SARAGARHI: Sikhs and Pathans - 1897, James Lunt, History Today, Apr 1977

The year was 1897 and Samana ridge was defended by 36th Sikhs, a regiment composed entirely of Sikhs, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Haughton, rightfully remembered as ‘Hero of Tirah’. The 5 mile long ridge was dotted with Fort Lockhart (also called Fort Mastan) on the eastern end and Fort Cavagnari (also Fort Gulistan) on the west. Fort Lockhart was constructed in 1891 on the conclusion of Miranzai expedition and was named after General Sir William Lockhart who was then commanding Kohat Garrison. Almost in the center where the ridge reached it’s highest point an ‘outcrop of rock’  interrupted the line of sight between the two forts. Exactly at this point was raised Saragarhi outpost as a signaling station between the forts. All three stations were equipped with heliographs as the only means of communication. 

With 36th Sikhs almost equally split on forts on either side of Samana ridge, Saragarhi was lightly manned with a notion of being reinforced from one of the forts when situation arised. Owing to its role of keeping communication running  within 36th Sikhs, defence of Saragarhi was critical, and when the situation would come, it would be defended to the last man, last round, in literal sense of the expression.

Fort Lockhart : Entrance – 2019
View of Samana Ridge from Fort Lockhart : 2019

Just as per their habit, the tribal uprising of 1897 sprung quite unexpectedly in the words of James Lunt as quoted in the beginning of this section. It was the morning of 11th September 1897, when a large Afridi Lashkar appeared from the Khanki Valley, from a direction south east of Samana Ridge. The tribesmen consisting of a force of around 10,000 with 22 standards (battle flags representing a fighting clan or force within a large army) initially aimed at attacking Hangu and Shahu Khel. This attempt was successfully tackled by Major General Yeatman Biggs through effective employment of 1-3rd Gurkhas, a company of Royal Irish Regiment, a detachment of 15 Sikhs and 2nd Punjab Infantry. Little did they know that this lashkar having failed an attempt on Hangu will shift their approach and invest Samana ridge from the side of Fort Gulistan. The morning of 12th September saw a lashkar of 8000 – 12000 Afridi and Orakzai tribesmen investing Gulistan and cutting off Saragarhi from Fort Lockhart. The small communication outpost now faced swarming tribesmen in thousands, a sight never seen from the ramparts of Saragarhi before.

21 soldiers in total manned Saragarhi. They were mostly young with less than 5 years of military service. Majority of the men belonged to Signal Platoon, trained in the use of heliograph and semaphore. Their commander was Havildar Ishar Singh, a  Jat Sikh from Punjab, quite a character he was, as Major General James Lunt put it:

His career in many ways was a reflection of the advice given to young British officers when first they joined a Sikh unit: ‘Work your men until they drop and you’ll find they make the best soldiers in India; but if you relax and let them idle around in barracks, there’s no kind of mischief known to man they won’t become involved in.’ Thus Ishar Singh – in camp a nuisance; in the field magnificent!

SARAGARHI: Sikhs and Pathans - 1897, James Lunt, History Today, Apr 1977

Magnificent he was, for Ishar Singh under orders from Colonel Haughton to hold the fort would decline the offer to surrender from tribals. He would then assemble his soldiers and inspire them to fight a battle under heavy odds. That balmy morning of early autumn on the border of Orakzai lands and the North-Western frontier of British Empire witnessed a meager count of twenty two standing up and embracing an army of thousands… head on!

The Battle

The earliest accounts of what happened at Saragarhi come to us through despatches sent by a special war correspondent of ‘Allahabad Pioneer mail’ who visited Saragarhi ruins along with the relieving force from Hangu when the post was retaken from tribals a day later. Much of the detail of what happened on adjoining area of Hangu and Khanki Valley comes to us from the despatches of Major General A. G. Yeatman Biggs, then commanding the Kurram-Kohat Force. The same were published as part of the “subjoined letter from the Adjutant-General in India” in London Gazette in their issue of February 11, 1898. While these accounts depict the battle as a heroic last man stand they fail to give us a detailed account of what actually happened at Saragarhi.

The Commander-in-Chief deeply regrets the loss of garrison of Saragarhi, a post held by 21 men of the 36th Sikhs, and he wished to record his admiration of the heroism shown by those gallant soldiers. Fighting against overwhelming numbers they died at their post, thus proving their loyalty and devotion to their Sovereign while upholding to the last the traditional bravery of the Sikh nation.

