The Battle of Saragarhi took place on 12 September 1897 between 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army and 10,000–12,000 Afghan tribesmen. Saragarhi was a small outpost in the North-West Frontier Province (now Pakistan), serving as a communication relay between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan. The Afghan forces attacked the post, cutting off communication and attempting to breach the defenses.
Led by Havildar Ishar Singh, the 21 Sikh soldiers chose to fight to the last man rather than surrender. They held off the attackers for several hours, engaging in intense hand-to-hand combat. Sepoy Gurmukh Singh, the last surviving soldier, continued signaling Fort Lockhart until the very end, reportedly killing 40 Afghans before being overrun.
Despite being vastly outnumbered, their resistance delayed the Afghans, allowing reinforcements to secure Fort Gulistan two days later. All 21 soldiers were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest gallantry award for Indian troops at the time. The battle is commemorated annually as Saragarhi Day, and memorials, including gurdwaras, have been built in their honor. The battle remains a symbol of bravery and sacrifice in Sikh and Indian military history.