The Sikh Regiment is the highest decorated regiment of the Indian Army, with 72 Battle Honours, 15 Theatre Honours and 5 COAS Unit Citations and 1596 other gallantry awards. A battle honour is a military tradition practiced in the Commonwealth countries of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand and is an official acknowledgement rewarded to military units for their achievements in specific wars or operations of a military campaign. ... The quoit is a brooch popular during Saxon times. ... British regiment A regiment is a military unit, consisting of a variable number of battalions - commanded by a colonel. ... The Indian Army is the largest branch of the Armed Forces of India and has the primary responsibility of conducting land-based military operations. ...

The Sikh Regimental Centre is presently located in Ramgarh Cantonment, 30 km from the Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state in India. The Centre was earlier located in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh State. A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military quarters, typically in South India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. ... For the ship, see SS Ranchi. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has a second meaning based on an alternative sense of capital) is the principal city or town associated with a countrys government. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

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. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

With a humble beginning of two battalions, today the fraternity has grown 20 battalions strong.

Infantry are recruited from the Jat, Rajput, Khatri and Ramgarhia Sikh Communities.

The war cry of regiment is: Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal (He who cries God is Truth, attains bliss)

Brief History

Maharaja Ranjit Singh brought the then Punjab to "Khalsa Panth" and formed the Sikh Khalsa Army. Following battles by the Khalsa Army, XIV Ferozepur (1 Sikh, now 4 Mechanised Infantry), and XV Ludhiana (2 Sikh) were raised from the soldiers of the vanquished force on August 1, 1846. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjabi: ), also called by the famous title Sher-e-Punjab (The Lion of the Punjab) (1780-1839) was a Sikh emperor of the Sikh Empire. ... Sikh Khalsa Army (1801-1849) was the military force of the Sikh Empire responsible for land warfare, land defence, and all responsibilities, last and final, for the protection of the Empires political institutions and national security. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The Sikh Regiment came into existence on 1 August 1846, with the raising of Regiment of Ferozepore Sikhs and Regiment of Ludhiana Sikhs by Captain G. Tebbs and Lieutenant Colonel P. Gordon respectively. The regiments were raised by reorganizing the armed forces of Maharaja Ranjit Singh by the then British rulers of India. August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjabi: ), also called by the famous title Sher-e-Punjab (The Lion of the Punjab) (1780-1839) was a Sikh emperor of the Sikh Empire. ...

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 Sikh Gurus. Sikhism was established by ten Gurus, teachers or masters, over the period 1469 to 1708. ...

Battle of Saragarhi and the Sikh Regiment

UNESCO has described the Battle of Saragarhi, and the Sikh soldiers (The Sikh Regiment) who fought in it (listed below), as one of eight stories of greatest collective bravery in the world. The contingent of the twenty one Sikhs was led by Havildar Ishar Singh, and all 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. In the West, it has been compared to the Battle of Thermopylae. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Havildar Ishar Singh was the leader of the 36th Sikhs of the Sikh Regiment. ... First Class Second Class // History The medal was first introduced by the East India Company in 1837. ... Combatants Greek-city states Persian Empire Commanders Leonidas I † Xerxes I the Great of Persia Strength 300 Spartans 700 Thespians 6,000 other Greek allies2 60,000-2,000,000 (estimates vary)1 Casualties 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians; 1,400 Greek allies in total. ...

• Havildar Ishar Singh
• Naik Lal Singh
• Lance Naik Chanda Singh
• Sepoy Sundar Singh
• Sepoy Ram Singh
• Sepoy Uttar Singh
• Sepoy Sahib Singh
• Sepoy Hira Singh
• Sepoy Daya Singh
• Sepoy Jivan Singh
• Sepoy Bhola Singh
• Sepoy Narayan Singh
• Sepoy Gurmukh Singh
• Sepoy Jivan Singh
• Sepoy Gurmukh Singh
• Sepoy Ram Singh
• Sepoy Bhagwan Singh
• Sepoy Bhagwan Singh
• Sepoy Buta Singh
• Sepoy Jivan Singh
• Sepoy Nand Singh

Havildar Ishar Singh was the leader of the 36th Sikhs of the Sikh Regiment. ...