The London Gazette, February 11, 1898

Then there was a letter titled “Two Brave Queensland Women. Gallantry of the Sikh Soldiers” from Major C. H. Des Voeux of 36th Sikhs, the commander at Gulistan Fort. The letter written on 18 Sep 1897 (6 days after the Saragarhi Battle) was published in “Western Star” in Australia on 27 October 1897. It said of the men at Saragarhi that they fought like demons.

The fort next to us, with twenty-one men of mine and one follower, was taken by storm and fell at 3:40 p.m. on the 12th. The whole garrison were killed. I hear they died fighting like demons.

There were no survivors to tell the tale of individual bravery. The initial signal with the detail of the predicament, the tiny outpost of Saragarhi faced in front of swarming contingent of tribesmen was communicated to Fort Lockhart via heliograph. The young signalman Gurmukh Singh was the sender of this message to which the helio from Fort Lockhart conveyed Col Haughton’s message, “Hold Your Position”. The ‘winking helio from the high roof of Saragarhi’ would dutifully communicate the progress of battle to Fort Lockhart as the 20 men under Ishar Singh engaged the enemy from loopholes on Saragarhi rooftop and later a hand to hand battle in the post quarters. In that there should have been a battle account in terms of well recorded signals log at Fort Lockhart. What a shame that present day 4 Sikh (36th Sikh of the British Raj) could not hold on to that precious document.

We, dear reader, do have another document of precious value. In his memoir published in 1900, titled ‘Lieutenant-Colonel John Haughton, Commandant of the 36th Sikhs, A Hero of Tirah’, Major A. C. Yate of 2nd (Duke of Connaught’s Own) Baluch Battalion has included a long letter written by Colonel to his wife. This valuable letter gives us a battle account written immediately after the attack on Saragarhi between September 13 – 15th, 1897. In 2017, Captain Amarinder Singh of Indian Punjab in his very well researched book “Saragarhi And The Defence Of The Samana Forts” has recreated the conduct of battle at Saragarhi on 12th September 1897. The snippets from Colonel Haughton’s letter combined with Captain Amarinder’s recreation of the battle scene bring to us a fascinating tale of valour.

At twelve o’clock Saragarhi Signaled that they had one sepoy killed and one Naik wounded, and three rifles broken by the enemy’s bullets. We saw the enemy make at least two assaults on the post, but they were driven back.

Lieutenant-Colonel John Haughton, Commandant of the 36th Sikhs, A Hero of Tirah, A Memoir by Major A .C. Yate, 1900

Captain Amarinder Singh tells us the first one to embrace the path of supreme sacrifice was Sepoy Bhagwan Singh with Naik Lal Singh getting seriously injured. As the second wave of assault died down, Sepoys Boota Singh and Sunder Singh got added to the casualty list as killed in action. This was the time once the first attempt to relieve Saragarhi was made from Fort Lockhart but the party had to retreat under overwhelmingly effective Pathan fire.

Saragarhi warriors were armed with Martini Henry famously knowns as Three Not Three (.303). This single shot breach loaded rifle with a count of 400 rounds per weapon was no match to the assaulting thousands. The tenacity and steadfastness displayed by 36th Sikhs in holding the fort speaks of employment of better fire discipline and battle tactics by the commander Havildar Ishar Singh. But then they had a greater predicament. As Pathans launched another assault anew, they had a plan. A seasoned battle tactics known to have employed earlier they were able to sneak in a few soldiers just beside Saragarahi walls, a location dead to the fire from top battlements. Armed with daggers and crowbars they dug up the ground and were able to move enough blocks from the wall to secure a breach.

Captain Amarinder tells us that at this time Havildar Ishar Singh sent down Lance Naik Chand Singh with three sepoys in the main block to tackle infiltrating Pathans. These sepoys were next on the casualty roll of Sikhs that was now mounting. In six hours of fighting, nearly half of the Saragarhi manpower either lay dead or were wounded. Having conveyed the loss to Fort Lockhart Ishar Singh now ordered his men to leave the loopholed battlements and get down to the main block for a hand to hand fight. Major General James Lunt gives us a figurative account of these moments.

