Quick Info
| Profession | Soldier |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 12/09/1858 |
| Age | 39 years (died on 12, Sep, 1897) |
| Birthplace | Jhorran village near Jagraon tehsil, Ludhiana district, Punjab |
| Date of Death | 12/09/1897 |
Latest News about Havildar Ishar Singh
12/09/2025
The 128th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi was commemorated on 12 September 2025, with ceremonies held at Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwaras in India and Pakistan. Military officials and Sikh community leaders honored the bravery of Havildar Ishar Singh and the 21 Sikh soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice defending the fort against thousands of Afghan tribals.
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Bio/Wiki
| Havildar Ishar Singh was a Sikh soldier in the British Army and the leader of the 36th Sikh Regiment at the Battle of Saragarhi. | |
| He is remembered for leading the defense of Saragarhi against a much larger Afghan force on 12 September 1897. | |
| He was awarded the Indian Order of Merit Class III posthumously for his gallantry. | |
| His unit, the 36th Sikhs, is now known as the 4 Sikhs Regiment. |
Personal Life
| Place of Death | Tirah, North-West Frontier Province, British India (now Pakistan) |
|---|---|
| Age (at the time of death) | 39 |
| Death Cause | Martyred |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Sagittarius |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Caste | Jat |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status (at the time of death) | Married |
|---|---|
| Marriage Place | Jagraon, Ludhiana district, Punjab |
Family
| Wife/Spouse | Jiwani Kaur |
|---|---|
| Parents | Sardar Dulla Singh |
| Spouse | Jiwani Kaur |
Career
| Service | British Army |
|---|---|
| Rank | Havildar (Sergeant) |
| Unit/Regiment | 36th Sikh Regiment |
| Awards, Honours | Indian Order of Merit Class III (posthumously) |
| Service Number | 3491 |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Ishar was born into an agricultural family in Ludhiana. | |
| 2. He pursued his dream of becoming a soldier by joining the Punjab Frontier Force around the age of 18. | |
| 3. Serving under regimental number 165, he was drafted into the 36th Sikhs Regiment in 1887. | |
| 4. Major General James Lunt described Ishar Singh as having a somewhat rebellious nature, leading to clashes with his military superiors. | |
| 5. In August 1897, the 36th Sikhs, including a contingent of 21 Sikhs under Havildar Ishar Singh, were stationed in the North West Frontier Province. | |
| 6. Havildar Ishar Singh and his troop made the courageous decision to defend Saragarhi against a large Afghan force on 12 September 1897. | |
| 7. Following his demise, his wife was tragically killed by his own brother, who was subsequently imprisoned. | |
| 8. Two Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwaras were constructed in memory of the 21 Sikh soldiers from the 36th Sikh Regiment. | |
| 9. Each year on 12 September, 'Saragarhi Day' is commemorated to honor the bravery of these 21 Sikh soldiers. | |
| 10. After Ishar Singh, there were no further members from his family who joined the Army due to various reasons. | |
| 11. The 21 Sikh soldiers under his command fought for approximately 7 hours against over 8,000 to 12,000 Pashtun invaders. | |
| 12. It is estimated that the Sikh soldiers killed around 200 tribals and wounded 600 others during the battle. |