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The Sikh Regiment
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The Sikh Regiment
The Sikh Regiment is the most highly decorated regiment of the Indian Army, with 73 Battle Honours, 14 Victoria Crosses, 15 Theatre Honours and 5 COAS Unit Citations besides 2 Param Vir Chakras, 14 Maha Vir Chakras, 5 Kirti Chakras, 67 Vir Chakras and 1596 other gallantry awards.
The Sikh Regimental Centre is presently located in Ramgarh Cantonment, 30 km from the Ranchi, Jharkhand. Over its life of more than 150 years, the regiment has participated in various actions and operations both in the pre and post-independence era in India and abroad, including the First and the Second World War.
With a humble beginning of two battalions, today the fraternity has grown 20 battalions strong. The war cry of regiment is: Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal (He who cries God is Truth, attains bliss).
(One of the oldest Regts in Indian Army)
The Battle of Saragarhi, and the Sikh officers and soldiers (British Empire Army) who fought in it, is considered one of the greatest stories of collective bravery in human history. UNESCO has described the Battle of Saragarhi, September 12 1897, as one of eight stories of collective bravery. The contingent of the twenty-one Sikhs from the 36th Sikhs was led by Havildar Ishar Singh, and held off an Afghan attack of 10,000 men. All 21 Sikh soldiers chose to fight to the death instead of surrendering.
In recognition of their supreme sacrifice, the British Parliament rose to pay them respect, and each one of them was awarded the Indian Order of Merit (equal to Victoria Cross). The battle has been ranked, in the West, as one of very few events in history of such bravery that it has been compared to the Battle of Thermopylae, where a small Greek force faced a large Persian army of Xerxes (480 BC). School children in France are taught about The Battle of Saragarhi, as part of the official education syllabus for heroic valour. Sikh military personnel and Sikh non-military people commemorate the battle around the World every year on September 12th, it is referred to as Saragarhi Day.
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The Sikh Regiment is one of the highest decorated regiments of the Indian Army, with 72 Battle Honours, 15 Theatre Honours and 5 COAS Unit Citations besides 2 Param Vir Chakras, 14 Maha Vir Chakras, 5 Kirti Chakras, 67 Vir Chakras and 1596 other gallantry awards. The chequered history of the Regiment spanning 154 years is bloodied with heroic deeds of valour and courage which have few parallels if any. Although the Regiment's official history dates back to 1846, the biological heritage has its roots in the noble teachings and sacrifices made by the ten Gurus. The Sikh Regiment of today has imbibed the culture and chivalry of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh's erstwhile Khalsa Army.
The Battalions:
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- 5th Battalion
- 6th Battalion
- 7th Battalion
- 8th Battalion
- 10th Battalion
- 11th Battalion
- 13th Battalion
- 14th Battalion
- 16th Battalion
- 17th Battalion
- 18th Battalion
- 19th Battalion
- 20th Battalion
- 21st Battalion
- 22nd Battalion
- 1st Battalion is now 4th Mech. Inf.
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