Now Ishar Singh knew that the game was up. Returning to the roof, he flashed his last message to Fort Lockhart. The enemy was in the fort – the Sikhs were overrun but would not surrender. Then, placing the heliograph carefully in its case, and leaving it in a corner by the battlement, he went down for the last time to join his men in their final stand. Somewhere in the midst of this holocaust of blood, smoke and flames Havildar Ishar Singh of the 36th Sikhs fell to a Pathan’s knife. Soon there was only one soldier left on his feet, Sepoy Gurmukh Singh; and he died, as so many Sikhs had died before him, shouting the Sikh war-cry – ‘Wake Guru ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guruji ki Fateh!’ Saragarhi had been defended to the last man and the last round. ”

SARAGARHI: Sikhs and Pathans - 1897, James Lunt, History Today, Apr 1977

In the final moments of the battle our Naik Lal Singh who was wounded in the beginning of the battle is reported to have locked the room and refusing to budge to the enemy started rifle fire accounting for some casualties. In the utter despair Pathans set the main block on fire. Lal Singh was killed in the fire that eventually raised Saragarhi to ground.

At three o’clock I came to the determination at all costs, to try and make some diversion; so, as soon as possible afterwards, Mr. Munn and I with ninety-eight rifles went out, leaving seventy-three men to defend Fort Lockhart….We had only gone about three-quarters of a mile when we saw Saragarhi taken by the enemy.

Lieutenant-Colonel John Haughton, Commandant of the 36th Sikhs, A Hero of Tirah, A Memoir by Major A .C. Yate, 1900

The next day when the relief from Hangu arrived and the enemy dispersed under the artillery fire as the force moved to Gulistan and came upon the ruins of Saragarhi, the Special Correspondent from Pioneer in Hangu in his narrative recorded:

Saragheri was a piteous sight; the fort, which only two days before we had deemed impregnable unless reduced by want of ammunition, water or food, was almost levelled to ground, while the bodies of its gallant warriors lay stripped and horribly mutilated amid the ruins of the post they had so bravely held.

The Risings on the North-West Frontier, Compiled from the Special War Correspondent of the 'Pioneer', Allahabad, Pioneer Press, 1898

In recognition of their brave stand all 21 soldiers at Saragarhi were posthumously awarded Indian Order of Merit (IOM), the highest and only gallantry medal available to native soldiers before 1907. The award also carried the grant of land and cash reward for the soldiers’ dependents. But then there’s more to our Saragarhi story.

There were eye witness accounts of valour told by enemy when a peace accord was signed with tribals a few months after the Saragarhi battle. Tale of a soldier inside the guard room taking down 20 invaders before getting burnt inside. Tale of another wounded officer who while incapacitated on his charpoy shot down four before being overpowered by the invaders. There were tales of another warrior, a man not accounted for in other narratives. For dear reader, there were not twenty one, but twenty two men at Saragarhi and all had fought and died on the day of the battle.

Plaque on Saragarhi Obelisk near Fort Lockhart

Number 22: The Lost Warrior of Saragarhi

Other than the obelisk at Fort Lockhart commemorating 21 warriors there once stood a brick cairn at the Saragarhi Outpost. They say it was raised from the remains of Saragarhi post at a place where the 21 Soldiers of 36th Sikh were cremated after Saragarhi outpost was taken back the next day. On that sad day there was one body that was not laid onto the pyre, and we have reasons to believe he was a Muslim.

Of the original accounts from Saragarhi Battle that we came across in our section on ‘Conduct of the Battle’, only one mentions a ‘follower’ stationed at the outpost along with 21 Soldiers and that he fought and was killed in action. It was the letter from Major C. H. Des Voeux of 36th Sikhs, the commander at Gulistan Fort written on 18 Sep 1897. We do not come across other details as to name or rank. Being a follower he was likely a Non Combatant Enrolled (NCE) as Sweeper and in all likelihood must have been a local enrollment from North-West Frontier Province.

Captain Amarinder  Singh in his book “Saragarhi And The Defence Of The Samana Forts” comes up with more details (although no direct source is quoted). He tells us that our 22nd warrior at Saragarhi was named Daad, was it the first name or surname, we don’t know. Daad probably came from Naushera to enroll as a regular in the British Army but could not make it owing to medical standards of fitness. He eventually enrolled as NCE on an existing vacancy and joined 36th Sikhs.

