Legacy of Saragarhi lives on in Naik Lal Singh’s Dhun Dhia village

Among the countless stories of Punjabi valour, the Battle of Saragarhi, fought on September 12, 1897, stands tall as one of the greatest last stands in world military history. Staring death in the face, 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment (now 4 Sikh) of the British Indian Army fought against 10,000 Afghan tribesmen, choosing honour over life and fighting till their last breath.

The Saragarhi post, a signalling station located between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan in the Samana Hill range (now in Pakistan), was the site of this heroic stand. Among the martyrs was Naik Lal Singh, second-in-command of the contingent, who hailed from the quaint village of Dhun Dhia in Tarn Taran, Punjab. Though it may appear like any other rural settlement in terms of geography and lifestyle, Dhun Dhia holds a place of immense historical pride due to its association with Lal Singh. Now, INTACH Punjab has proposed to develop the site into a destination for military and border tourism.

To commemorate Naik Lal Singh’s martyrdom, INTACH Punjab held a special ceremony today at Dhun Dhia. “Punjab’s villages have long been the cradle of warriors, nurtured by a spirit of resilience and valour rooted in Sikh teachings and Punjabi culture. Naik Lal Singh’s story, woven into the larger tapestry of the Saragarhi battle, reflects both the individual courage of a Sikh soldier and the collective ethos of Punjab’s martial tradition,” said Maj Gen Balwinder Singh (Retd), Convenor, INTACH Punjab.

“Growing up in such an environment, Lal Singh would have been immersed in stories of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Khalsa warriors, the sacrifices of Baba Deep Singh and the unrelenting spirit of Punjab’s defenders. For his village, Lal Singh remains a son who brought eternal honour. Therefore, we want to develop this place as a site that inspires and tells the story of this brave son to a wider audience,” he added.

For Dhun Dhia, the martyrdom of Naik Lal Singh is a defining moment. Villagers have passed down his story with immense pride, weaving it into local memory and identity. The village is now associated not only with agriculture but also with a deep-rooted martial valour. To this day, the people of Dhun Dhia honour and cherish their connection to the legacy of Saragarhi.

Maj Gen RS Manral, the chief guest at today’s event, said, “Punjab’s contribution cannot be forgotten.” He also encouraged the youth to come forward and join the armed forces. Troops of the Grenadiers’ Regiment from the Golden Arrow Division gave a guard of honour to martyr Naik Lal Singh during the ceremony.

Maj Gen Balwinder Singh, who has been the driving force behind efforts to highlight Punjab’s military heritage, added that INTACH is making every effort to revive the region’s cultural legacy.

“The Heritage Well, located next to the memorial and believed by locals to have belonged to Lal Singh, was in a dilapidated condition. It has now been restored to its original glory by INTACH. We plan to set up a museum here and have already preserved a piece of original stone from the Saragarhi fort at this location. The earthen buckets excavated from the well date back to the pre-British era,” he said.