‘Saragarhi Diwas’ State Holiday Formally Announced
Posted: 19 Aug 2017 08:45 AM PDT
GURDASPUR, Punjab—The Congress led Punjab government has announced to mark September 12 as ‘Saragarhwi Diwas’ in commemoration of the historic battle of Saragarhi which was fought on September 12, 1897. Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh made this announcement while addressing the Sikh regument at the Tibetan Cantonment in Gurdaspur on August 14.
Captain Amarinder Singh also announced to hold a state level program at Gurdwara Saragarhi situated in the Ferozepur district.
“All Public and Government institutions will remain closed on September 12”, he said.
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 Sikhs (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.