The unsung saga of 18tH ROYAL GARHWALI RIFLES

Indian National Movement: the longest struggle of freedom that any country in the world went through and what makes it all together different is its unique nature “Non Violence embedded with extremism” .Who were the real heroes? Gandhi? Bhagat Singh? Vallabh bhai Patel? They were the leaders ,what made the national movement successful was the participation of that common Indian man who believed in them,who actually thought that burning the foreign clothes would bring his/her country independence Yes it was these unnamed,unsung heroes that brought light to India in the midnight of 14^th august 1947

In this post  we will talk about one such hero _18^th ROYAL GARHWALI  RIFLES .the period was  1930 ,freedom movement was going through an inactive phase .On 25 april 1930 Events in Peshawar took a dramatic turn. Gaffar Khan’s Pathan movement (who were called khudai khidmatgars)stayed non violent ,but it attracted large number of pathans who joined them in the hope that they would free them of the clutches of exploitative moneylenders.In six months from 1929-1930 the congress membership rose to 50000 from 500 .The British freely used aerial bombardment and arrested Gaffar Khan

This led to a massive upsurge in Peshawar with crowds confronting armored troops and defying all laws leading to intensive firing at Kishakahani Bazaar .According to official estimates 30 were killed but the death toll in real was 250-300 .

  A remarkable incident took place .Two platoons of Second Battalion of 18^th ROYAL GARHWALI RIFLES .all Hindu troops facing a Muslim crowd  ,refused to fire,broke ranks and fraternized with the crowd handing over their weapons they were later to declare before their court martial and were shot by canons on the charges of sedition

That was the passion to die for the country,that was the extent of Hindu-Muslim Unity  ,that was the junoon when people did not fear death and lets salute those real heroes …………Never ever forget their sacrifice…………sehar