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{{short description|Indian Sikh Havildar (1850s–1897)}}
{{distinguish|Ishar Singh}}
{{Infobox military person
|honorific_prefix = ''Havildar''
|name = Ishar Singh
|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|IOM|IDSM}}
|image = Havildar Ishar Singh.jpg
|image_upright =
|alt =
|caption =
|native_name =
|native_name_lang =
|birth_name =
|other_name =
|nickname =
|birth_date = 1850s
|birth_place = [[Jagraon]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|India]]
|death_date = September 12, 1897
|death_place = [[Tirah]], [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–55)|North-West Frontier Province]], India
|placeofburial =
|placeofburial_label =
|placeofburial_coordinates = 
|allegiance = {{flagcountry|British Raj}}
|branch = {{army|British Raj}}
|branch_label = Branch
|serviceyears = ~1887 – 1897
|serviceyears_label =
|rank = [[Havildar]]
|rank_label =
|servicenumber =
|unit =
|commands = [[36th Sikhs]]
|known_for =
|battles = [[Tirah Campaign]]
*[[Battle of Saragarhi]]{{KIA}}
|battles_label =
|awards =
|memorials =
|alma_mater =
|spouse = 
|children =
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}}

'''Ishar Singh''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|IOM|IDSM}} was an Indian-Sikh [[Havildar]] and war hero of the [[36th Sikhs]]. He was known leading the regiment on a [[last stand]] against the 10-12,000 strong Afghan Army with only 20 other men at the [[Battle of Saragarhi]]. After sustaining enough resistance, Singh was fighting alone but refused to surrender and fought to the death along with the rest.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Jangveer Singh|title=The saga of sacrifice at Saragarhi: It is still on the fringes of Indian history|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040911/edit.htm#6|website=[[Tribune India]]|access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref>

==Early Military Career==
While his birth date is unknown, he was born at [[Jagraon]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]] into an agricultural family hailing from [[Ludhiana]]. Singh had an aspiration for becoming a soldier and when he turned 18, he joined the [[Punjab Frontier Force]]. He was initially assigned to Regiment No. 165 of the Regiment before being drafted in the 36th Sikhs Regiment in 1887.<ref name="Youth">{{Cite web|author=Chirali Sharma|title=Who Was Havildar Ishar Singh, The Man Who Led 20 Sikh Soldiers Against 10,000 Afghans?|url=https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2019/02/who-was-havildar-ishar-singh-the-man-who-led-20-sikh-soldiers-against-10000-afghans/|date=February 12, 2019|website=Youth Ki Awaaz|access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref> Major General James Lunt described him as:
{{Blockquote
|text=Ishar Singh was a somewhat turbulent character whose independent nature had brought him more than once into support with his military superiors. Thus Ishar Singh — in camp, a nuiscance, in field, magnificent.
}}

==Battle of Saragarhi==
{{main|Battle of Saragarhi}}
Despite initial British success within the [[Samana Range]], the Pashtuns continued to harass the British forces. Near the area stood Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan but both weren't visible due to the terrain. As a result, the Saragarhi outpost was established to give easier communications between the two forts but after the Pashtuns allied with the [[Afridis]], the outpost became endangered from local uprisings which combined to a force of 10,000 to 12,000.<ref name="LansfordTom">{{cite book |author=Tom Lansford |title=Afghanistan at War: From the 18th-Century Durrani Dynasty to the 21st Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XxwIDgAAQBAJ&q=600+killed+saragarhi&pg=PA408 |year=2017 |page=408 |isbn=9781598847604 |quote=The Orakzais were joined by Afridis swelling their numbers to more than 10000. Groups of the tribesmen attacked Sangar on the night of September 11. The post was on a high ridge and well fortified. Although there were only 44 Sikh troops, the garrison repulsed the attack. The following morning, the natives attacked Saragarhi. The garrison numbered 21 Sikhs, led by Havildar Ishar Singh. Instead of withdrawing to one of the other posts, the Sikhs decided to remain in an effort to maintain communication between the two forts.}}</ref><ref name="SharmaGautam">{{cite book |author1=Sharma, Gautam |title=Valour and Sacrifice: Famous Regiments of the Indian Army |date=1990 |publisher=Allied Publishers |isbn=978-8170231400 |page=185 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xLrTzZd0j1kC&pg=PA185 |access-date=22 February 2019 |quote=A mass attack came on Saragarhi on September 12 and the 21 strong detachment fought one of the most unequal engagements in the history of warfare. There were fierce onslaughts by the 10,000 Orakzai and Afridi tribesmen. The outnumbered defenders returned the fire in a most determined manner. After a series of abortive attempts, the tribesmen managed to reach the wall of the post by using an ingenious method. Effecting a breach, they were face to face with the brave Sikhs, most of whom had been wounded.}}</ref>

By this point, Singh was in his early 40s, given full command of Saragarhi and was married but had no children.<ref name="Indian Express">{{Cite web|author=Manraj Grewal Sharma|title=Explained: Why the Battle of Saragarhi continues to inspire India & world, 124 years on|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/battle-of-saragarhi-explained-when-21-men-fought-thousands-7503623/|date=September 14, 2021|website=The Indian Express|access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref> With the small garrison consisting of 3 officers and 18 other ranked soldiers, all 21 men including Singh fought to the death. With no water or food, the Sikhs fought for 8 hours, managing to kill 250 to 4,800 men with each Sikh killing over 228 Afghans before all of them met their fate.<ref>''Saragarhi Battalion: Ashes to Glory'' {{ISBN|8170620228}} by Kanwaljit Singh and H.S.</ref>

==Legacy==
In recognition of their supreme sacrifice, the [[British Parliament]] rose to pay them respect, and each one of them was posthumously awarded the [[Indian Order of Merit]] and the [[Indian Distinguished Service Medal]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=C.C. Jackson|title=History of the 4th Battalion 16th Punjab Regiment|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_the_4th_Battalion_16th_Punjab/jj--BAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=havildar+ishar+singh+biography&pg=PA152&printsec=frontcover|date=January 11, 2012|publisher=Naval & Military Press|pages=152|access-date=September 7, 2022|isbn=9781781498194}}</ref> The service of the 36th Sikh has been memorialized by the Sikh as the day of the battle, September 12th, is celebrated as "Saragarhi Day".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shri |title=21 Sikhs clashed with ten thousand Pathans- Battle of saragarhi |url=https://www.wiki.meramaal.com/2019/08/28/21-sikhs-clashed-with-ten-thousand-pathans-battle-of-saragarhi/ |access-date=31 January 2020 |work=Meramaal |date=28 August 2019}}</ref> He was portrayed by [[Akshay Kumar]] in the film ''[[Kesari (2019 film)|Kesari]]''.<ref name="Youth"/> Singh was also portrayed by [[Randeep Hooda]] for the cover of ''The 36th Sikhs in the Tirah Campaign 1897-98 – Saragarhi and the defence of the Samana forts'' by Amarinder Singh.<ref name="Indian Express"/> On September 12, 2021, a statue of Singh was erected at [[Wolverhampton]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] to commemorate the 124th anniversary of the battle.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Neel Kamal|title=124 years on, Saragarhi valour immortalised in UK|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/saragarhi-monument-comes-up-in-uk-on-124th-anniversary/articleshow/86151292.cms|date=September 13, 2021|website=Times of India|access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Ishar}}
[[Category:1850s births]]
[[Category:1897 deaths]]
[[Category:Sikh warriors]]
[[Category:British Indian Army personnel killed in action]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Punjab, India]]

Ishar Singh (havildar) - Revision history

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