BATTLE OF SARAGARHI

Source: IndiaToday

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Context

• The Battle of Saragarhi, fought on 12 September 1897, is celebrated as one of the most valiant last stands in military history.
• It is portrayed in the movie Kesari, that shows the bravery of 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikh Battalion.
• These soldiers stood their ground against an estimated 10,000 Afghan tribesmen.

Background

• Saragarhi post was situated between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan in India’s North-Western Frontier Province.
• The post was critical for monitoring Afghan movements and controlling access to Punjab, then part of British India.
• The soldiers were motivated by the Sikh motto "Sawa lakh se ek ladawan," a phrase coined by Guru Gobind Singh Ji during the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib, signifying that one Sikh is as powerful as 125,000 enemies.

The 36th Sikh Battalion

• The regiment, established in 1887, was tasked with controlling the volatile Samana Ridge area.
• By 1897, it was led by Lt. Col. John Haughton.
• The soldiers at Saragarhi were part of this elite force.

The Battle of Chamkaur

• It was fought between the Khalsa, led by Guru Gobind Singh, and the coalition forces of the Mughals led by Wazir Khan and of Hindu hill chief.
• Guru Gobind Singh makes a reference to this battle in his letter Zafarnama.

Read about Guru Gobind Singh: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/guru-gobind-singh#:~:text=Guru%20Gobind%20Singh%20Ji's%20legacy,commitment%20to%20the%20Sikh%20faith.

The Afghan Threat

• The Mulla of Hadda called for a 'jihad' against the British and inspired 10,000 tribal fighters, including Afridis, Pathans, and Pashtuns, to attack Saragarhi.
• Between August 28 and September 11, 1897, the forts at Gulistan and Lockhart faced numerous attacks, and by September 12, the Afghan forces launched a full assault on Saragarhi.

The Battle

• Sepoy Gurmukh Singh, the signalman, sent out a message to Lt. Col. Haughton at Fort Lockhart, warning of the approaching enemy.
• The Pathans had cut off supply routes, and the post was isolated.
• Col. Haughton urged the soldiers to hold their position.
• The 21 Sikh soldiers had limited ammunition. Despite this, they continued their defense bravely.
• Their resistance inflicted heavy losses on the Afghan forces, with approximately 180 attackers killed and another 400 wounded.
• This delayed the Afghan advance and allowed British reinforcements to recapture Saragarhi within two days.

Significance

• The defense of Saragarhi is a testament to the courage and determination of the Sikh soldiers.
• Making a departure from the tradition of not giving gallantry medals posthumously, Queen Victoria awarded the 21 dead soldiers the Indian Order of Merit along with two ‘marabas’ (50 acres) and Rs 500 each.
• The battle is part of a larger narrative involving the British Empire's ‘Great Game’ against Russian expansion in Central Asia during the 19th century.

Sources:IndiaToday