Now Sargarhi Outpost did not have a cook on their roll, so our man Daad performed both the duties, cleaning the post and cooking for soldiers. As per existing rules of the then British Army NCsE were not allowed to take up arms and were not expected to fight. Fight is what Daad did and accounted for 5 Pathan intruders probably using a rifle or bayonet of a dead Sikh warrior. This was what reported through the tribal accounts after the peace treaty was signed. Where 21 Soldiers of 36th Sikhs were awarded IOM along with monetary and land benefits, Daad conveniently escaped attention, not even an honourable mention in war despatches. We don’t know much about his descendants, neither we know the details on burial of his body after the battle of Saragarhi. What we do know is that in the moments of conscious decision making he chose to fight side by side Saragarhi warriors and was killed in action. In 1897 the British omitted him but in 2017 Captain Amarinder Singh of Indian Punjab dedicated his book on Saragarhi to Daad, the unsung 22nd Warrior.

Saragarhi – The Legacy

In today’s Fort Lockhart, away onto an isolated ridge stands tall the obelisk commemorating 21 Soldiers of 36th Sikh, the warriors of Saragarhi. The plaques are recently reinstalled with names both in Urdu and Gurmukhi on these.

Sargarhi Obelisk outside Fort Lockhart : 2019

In the Indian border town of Firozpur, inside the cantonment as Fazilka – Firozpur road snakes through it, just there in the vicinity is located Saragrahi Gurdwara.

Gurdwara Saragarhi Sahib : Firozpur Cantonment
source: bsmedia.business-standard.com

Tucked into the center of Amritsar Cantonment, shadowed under recently built Saragarhi Serai, is another Gurudwara that remembers Saragarahi Warriors. Surrounded by Sikh soldier figures of British army, this gurdwara was built in 1902.

Gurdwara Saragarhi Sahib : Amritsar Cantonment
source : gurdwaras.amritsarcity.co.in

The sacrifice of 22 warriors of Saragarhi was celebrated as a magnificent last stand in the history of British Army. The gallant fight by the soldiers of 36th Sikhs met an all out praise within India and Great Britain, even Australia, where the letter written by Major C. H. Des Voeux appeared in the newspaper. An army order promulgated September 12th as annual holiday to be celebrated as ‘Saragarhi Day’ by all regiments where Sikhs were enlisted. Saragarhi, the greatest achievement of 36th Sikhs’ 22 immortal martyrs has setup a unique benchmark for the Sikh Regiment. The present day Indian Army’s 26 Sikh battalions, all of them, share a common pride; they all celebrate Saragarhi as the Regimental Battle Honour.

On Saragarhi’s ramparts died the bravest of the brave,
Neath Saragarhi’s ruined walls they found a fitting grave,
For Saragarhi bears the fame,
They gave their lives to save.

Anonymous

References

  • Taken from Lieutenant-Colonel John Haughton, Commandant of the 36th Sikhs, A Hero of Tirah, A Memoir by Major A .C. Yate, 1900, following are the letters written by Colonel John Haughton, CO 36th Battalion to his wife, immediately after Saragarhi Battle. A photo album at flickr can be accessed here.
  • Eight pages from London Gazette in their issue of February 11, 1898, including Despatches of Major-General A.G.Yeatman-Biggs, then commanding the Kurram-Kohat Force, published as part of the “subjoined letter from the Adjutant-General in India”. A photo album at flickr can be accessed here.
  • The Risings on the North-West Frontier, Compiled from the Special War Correspondent of the ‘Pioneer’, Allahabad, Pioneer Press, 1898
  • SARAGARHI: Sikhs and Pathans – 1897, James Lunt, History Today, Apr 1977
  • Saragarhi And The Defence Of The Samana Forts, Amarinder Singh, 2017
  • Saragarhi Warriors: A few years ago a project to bring back to life the forgotten warriors of Saragarhi waas envisioned and undertaken by Gurinderpal Sing Josan. Based on the interactions with and depictions obtained from their family members (where possible) portraits of Saragarhi Soldiers in this thread are painted by Jagdeep Singh Billing. The source of the following pictures is this facebook page ਸਿੱਖ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ {Sikh History}
Havildar Ishar Singh
Havildar Ishar Singh
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author bio

Imran Saeed

I am a teller of old tales. History, folklore, military, and more. Mostly covering Pakistan, my homeland, but also the Great White North, where I am currently settled.
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Noor Sharif Orakzai

Sir
Im Noor Sharif Orakzai from samana district Hangu
Sir I need information about battle of saragarhi 21 shik 36 raiment
How I contact with you

sal

As an Afghan (Pakistani Pukhtun) & as a Paksitani I was expecting you would remember the story & bravery of the natives who fought against the outsider invader.

