CHANDIGARH, Sept 10 — On the 6,000-ft high Samana Ridge at Saragarhi in the North-West Frontier Province lies a heap of stones which was a cairn constructed at a battlesite to commemorate a saga of valour 103 years ago, etched in military history as one of the five greatest battles ever fought. The cairn may have crumbled and the men associated with the historic battle long gone, but over a century after the actions of 21 Sikh soldiers in defending their post at Saragarhi in the rugged Hindu Kush mountains awed the world, the story of the little known but exemplary battle continues to be heard, read and taught around the world. On hearing the acts of valour, the British Parliament had then risen in unison to pay homage to the fallen soldiers. The unique battle, which is being taught in schools of France and figures as one of the eight collective stories on bravery published by UNESCO, has only been included in Punjab’s school curriculum from this year. The Anandpur Sahib Foundation has also decided to include the epic battle in the Khalsa Heritage Memorial. All 21 troops had been awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the then highest gallantry award applicable to Indian soldiers, equivalent to the Victoria Cross or the Param Vir Chakra. After the second Miranzia expedition in 1896, the Samana Ridge was occupied as it was the only way to check raids by hostile tribesmen and also to secure trade routes which cut into the feuding and fanatical Afridis and Orakazais tribes. The 36th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment (now 4 Sikh) was deployed on the Samana Range between Khanki and Miranzai valleys. About 3 km to its east was Fort Lockhart where the battalion commander was based and to the east was Fort Gulistan. The Saragarhi post, a rectangular stone and mud structure with four-metre-high walls, served as a visual communication link. A recce around Samana on September 9 revealed a strong force of Afridis and Orakazais tribesmen. As many as 29 standards were counted and the next day more contingents of Afridis arrived. A force of 25,000 tribesmen was estimated. On September 12 before daybreak, about 20,000 tribesmen swarmed the ridge towards Saragarhi. Several thousand surrounded Gulistan Fort, while a third body cut off all links with Fort Lockhart. At about 9 a.m., the Saragarhi Fort was attacked by about 10,000 tribesmen. The post was not capable of prolonged defence against such odds owing to weakness in construction, location and troop strength, while the enemy was hoping for an easy victory. But it was not to be. The first attack was repulsed with heavy casualties to the enemy. Over the next six hours, a force, under Havaldar Ishar Singh, repulsed repeated attacks, with victory nowhere in sight for the attackers. The tribal chief, Gul Badshah, tried to allure the defenders and after failing, launched another attack. This time, however, two of the attackers managed to reach the north-west corner, where, shielded from fire, they managed to breach the fort wall. The tribesmen poured into the fort, but were checked with bayonets and pushed back. They then set fire to bushes and forced them into the breach, filling the fort with smoke. It was noticed from Fort Lockhart by the Battalion Commander, Lt Col Hargton, who led a relief force of 98 men, but was intercepted by the tribesmen and forced to fall back. All this while, the signaller, sepoy Gurmukh Singh kept up communication with the other two forts. His last message at 3 p.m. was that all his comrades were dead and that he wanted permission to close down the signal centre and use his rifle. On permission being granted, the sole survivor then took up his rifle and shot 20 tribesmen before being burnt alive. The tribesmen later admitted that they had lost 200 men with another 250 wounded in the battle. They also told of how the defenders had held on and that a wounded soldier had shot four of them when they tried to force their way into the fort. All dependants of the Saragarhi heroes were given two acres of land and financial assistance of Rs 500. In addition, September 12 was declared as a holiday for all Sikh soldiers. To commemorate the battle, an impressive obelisk was built at Fort Lockhart at Samana, which stands till today. The valour and gallantry displayed by the Sikhs has been summed up in a verse: “On Saragarhi’s ramparts died, the bravest of the brave. Beneath Saragarhi’s ruined walls, they found a fitting grave. For Saragarhi bears the fame, they gave their lives to save.”