RULES OF STORY-WRITING

 

There are some specific rules of writing a story:-

1.  Subject matter: - A story may have any subject.  An event or a sequence of events is kept in order in subject-matter. There are four steps of subject-matter: beginning, middle, climax and end.

i.   Beginning: - This is the initial part of the title of a story. There is no standard rule for it. A writer begins a story in his own style.

ii.  Middle: - This is the mid-point of the story, where the story is nearly divided into two equal parts.

iii. Climax: - This is the point, where the story seems to be approaching to its object through curiosity and suspense.

iv.      End: - This is the point, in which the object of the story is achieved.

2.  Selection of the Characters: - A story advances through action-reaction of one or more than one characters, as the story is based on any aspect of the life. A good story has common and real characters. In successful selection of character, writer creates a character in such a way that you come to be aware of his personality by his interaction with other characters or life.

3.  Conversation: - The mutual talk between two characters is called conversation. A story has conversation here or there to present real picture of life in it. The conversation in the story should be more real, brief and meaningful. Successful conversation brings out the inner artists of the characters.

4.  Environment: - The story-writer gets his subject-matter out of real life. He describes the social and cultural environment of the field out of which he selects his plot or character. A successful story-writer makes the reader be aware of whole environment by some fine touches.

5.  Style: - Every writer has an approach, which is called a style. But an approach becomes a style only when it becomes unique part of mentality of the writer.

6.  Object: - A writer observes the surroundings through his viewpoint and what he experiences from it, he presents in his article. This experience of him is the object of the story.

BATTLE OF SARAGARHI

CHARACTERS:

Havildar Ishar Singh	(Regimental No. 165)
Naik Lal Singh	(Regimental No. 332)
Naik Chanda Singh	(Regimental No. 546)
Lance Naik Sundar Singh	(Regimental No. 1321)
Lance Naik Ram Singh	(Regimental No. 287)
Lance Naik Uttar Singh	(Regimental No. 492)
Lance Naik Sahib Singh	(Regimental No. 182)
Sepoy Hira Singh	(Regimental No. 359)
Sepoy Daya Singh	(Regimental No. 687)
Sepoy Jivan Singh	(Regimental No. 760)
Sepoy Bhola Singh	(Regimental No. 791)
Sepoy Narayan Singh	(Regimental No. 834)
Sepoy Gurmukh Singh	(Regimental No. 814)
Sepoy Jivan Singh	(Regimental No. 871)
Sepoy Gurmukh Singh	(Regimental No. 1733)
Sepoy Ram Singh	(Regimental No. 163)
Sepoy Bhagwan Singh	(Regimental No. 1257)
Sepoy Bhagwan Singh	(Regimental No. 1265)
Sepoy Buta Singh	(Regimental No. 1556)
Sepoy Jivan Singh	(Regimental No. 1651)
Sepoy Nand Singh	(Regimental No. 1221)
Col. Haughton	(British Army Colonel)

The essence of bravery is doing action in spite of fear.  A soldier feels as though he is acting in support of a greater cause when he follows moral principles despite the dangers. On a group level, bravery is inspiring. At Saragarhi, one of the deadliest battles in Indian history took place in 19th century which is a unique example of bravery.

The British Army constructed a modest communications station at Saragarhi in the Samana Range of the Hindu Kush Mountains, which would house a little detachment of soldiers. The area had historically been unstable, and British India's control over the North West Frontier was shaky in the last quarter of the 19th century. In fact, in the years leading up to the battle of Saragarhi, a number of expeditions had been dispatched to the area to preserve order and put down insurrection. The actual Saragarhi was not much more than a signal tower and a modest brick dwelling. It was built to facilitate communication between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan, two more prominent British outposts that were separated by a considerable distance but were still located on either side of Saragarhi. With the aid of a heliograph, Saragarhi was able to communicate using sunlight flashes that were communicated in a manner similar to telegraphic transmission (also known as Morse code). The actual flashes were produced by either turning a mirror or cutting off a light source.

