It was 1897. Saragarhi is a small fort in North West Frontier Province which is today in Pakistan. Ranjith singh had built many forts in this area. After the british took control of these small forts, they enforced the forts with heliographic communications. These helped the other parts of british to keep in touch. Even though much of the land was under british control, there were still many skirmishes between local tribes. On 3rd and 9th of September, 1897, Afridi and Orakazai tribals attacked nearby gulistan forts which were beaten back. The relief column from nearby Lockhart reinforced Sargarhi with one NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) named Havildar Ishar Singh and twenty ORs( Other Ranks). In a renewed effort, on 12th September 1897, thousands of tribals led siege to forts of gulistan and Saragarhi. This made sure that they will capture Saragarhi and also preventing reinforcements from Gulistan. When the officer in gulistan estimated the enemy numbers, it stood around 10,000 to 12,000.
From the early morning, the tribals started battering the fort. The great Sikhs repulsed each charge. The tribals also started making tempts to surrender. These were also looked down. A few attempts made to send a relief column but were repulsed by the tribals. The tribals tried to rush the gate twice, but to their vain both were repulsed ending with losses on their side. As time passed by, even the defending Sikhs are dwindling in number, as their ammunition supplies are decreasing. But this didn’t stop others from fighting. The entire battle events were telegraphed by one Sepoy Gurmukh Singh.
Meanwhile the tribals were able to breach a hole in a wall and some of the soldiers were sent there to deal with the breach. This weakened the people who are defending the gate. The enemy now rushed at both gate and wall. Now the soldiers engaged in hand-to-hand fights and held off the enemy as long as they can. Now the battle was almost over and sepoy gurmukh asked permission for stop telegraphing and start fighting. When he was given permission, he starting shooting tribals down from his vantage. But this didn’t last long. After heavy casualties and lack of ammunition on part of gurmukh, the tribals were able to set fire the tower on which gurmukh was standing. This ended the last of soldier who took 20 with him. The 21 soldiers were killed. But the enemy suffered a heavy loss. The casualties wee 180 and many more were wounded. The tribals set fire to the post. This episode when narrated in british parliament got a standing ovation from its entire members. The 21 soldiers were given Indian Order of Merit Class III posthumasly which today equals vir chakra. All of the families of saragarhi were awarded with 50 acres of land and 500 Rupees.
This episode was one of the 8 greatest military fights selected by UNESCO. This tale was told in French schools. Its too sad that today the Indian generation have absolutely no idea about this great fight.
Many compare this fight with Thermopylae. Even though both are great fights, there a few differences. In Thermopylae it is not 300 as popularly known, but it is 3000. Some writers even went to say it was 4000. But one thing is clear, the Greeks who fought are around 1000. The armies of xerxes stood around 200,000 to 250,000. The path is a very small path which allows only one chariot at a time. At this place, the greeeks were able to construct a small obstacle. On this they stood and fought. But the sikh army is very small. They had an advantage that they were in a fort. But still the army against is huge.
Apart from comparisions, it is still a great tale which inspires courage among fellow people. It is too sad that even the Punjabis today doesn’t know about this war.
the remnants of the saragarhi fort after war