Ijaz Ahmad

The author is a Punjabi, and on top of that he is a former fauji so its very understanable that he is naturally inclined towards Sikhs and Indians and feels very emotional about this whole thing.

Anand Mohan Sethi

Please do your own research about the bravery of the Natives and write the Account. It will be equally useful and important revelations. We will love to hear other side of the story.
But no one can take away the ‘Last man Last round’ Battle stand of 22 versus 10,000.

Haider Mahmud

very pitiable depiction. you intentionally didn’t acknowledge the bravery of under equipped Pathan tribesmen downgrading them as mere intruders killed in huge numbers like flies, which totally is a lie

Shahid Mehmood

Dear Imran, I am a Pashtun too. Just want to say that there is no shame in honoring the bravery of men, be it Sikh, Punjabi, Pathan or others. The fact of the matter is that those 22 set a magnificent example of bravery, courage and honor against impossible odds. We should all salute and acknowledge it. So please don’t be disheartened by some racists who come up short in terms of their intellectual abilities. Keep writing; you write extremely well and I quiet enjoy your depictions of battlefields and your experiences. I had heard about this battle, but this is the first time that I read the details of the battle. Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this wonderful chapter of history.

Bobby

As a fellow Punjabi, a Sikh and a fauji from the ‘other’ side of the border. Thank you

Sartaj singh

Can u plz tell age of gurmukh singh(signal man)

Samir Barua

Inspiringly compiled and narrated. A comparable battle is the charge of the British light cavalry on October 25, 1854 against well-positioned Russian forces in the Crimean War. That battle was immortalized by Tennyson in the poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’.

Azam Gill

I would differ with Samir Barua Jee on the comparison.
Saragarhi is Punjabi Majha Jats of the Sikh faith honouring their contracts.
The Charge of the Light Brigade is a self authored myth dressing up a story of personal rivalry, treachery and cannon fodder.

Kulwinder S Rao

Thanks for this article providing an objective account of what transpired that fateful day.

Major General D.K.Purohit (Retd)

I deeply appreciate this well
re-searched and equally well articulated account of Saragarhi
By Imran . He seem be an officer
of Pakistan Army.
It may be of interest to read the write up on the topic by Lt General H. S.Panag (Retd). He was Adjt of 4 Sikh in 72-73.

Parminder brar

Very informative and fair story of sikh sepoys it is very difficult to fight a battle with only 21 regulars and one irregular on the other side they were ten to twelve thousands in numbers so the braves are always brave whether a few in numbers or a full battalion thanks for this information

Col KKD PRASAD

Very inspiring the spirit to fight to last breath is found in every SIKH in SIKH Regiment or where they posted. Seen them very close in my service career. Given a wish would be SIKH to defend my country

Dear Imran, We wish to salute you and bow our head to the true and accurate description about of the battle of Saragarhi post. There is no parallel in military history which equals in such bravery . UNO has rightly included this action among the 10 top battles fought ever.
History will also record your appreciation.

Lt Gen Dilip Desai, Indian Army

No words will be adequate to pay tribute to the exceptional gallantry of the the twenty-two warriors of Saragarhi who went down fighting to the last man at Saragarhi on 12 September 1897.

Brig R A Singh

A comprehensively well written account of Saragarhi, and valour of 21 Sikh soldiers of 36 SIKH( now 4 Sikh) in 1897, beautifully highlighted, who all gave their lives defending their post, against a large number of attacking tribals.

AK

This is one of the most detailed and objevtive account of this battle I have read. More power to your pen.

Brig Deepak Bajaj, VSM, (Retd)

A very thought provoking and well researched account of the Battle of Saragarhi which will hopefully inspire the young Indian Soldiers of today to greater valour and sacrifice in the current environment! Proud to be an Indian !

Saurabh Mishra

The battle is an amazing feat in history of pure valour and sacrifice.It speaks volumes of the martial fighting traditions as also the epitome of military ethos and traditions of the army.

a no. of annals in the history of war speak volumes about the several regiments in the same fervour during world war as well . however the battle of saragarhi stays unmatched.

By far the best account of battle at Saragarhi that I have come across in life, having gone through many write ups. Wonderful description and ultimate tribute to the fallen heroes. Keep writing.

