September 12 marks the 124th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi that has inspired a host of armies, books and films, both at home and abroad.
- The Battle of Saragarhi is considered one of the finest last stands in the military history of the world.
- Twenty-one soldiers were pitted against over 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribals but they managed to hold the fort for seven hours.
- Though heavily outnumbered, the soldiers of 36th Sikhs (now 4 Sikh), led by Havildar Ishar Singh, fought till their last breath, killing 200 tribals and injuring 600.
- Saragarhi was the communication tower between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan. The two forts in the rugged North West Frontier Province (NWFP), now in Pakistan. were built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh but renamed by the British.
- In 2017, the Punjab government decided to observe Saragarhi Day on September 12 as a holiday.
- Actor Akshay Kumar’s film Kesari was based loosely on the battle.
- Punjab Chief Minister and military historian Capt Amarinder Singh has written a book titled ‘The 36th Sikhs in the Tirah Campaign 1897-98 – Saragarhi and the defence of the Samana forts’, on this incident.
(Source: IE)
JOIN GS TIMES IAS PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS DAILY ONLINE TEST SERIES: HINDI AND ENGLISH
CLICK HERE DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ FOR STATE CIVIL SERVICES
