Saragarhi

Balbir Singh Nagra

With Saragarhi, Jessi Thind returns to the unique hybrid of historical fact and fiction that earned him acclaim for Lions of the Sea, Lions on the Western Front and other such novels. What is especially unique about this small book (I think it runs less than 120 pages, fantastic pages!) is the author's dedication to his father. In it he thanks his father for telling him stories he would have otherwise never heard about.

It is interesting that the author felt Saragarhi was one of those stories, one that history had missed. I am by no means challenging this. I think for the most part he's right. I also feel that perhaps the only reason we've been hearing about Saragarhi as of late is because of Frank Miller's film, 300. Otherwise, I am not so convinced there would be much talk about Saragarhi. Perhaps I am wrong. Who is to say? In any case, I felt a great sense of responsibility with this novel, a need to tell a story that has been overlooked by a country and a people who constantly put to question the Sikh baptismal uniform.

Saragarhi is a winning combination of action, politics and history that provides the perfect starting point for discussions about Sikhs in Europe with regards to their baptismal uniform. These 21 Sikhs died protecting the Empire, they were all awarded the Victoria Cross, and though they are scarcely remembered in history books, they will be forever remembered by us so long as we continue to tell their story. Of course, like Bhagat Singh there will be countless films and interpretations of what happened, but I would be hard pressed to watch a movie after reading this book. The characters and images the author evokes are cinematic if not true to life.

Energetic, powerful, and tremendously engaging, Saragarhi is a wonderful piece of writing that quite honestly serves as a much-needed dose of self-esteem for a community that has taken one too many cheap shots in the belly by mainstream media. It did my Punjabi heart good!

Copyright ©2008 Balbir Singh Nagra .   About The Author