Saragarhi Day a tribute to the Bravehearts of the 36th Sikh Regiments

The sacrifice made by the 21 soldiers on that day in 1897 and the exemplary courage and bravery shown by them while guarding the motherland, would always inspire the youth of our country.

The Battle of Saragarhi was fought before the Tirah Campaign on 12 September 1897 between the British Indian Empire and the Afghan tribesmen It occurred in the North-West Frontier Province Sikh soldiers fought on behalf of the British Indian Army against Pashtun Orakzai tribesmen.

The British Indian contingent comprised 21 Jat Sikh-soldiers of the 36th Sikhs, who were stationed at an army post and were attacked by 10000 to 12,000 Afghans. The Sikhs, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, chose to fight to the death, in what is considered by some military historians as one of history’s greatest last stands. The post was recaptured two days later by another British Indian contingent.

Akshay Kumar’s film Kesari, which was based on the Battle of Saragarhi, released this year. The film was a retelling of the heroic 21 Sikh soldiers who put up a difficult fight against 10,000 to 12,000 Afghans in Saragarhi. They chose to fight to the death, and this heroism is considered as one of history’s last stands. The 4th battalion of the Sikh regiment of the Indian army commemorates the battle every year on September 12, which is called Saragarhi Day.

Akshay Kumar tweeted “My tributes to the Bravehearts of the 36th Sikh Regiments, 21 against 10,000…a sacrifice which will forever be etched in the pages of history and our hearts #SaragarhiDay”