Valiant soldiers of Saragarhi remembered
Author(s): Vikramditya Sharmaphoto: city air news Ferozepur, September 12, 2016: The valiant soldiers of epic Saragarhi Battle were once again remembered today. On this occasion, Kamal Sharma, former State BJP Chief and member of National...
Ferozepur, September 12, 2016: The valiant soldiers of epic Saragarhi Battle were once again remembered today. On this occasion, Kamal Sharma, former State BJP Chief and member of National Executive Committee of BJP, DPS Kharbanda, Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur along with Brig. J S Arora, (Retd.), successors of Saragarhi battle martyrs, family members of Veer Sainiks, retired army personnel and several people paid homage to 21 valiant soldiers of 36 Regiment (Now 4/11 Regiment) who proved their mattle against hostile Pathans on 12th September 1897.
While addressing the congregation, Kamal Sharma said there is no such example in the history of the world, the way these 21 warriors fought against ten thousand hostile Pathans. He said that the legends of these brave soldiers will remain immortal amongst the generations to come.
Deputy Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said it is the dream of every soldier to sacrifice his life for his motherland. He said that recently the State government has increased the amount of Paramveer Chakra Awardees from 30 Lakh to 2 Crore, the Mahaveer Chakra Awardees from Rs. One crore to Rs. 20 Lakh. “Similarly, the state government will honour Veer Chakra awardees with an amount of Rs. 50 Lakh instead of Rs. 15 Lakh. Not only this the state government has increased the monthly transport allowance of Veer Naris from Rs. 150 to Rs. 500”, said DC Kharbanda. `
The Deputy Commissioner said that the state government is putting a lot of effort to attract the youth of Punjab to join Indian Army and for this purpose C-Pyte centres have been established in various districts.
Brig. J S Arora (Retd.), Director, Defense Welfare Services, Punjab said on this occasion that the Saragarhi Memorial will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.
On this occasion, an exhibition portraying development of Ferozepur district in various aspects was also organized by the District Administration.
BRIEF HISTORY
It is pertinent to mention here that in 1897, the Sikh regiment was sent to the Fort Lockhart, of which Saragarhi and Gulistan were important posts. On the morning of September 12, when the Pathan army laid siege to Saragarhi and fired at it from just one thousand yard, only 21 solidiers held the fort and returned fire. These 21 soldiers fought with bravery till the last moment.
The sacrifice of these Sikhs was reported in The Pioneer, an English newspaper then published from Allahabad, which led to an agitation in England for construction of a monument to the brave. A memorial each was built in Waziristan, scene of the battle, Amritsar, being the holy place of the Sikhs, and Ferozepur, because most of the martyrs belong to this place.
Gurdwara Saragarhi at Ferozepur was built for Rs. 27,118 by the British Indian Army and opened in 1904 at the hands of Sir Charles Revz, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.