This Story Of How 21 Sikhs Fought Against 10,000 Afghans Will Redefine Bravery For You

It is the story of one of the greatest standoffs in Indian history.

On 12th September 1897, 21 Sikh Soldiers almost achieved the impossible when they fought close to 10,000 Afghani soldiers at the battle of Saragarhi.

The battle was fought near the Tirah region of North-West Frontier Province, now in Pakistan. Despite heavy odds, the Sikh soldiers refused to surrender and created history.

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The battle is featured in the eight stories of collective bravery published by UNESCO.

It is mentioned as one of the most significant events of its kind.

The same list also includes the famous Battle of Thermopylae where a small Greek force fought against the mighty Persian Army of Xerxes I in the year 480 B.C.

Saragarhi was a post that established the connection between the important posts of Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan.

The area was prone to attacks and was often considered as a perfect place for soldiers to hone their skills.

The Detachment at Saragarhi had 1 NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) and 20 ORs (Other Ranks) and commander Havildar Ishar Singh was the leader of this unit.

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One fine day in the year 1897, close to 10,000 Afghans attacked this post.

All the men knew that their stone and mud walls were not enough to protect them from the enemies. Still, they not only fought on but also repulsed the attacks of the enemies more than once.

The Sikh soldiers were finally defeated by the Afghan forces but not before they had killed around 1000 enemy soldiers.

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The ratio of the Sikh soldiers to the Afghani force was just 1:476

This battle has often been compared to the epic battle of Thermopylae.

In both the battles, the valiant soldiers refused to surrender even though they were heavily outnumbered. In both cases, not only did they refuse to surrender but also did some serious damage before they laid their lives with honour and dignity.

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All the 21 soldiers were awarded the prestigious Indian Order of Merit Class III award, which is equivalent to today’s Param Vir Chakra.

The stories of their bravery reached the British Parliament and even the Queen. The members of the British parliament gave them a standing ovation.

It was also for the first time in history, that each and every member of the troop won the gallantry awards for a single fight.

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This is why the 12th of September is celebrated as the Saragarhi day

Even till this day, people celebrate and honour the sacrifices made by those 21 brave soldiers every year. The day is observed as the Sikh military commemoration day.

Three gurdwaras have been made in their honour. One gurdwara is at Saragarhi, the second one is at Firozpur and the third one is at Amritsar.

Even though they are no longer with us still their spirit still lives on in each of our hearts.

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