AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—The SGPC President inaugurated a new gallery yesterday, constructed in memory of the great martyrs of the ‘Saragarhi’ battle. The gallery has been installed in the ‘Saragarhi Niwas’ of the Harmandar Sahib (Golden temple) complex, in Amritsar.
The unveriling by SGPC President Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar took place in the presence of former Indian Army Chief Gen JJ Singh, British Army officer Duncan Campus, Saragarhi Foundation chairman Gurinder Pal Singh, and defense officials of Britain and France
The Saragarhi was a small village in the border district of Kohat, situated on the Samana Range, in present-day Pakistan. The British Indian contingent comprised of 21 Sikhs of the 36th Sikh battalion (now the 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment), who were stationed at an army post attacked by around 10,000 Afghans. The Sikhs, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, chose to fight to the death, in what is considered by some military historians as one of history’s greatest last-stands.
Badungar said that the 21 martyrs of the Saragarhi battle had written a new chapter in bravery and sacrifice in the history of all wars. He added that the martyrs of ‘Saragarhi’ battle will always act as a source of inspiration for the next generations of Sikhs.
Prof. Badungar commended officials of the ‘Saragarhi Foundation’ for preparing the portraits and model, for the Gallery.
Paying homage to the great martyrs of ‘Saragarhi’, the former Indian Army Chief General J.J Singh and British Army officer Duncan Campus said that the entire Sikh community was proud of these great warriors who laid their lives and didn’t bow before the enemy. They encouraged making further efforts to help keep future generations aware of the sacrifices of such great sacrifices.
