Saragarhi-Not a Sikh-Vs-Muslim Battle Inadvertently, or on purpose, the movie gives a Sikh- versus-Muslim colour to one of the greatest last stands in international military records. The infusion, to my view, does seem to be playing to the bhagva gallery of present-day powerbrokers. If that's true, let me remind you that the Khalsa's kesri is not bhagva, both visually and symbolically. The original kesri Sikh flags — called Nishan Sahib — were basanti or yellowish in hue, not reddish or bhagva. Also, it was not a 'dharam yudh' for the Khalsa when 21 soldiers of the 36 Sikhs of the British Indian army stood their ground gallantly and fought to the death against 10,000 marauding tribesmen. Rather, it was the soldierly spirit — courage, commit- ment and loyalty — of the Khalsa that worked inherently. No one changed — or had to change — their army's dress-codes to invoke something dormant for some religious battle ahead. But you did it while playing Havildar Ishar Singh, the leader at Saragarhi. In reality, the 21 soldiers fought with their splendid khaki turbans of the 36 Sikh uniform. Researchers in the modern British army I spoke with also reject as fiction scenes showing Sikh soldiers building mosques around villages in Saragarhi in Kesari. "They would not have gone into the Muslim villages or indeed built masjids; they had many more tasks to perform
in shoring up the defences of their own positions and in their camps," says Captain Jay Singh-Sohal, a serving member of the British Army Reserves and writer and producer of a ground-breaking documentary on Saragarhi. Further, Akshay, while playing Havildar Ishar Singh, you are also shown leaving the post to hold a dialogue mid- battle with the enemy forces. Was there time to talk to the enemy? Historians are debating certain sequences shown in Kesari. I am sorry but that didn't happen in documented history. As for the talks, it was not for the Sikhs to parley with the Pathans -- they had strict orders to follow," Sohal told me. "The Pathans did give overtures that they could leave in safety, but these were given from afar and certainly not face to face." Bollywood takes its own liberties with some communi- ties and histories. But why tamper with facts already so rich — unless there is possibly external influence? That said, I thank you, dear Akshay, for Kesari. The tale it weaves around the real Saragarhi story has engaged audi- ences. At a time when critical thinking is being muzzled, we are debating how not to mindlessly absorb everything that Bollywood churns out in the name of artistic licence. And that's a good thing.
51 www.indiaparentmagazine.org
April 2019
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