Brig Jodhbir Singh Sandhu, Veteran

Imran,
1. My compliments to you for having eloquently relived the Saragarhi epic. The battle account lucidly brings to the fore the Sikh soldiers psyche and never say die attitude. I’ve commanded Sikh Light Infantry troops they are “rock solid ” . However, you need to keep their energy channelised.
2. Would like to read more of your battle accounts.
Degh Tegh Fateh!!

C K Roy

Loved the retelling of the story of the famous battle of Saragarhi. It’s been narrated well by the author who himself is an ex Army Officer. We may wear different uniforms and serve different nations, however in the end only a soldier can acknowledge the valour and sacrifice of soldier’s and their heroic action irrespective of the Flag they serve.
Kudos to the narrator👍💐

Raj Paul Varma

An excellent piece of history so far hidden from the world. A very pains taking effort by the author to compile a mammoth record in such simple and understandable language. There may be many more such hidden historical records unknown to the present generation the author may like to unearth and make the present generation wise.

Harvijay

Very well written. Proud of you.

kailash gour

Extremely well narrated details of the battle at Saragarahi by this young Pakistan army officer, who has with utmost sincerity described the unmatchable bravery of our Sikh troops. Hats off to Imran for this very well written true story. Keep writing.

Vijepal Singh Mann

Very well researched from the material documents available. Gallantry is always based upon moral courage and convictions of soul and self . Well written without any bais to religion or community.

Col PS Randhawa

Very well researched and written article. It is very balanced and and accurate account of the battle. I have read the book written by Capt Amrinder Singh, that is equally good. Good job. I hv read your other posts as well. Hope you wrote a book. Best wishes.

Lt Col Anil Dutta, Veteran (Indian Armd Corps)

Hi Imran,
My sincere complement to you for having so thoroughly researched and written about this epic battle, which has no parallels in the history of mankind. Of all the accounts of this battle which I have read, this has been best – a befitting tribute to the fallen Sikh HEROS.
I envy you, as you could actually be to Saragarhi and that area. Carry on the good work. I look forward to more of your writings.

Azam Gill

A worthy plume to honour the timeless worth of the Jat warriors at Saragarhi.
Thank you, Imran Jee.

Brig Mukesh Bawa

A very well researched article by Imran. Valour of these 22 soldiers is unparalleled in History.The British/ History must include the name of Nce Daad,albeit delayed , as his valor was no less.

JK Achuthan

Dear Author,
A correct and authentic depiction of events. One cannot fault the British officers of the Indian Army who led their men bravely, the Pashtun Frontier tribesmen who were defending their lands against a mighty power and carried out this attack relentlessly inspite of over a hundred attackers getting killed, and undoubtedly the 22 soldiers of the isolated Signalling Outpost at Saragarhi, who showed unparalleled and historic bravery to fight to the last man.
The memory and deeds of brave people should always be respected. The Frontier areas of Pakistan had been ravaged over many centuries by many strong and merciless invaders who did not spare the local people even though they had adopted the Muslim faith. Consequently the locals had become no saints either!
Let us hope that good education, roads and economic development bring everlasting peace today, in these magnificent so-called Tribal Areas of Pakistan!

Robin Mehra

Wonder what mettle the Boys were built of! This has to be a perfect situation of fact over fiction! How i wish we knew about these heroes when we were of a younger age! Who knows, what the outcome could have been.
JO BOLE SONEHAAL
SATSRIAKAAL.

ARVIND KUMAR CHATURVEDI

A very well researched and descriptive article for which all praise to the the writer,may he continue writing more and more such inspiring articles .
Reminds me of the 28 unsung BRAHMIN heros of the Bengal native infantry,(later RAJPUT REGIMENT of IA, )led by Jemadar BHAWANI BUX CHOUBE who preferred to go up in flames rather then surrendering and handing over their arms and ammunition dump to mutineers while defending BELLEY GUARD,the magazine at LUCKNOW

Col Bahadur Singh

A great write up.
Good job by Imran.
Thank you

Baltek Randhawa

Very nicely researched and written. Keep up the good work

Wg Cdr Satinder Singh

The movie’ Rang de Basanti’ gave a pretty good account of the Battle of Saragarhi, even though it had some romanticism added to it in the character of Hav Issar Singh, played by Akshay Kumar. Without these injections of romance and heroism would not sell.
I must say that Imran has brilliantly researched the article. Bravery of a Soldier who is Martyred should be honoured by both sides, no matter which side they had fought for. There is a precedent of this happening during the Kargil Indo-Pak War of 1991.
Soldiering is a noble profession where Soldiers all over the World should act professionally.
And yes, The 22 brave men of 36 Sikh Regiment need to be saluted and commemorated for their bravery and valour.
Jai Hind. Jo bole so Nihal,Sat sri Akal.

