The numbers pertain to the immortalised souls fighting in two of the greatest battles the world has ever seen.
The first battle is the Battle of Thermopylae, the unforgettable battle between the vast army of Persian King Xerxes and the Heroic King of Sparta Leonidas with his 300 Spartan warriors. Leonidas and his Spartans died in defense of the highest human value Freedom. This battle is now hughely popular thanks to the movie 300, the adaptation of the battle.The performance of the defenders at the battle of Thermopylae is often used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as force multipliers, and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds.
The second battle is the Battle of Saragarhi. The bravest last stand ever seen by the world. The Battle of Saragarhi was fought during the Tirah Campaign on 12 September 1897 between twenty one Sikhs of the 4th Battalion (then 36th Sikhs) of the Sikh Regiment of British India, defending an army post, and 10000 Afghan and Orakzais tribesmen to the last stand. The battle occurred in the North-West Frontier Province, now a part of Pakistan, which then formed part of British India.
The contingent of the twenty-one Sikhs from the 36th Sikhs was led by Havildar Ishar Singh all chose to fight to the death. Only on the next day, was a relief column able to reach Saragarhi. The Afghans later admitted, "they had lost 4,800 men during the engagement" against the 21 Sikh soliders.
These glorious battles are also taught in schools of France and figures in the "Eight collective stories on bravery" published by the UNESCO. I wonder how many of we Indians have even heard of this battle!!
Thermopylae vs Saragarhi
The first battle is the Battle of Thermopylae, the unforgettable battle between the vast army of Persian King Xerxes and the Heroic King of Sparta Leonidas with his 300 Spartan warriors. Leonidas and his Spartans died in defense of the highest human value Freedom. This battle is now hughely popular thanks to the movie 300, the adaptation of the battle.The performance of the defenders at the battle of Thermopylae is often used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as force multipliers, and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds.
The second battle is the Battle of Saragarhi. The bravest last stand ever seen by the world. The Battle of Saragarhi was fought during the Tirah Campaign on 12 September 1897 between twenty one Sikhs of the 4th Battalion (then 36th Sikhs) of the Sikh Regiment of British India, defending an army post, and 10000 Afghan and Orakzais tribesmen to the last stand. The battle occurred in the North-West Frontier Province, now a part of Pakistan, which then formed part of British India.
The contingent of the twenty-one Sikhs from the 36th Sikhs was led by Havildar Ishar Singh all chose to fight to the death. Only on the next day, was a relief column able to reach Saragarhi. The Afghans later admitted, "they had lost 4,800 men during the engagement" against the 21 Sikh soliders.
These glorious battles are also taught in schools of France and figures in the "Eight collective stories on bravery" published by the UNESCO. I wonder how many of we Indians have even heard of this battle!!
Thermopylae vs Saragarhi
The ratio of the defending to the attacking force of ca. 1:476 (21 vs. 10,000) at Saragarhi, is reminiscent of the 1:285 ratio at Thermopylae (300 Spartans & 6,700 Greeks vs. 0.8 to 2.1 million). Based on modern estimates, the Persian Army numbered 150,000–200,000 producing a ratio of 1:29.
It is important to note that during the Battle of Saraghari, the British did not manage to get a relief unit there until after the 21 had fought to their deaths. At Thermopylae, the 300 Spartans also stayed after their lines had been breached, to fight to their deaths.
We do have a "300" for Thermopylae, but will we ever have "21" for Saragarhi??
