British army delegation pays tribute to Saragarhi heroes

In a solemn ceremony steeped in history and reverence, an eleven-member delegation from the British Army, led by Major General John Kandel, visited the Baba Baghel Singh Sikh Heritage Multimedia Museum at Gurdwara Sri Bangla Sahib on Monday to pay homage to the 21 Sikh soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the legendary Battle of Saragarhi.

A sacred stone from the ruins of the Saragarhi Post, where the soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment fought valiantly against over 10,000 invaders, was ceremonially installed at the museum.

The stone was brought from the historic site by Gurinder Pal Singh Josan, Chairman of the Saragarhi Foundation, and installed by Padma Shri awardee Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), in the presence of Major General Kandel, Surjit Singh, Chairman of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Sahney said the stone symbolised the “unmatched bravery and supreme sacrifice” of the 21 Sikh soldiers led by Havildar Ishar Singh. “It is not just a historic relic, but a beacon of courage that will inspire generations to uphold honour, duty and service to the nation,” he said.

Sahney also shared that he had funded the renovation of the Saragarhi Memorial in Ferozepur, in 2023, with a contribution of Rs 50 lakh, transforming it into a key tourist and heritage site in Punjab. In 2022, on the 125th anniversary of the battle, he had organised a grand commemorative event in New Delhi, attended by Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd), Governor of Uttarakhand, as the Chief Guest.

During the ceremony, Sahney unveiled portraits of the 21 martyrs and new historical panels depicting the valour and legacy of the Battle of Saragarhi.