Units

Regimental Battalion

• 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

Sikh Soldier in Ceremonial Turban

Sikh helmet

Others Image File history File linksMetadata Sikh_Soldier_in_Ceremonial_Turban,_Indian_Army. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Sikh_Soldier_in_Ceremonial_Turban,_Indian_Army. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (592x1024, 404 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (592x1024, 404 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

• 1st Battalion is now 4th Mechanised Infantry.
• 9th Battalion was disbanded in 1984

Operation Bluestar

Following Operation Bluestar, a large number of recruits at Ramgarh mutinied. They shot and killed the Commandant of the Sikh Regimental Center, Brigadier S.C. Puri and wounded some other officers. They then got hold of a number of trucks and started to proceed towards Punjab, but were stopped by army men in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The Operation Blue Star (also known as the Golden Temple Massacre) (June 4 to June 6, 1984) was the Indian military raid of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, the holiest temple of the Sikh religion. ... Mutiny is the act of conspiring to disobey an order that a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the military; or the crew of any ship, even if they are civilians) is legally obliged to obey. ... Bihar (Hindi: बिहार, Urdu: بہار, IPA: ,  ) is a state of the Indian union situated in the eastern part of the country. ... Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: , Urdu: ‎, translation: Northern Province, IPA: ,  ), also popularly known by its abbreviation U.P., is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Republic of India. ...

A large part of 9 Sikh which was in the Ganganagar area of Rajasthan mutinied. This battalion was disbanded on April 1, 1985. Following Operation Bluestar, the then COAS, General Arun S. Vaidya wanted to have more mixed battalions. So he passed an order that single class battalions should begin recruiting other classes as well as their parent class. These mixed battalion came to be known as Vaidya's Battalions. The 13 Sikh is the Vaidya battalion and its class composition consists of a company each of Sikhs, Dogras, Garhwalis and South Indians. Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... Mutiny is the act of conspiring to disobey an order that a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the military; or the crew of any ship, even if they are civilians) is legally obliged to obey. ... It has been suggested that April Fools Day be merged into this article or section. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Operation Blue Star (also known as the Golden Temple Massacre) (June 4 to June 6, 1984) was the Indian military raid of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, the holiest temple of the Sikh religion. ... General Arun S. Vaidya General Arun Shridhar Vaidya, MVC(Bar), AVSM (Died: 25 August 1986)was the 15th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army. ... A Sikh man wearing a turban The adherents of Sikhism are called Sikhs. ... South India is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India. ...

Awards and Citations

In all, the Regiment has to its credit 1652 gallantry awards and honours including

• 10 Victoria Crosses
• 2 Param Vir Chakra
  • Lance Naik Karam Singh in 1948 during Kashmir operations.
  • Subedar Joginder Singh during the Chinese Aggression of 1962.
• 14 Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)
• 68 Vir Chakra.

In addition it has also earned Victoria Cross medal, ribbon, and bar. ... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ... Lance Naik (L/Nk) was the equivalent rank to Lance Corporal in the British Indian Army, ranking below Naik. ... Lance Naik Karam Singh, PVC Lance Naik Karam Singh was born on 15 September 1915, in Barnala, Punjab . ... The Maha Vir Chakra medal The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. ... MVC may refer to: Motor Vehicle Crash, used in medical records indicating the cause of injury Model-view-controller, a software architecture scheme New Jerseys Motor Vehicle Commission The Missouri Valley Conference, a collegiate athletic conference in the midwestern USA The IATA airport code for Monroe County Airport in...

• 73 battle honours
• 38 theatre honours besides four COAS Unit Citation, including
  • the one bestowed upon 8 Sikh during the 1999 Kargil episode
  • and two "Bravest of the Brave" citations.

The Museum of the Regimental Centre displays a record of the Sikh Regiment in four halls viz.,

• The Religious/motivational Hall,
• The Hall of Heritage,
• The Regimental Glory Hall
• The Peripheral Gallery.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) made a special instant award of "Unit Citation" to 8th Battalion, The Sikh Regiment for their meritorious and gallant performance during the isolation of Tiger Hill, which facilitated the capture of Tiger Hill top and battles of Helmet and India Gate, features to the West of Tiger Hill top, on night 07/08 July 1999, in Dras Sector. This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

During Operation Vijay, the unit displayed sterling performance marked with exceptional valour and grit in the face of the enemy.

Alliances

•  United Kingdom - The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border)

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The Duke of Lancasters Regiment (Kings, Lancashire and Border) is one of the new large infantry regiments of the British Army. ...

Bibliography

• 1st King George V's own battalion,: The Sikh Regiment

External links

• globalsecurity.org: The Sikh Regiment
• Bharat-Rakshak.com: The Sikh Regiment
• Some old images of Sikh Soldiers
• Where Valor Is a Tradition.