Vinay Gupta

A great tribute to the 22 valorous men who fought bravely against all odds. A worthy honour in their memory.

Maj Gen Sarbjit Singh Pawar

A very detailed and researched writeup by the author. A great tribute to the brave soldiers of 36th Sikh, who fought as per the highest traditions & velour of the Indian Army.
Thanks for a very absorbing and interesting read.

Maj Gen Ajay Anand (retd)

Imran , Extremely well researched and presented ,details of an epic battle ; more so when details available are scanty and in bits and pieces. Looking forward to more narrations from you. Good wishes.

Capt Amarjit Singh Jaijee

The Battle of Saragarhi is one of the greatest Battles of recent times of collective bravery and courage in the face of imminent death. The British Indian Army recognized their courage and awarded the highest gallantry award, given to Indian Soldiers at that time, with The Indian Order of Merit. The British Parliament gave a standing ovation to thesebrave men. We bow our heads to these great men.

Time to hear these ‘Stories’ from these ‘Soldiers Point of View’ – – such as ‘hundred+’ years old ‘Live Recordings’ preserved in Berlin’s Humboldt Museum.
An ‘Ardaas’ by Sepoy Mul Singh: ‘Maharaj Kirpaa kareh, chaiti sulhaa hoi – teh asi vapass chalay jaa e hay’!
Echoes in WW-1 Documentary Films on Google/ YouTube:
‘The Halfmoon Files’
By. Phillip Scheffner.
‘The Prisoner’s. Song’
By. Michael Singh

Simirinder Singh

Dear Sir

Very well narrated … Saragarhi battle is a battle of courage, valor and bravery … Tribute to the martyred soldiers.

You have researched it well and also given a very good narrative.

You were lucky to visit the place and breath in the air where 124 years ago the brave soldiers laid their lives… Their war cries must be still heard in the gushing winds of Samana Valley.

Surinder sahney

Very heroic. World salutes their VALLOUR.
.Surindersahney
CHANDIGARH.

Maninder Singh

Refreshing inspiring and humbling to read the accounts of the brave from a soldier. Thanks.

Col Rajeev Sharma

Best narrative till date on the Battle of Saragarhi.
A tale of valour written in blood.
These 22 are the ” Bravest of the Braves”…. Very inspiring

Col Sukhi Sodhi

Excellent write up with a soildier & neutral point of veiw .
There is nothing to undermine anyone, it is rare act of courage, valour, commitment , exexemplry devotion to duty.

Gautam Moorthy

A fascinating and captivating account by Imran. Extensively researched and very well written, it brings out the creed of the soldier epitomised by the bravery and the ultimate sacrifice of the Saragarhi 22. Kudos to you, Imran!

Brigadier Subhash Panwar

An excellent narration of battle of Saragarhi with matching pics of current times . The author as an officer , a gentleman & a professional aptly articulated the battle account of inspirational warriors down to the role & act of Sep Dad , NCE .The quotes of British Officers mentioned are true in this age as well . Being an ex commanding officer of 36 Sikh , I express my gratitude for such a well researched article on the Battle of Saragarhi.
Profound Regards
Brigadier Subhash Panwar

Brother Imran jee
You wrote a fantastic article on the World famous Battle of Saragarhi.
Being the chairman of Saragarhi Foundation Inc. I did my best to highlight the forgotten battle since 1987. I feel blessed to have found the descendants of the 21 Bravehearts and tried to maintain the original battlefield site.

[…] Saragarhi | https://www.meemainseen.com/2020/05/saragarhi/3. Saragarhi bravehearts were limited by numbers, bullets | […]

Rupinder Singh

Very well researched and written and objectively describing the Battle and Bravery of Soldiers who fought against all odds. Only God and Soldiers know how to travel on the path knowing only death awaits them

Col Vivek Bopiah (Retd)

Imran you need to be complimented for having paid great homage to the martyrs of Saragarhi. As an ex soldier to another I must say you have honoured all the
martyrs for their unparalled bravery as only you could. Kudos. 👏👏👏👍