Memorial

A tablet erected in the memory of these brave men.

The tablet reads: “The Government of India have caused this tablet to be erected to the memory of the twenty one non-commissioned officers and men of the 36 Sikh Regiment of the Bengal Infantry whose names are engraved below as a perpetual record of the heroism shown by these gallant soldiers who died at their posts in the defence of the fort of Saragarhi, on the 12 September 1897, fighting against overwhelming numbers, thus proving their loyalty and devotion to their sovereign, the Queen Empress of India, and gloriously maintaining the reputation of the Sikhs for unflinching courage on the field of battle.”

Havildar Ishar Singh (165)

Gurudwaras

To commemorate their bravery, three Gurdwaras were erected — one at Saragarhi, the venue of the battle, the second at Firozpur called the Saragarhi Memorial and the third here at Amritsar, called Gurdwara Saragarhi. The memorial at Amritsar was unveiled on February 14, 1902.

Gurdwara Saragarhi, Amritsar: This is situated just opposite the Government Higher Secondary School, Town Hall, Amritsar, it was built in the memory of the non-commissioned officers officers and men of the 36th Sikhs whose names have been engraved on a marble stone fixed on the wall of the Gurdwara as a perpetual record of heroism shown by these gallant soldiers.

Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara at Firozpur was been built in the memory of 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36 Sikh Regiment. The memorial Gurdwara at Ferozepur was built at a cost of Rs, 27,118 by the Army Authorities to honour these brave soldiers. The Gurudwara was declared open in 1904 by Sir Charles Pevz, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. Every year on September, 12 a religious congregation is held in the morning while reunion of Ex-servicemen in the evening.

Saragarhi Day

The battle has become iconic of eastern military civilization, British empire military history and Sikh history. The modern Sikh Regiment continues to celebrate the day of the Battle of Saragarhi each 12 September as the Regimental Battle Honours Day. Sikh military personnel and Sikh non-military people commemorate the battle around the World every year on September 12th.
In Indian Schools

The Indian military, in particular the Indian Army have been pushing for the battle to be taught in India’s schools. They want it taught due to the heroism shown by the Indian soldiers to acts as inspiration for young children – in the field of bravery. The situation was made more embarrassing by observations such as the following, printed in the Punjab’s longest-established newspaper, The Tribune in 1999: “the military action at Saragarhi is taught to students the world over and particularly to students in France.” The news was enough to provoke political debate, and the battle has been taught in schools in the Punjab since 2000:

“The decision to include the battle story in the school curriculum was taken last year during a public rally presided over by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Following this, the State Government had issued a notification that the battle story should be included in the school curriculum from this session. There had been a constant demand from the Sikh Regiment and various ex-servicemen’s associations that the battle be included in the school curriculum. A similar request had also been put forward to Mr Badal during the battle’s state-level centenary celebrations at Ferozepore in 1997. A subsequent letter sent to the Punjab Government by the Saraghari Memorial and Ethos Promotion Forum had also urged the State Government that the battle has many inspiring lessons for children. On hearing the acts of valour, the British Parliament had then risen in unison to pay homage to the fallen soldiers. The unique battle is also taught in schools of France and figures as one of the eight collective stories on bravery published by the UNESCO. ”

Saragarhi and Thermopylae

The battle has frequently been compared to the Battle of Thermopylae, where a small Greek force faced a large Persian army of Xerxes (480 BC).

The ratio of the defending to the attacking force of ca. 1:476 (21 vs. 10,000) at Saragarhi, is reminiscent of the 1:285 ratio at Thermopylae (300 Spartans & 6,700 Greeks vs. 0.8 to 2.1 million). Based on modern estimates, the Persian Army numbered 150,000–200,000[7], producing a ratio of 1:29.

It is important to note that during the Battle of Saraghari, the British did not manage to get a relief unit there until after the 21 had fought to their deaths. At Thermopylae, the 300 Spartans also stayed after their lines had been breached, to fight to their deaths.