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The forgotten battle Battle of Saragarhi

by Gyanvitaranam

    Battle of Saragarhi dated 12 September 1897 took place in Tirah, North West Frontier Province of British India but now in Khyber Pakhtunwa, Pakistan. It was the battleground where 21 Sikhs lost their lives fighting 10,000 Afghans. This day is commemorated each year as the Saragarhi Day by the 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army.

   Also known as the last stand where no one from the defenders survived. The Afghanis consisted of Afridi and Orakzai tribesmen and were led by Gul Badshah.

   The Sikh British force was led by Havaldar Ishar Singh, from the 36th Sikh Regiment with just 21 soldiers.

   It all started when the Pashtun tribesmen rebelled against the British Empire. In a month they gathered 10,000 of their tribesmen and surrounded the Samana Ridge, which was held by the 36th Sikh infantry regiment from the British Indian Army.

   The Sikhs fought to death, the....

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