The British had just recently put an end to a Pashtun tribal rebellion in the Malakand region (later known as the Siege of Malakand) when tensions in the area began to rise in the summer of 1897. The Pashtun population rose up in general by the month's end, and by the first of September, they were actively trying to seize British Army posts, including attacks on Fort Gulistan on September 3 and September 9. After the battle on September 9th, a few soldiers were left on the soldiers' return journey to strengthen the tiny detachment at Saragarhi. This was done in order to combat the Pashtun attacks. Troops were deployed from Fort Lockhart to reinforce Fort Gulistan. The 36th Sikhs (now the 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment), which was stationed at an army post attacked by some 10,000 Afghans, comprised 21 Sikhs from the British Indian contingent. Havildar Ishar Singh served as the contingent's leader.

On September 12, 1897, at around 9 a.m., 10,000 Pashtuns stormed Saragarhi in an effort to cut off all contact between Forts Lockhart and Gulistan. To his amazement, signalman Gurmukh Singh noticed attackers approaching the post as he peered out into the distance in the morning.  Col. Haughton, who is in Fort Lockhart, receives a signal from Sardar Gurmukh Singh that they are being attacked. Colonel Haughton says he is unable to send Saragarhi quick assistance. Gurmukh Singh hurriedly descended from his tower and discovered his commanding officer, Havildar (Sergeant) Ishar Singh, who estimated that there were between 10,000 and 20,000 riflemen in the area. Oh, and an unspecified quantity of heavy artillery.

Havildar Ishar Singh called his garrison together for an emergency meeting. Standing before him in the tiny courtyard of this small, mud-and-stone garrison was the entire detachment of the 36th Sikhs assigned to the defence of this critical strategic outpost – all 20 men of it. Havaldar Isher Singh  asked his fellow soldiers,

" Are you ready for the occasion?"

"Yes, we will fight to the last," someone answered among them.

He shouts Sikh slogan,

"Bole So Nihal"

All respond in one voice,

"Sat Sri Akal".

The non-commissioned officer explained to his troops that they were likely the last line of defense between the horde of bloodthirsty warriors and the heart of India. These 21 soldiers were the only thing even remotely capable of slowing down a coordinated tactical strike that was certain to catch the British and Indian defenders off guard and cause havoc throughout the region, the non-commissioned officer said calmly, honestly, and without fear. In addition, he assured them that even while he was aware of the gravity of the situation, he wasn't about to send his soldiers into a battle they had no chance of winning and order them to die. The men had to decide whether to maintain their ground and repel the attack for as long as they could while dying bravely in battle, or to give up and flee to the adjacent Fort Lockhart where a larger British army was stationed. He asked the men to vote on it. They had to stand as a unit since they would all be engaged in combat, serving, dying, or escaping at the same time. Twenty men cast votes for staying. To keep the enemy from reaching the forts, the soldiers decide to battle to the last end.

Between 10,000 and 14,000 Pashtuns, according to Colonel Haughton, are advancing on Saragarhi. The nearest British outpost, which was barely visible in the distance over the crest, was informed of the situation, the number of enemy soldiers present, and the type of equipment they were carrying by the garrison's signalman, Gurmukh Singh, who was working his signaling equipment in the meantime. According to reports, there were two reportedly concerted efforts to force open the fence, but they failed. According to reports, the Pashtun troops' commanders made assurances to the men to induce their surrender. Unfazed, the Sikh soldiers vowed to battle till the very end to stop the invading Pashtuns from getting to the other forts. The 21 defenders shielded themselves with their enormous bulletproof balls, kicked down the ladders, and barfed out enough rifle fire to drive the attackers back on two separate occasions. On both occasions, the Pashtun threw themselves at the walls of Saragarhi, climbing the walls on ladders and firing heavy rifle and cannon fire into the fortress. A group of Pashtun sappers eventually broke through a particularly weak spot in the outer defenses, crept inside, and set fire to the fort when the Sikhs were severely outnumbered by attacks from all sides. Later, the barrier was broken down. The remaining enemy soldiers were able to push in and breach the fort's outer walls, storming into the courtyard, their positions hidden by the smoke and flames, and the Sikhs preoccupied with putting out the fires in their blazing fortress.

Lal Singh suffered a critical injury, and Bhagwan Singh was the first to get hurt. Bhagwan Singh's body was reportedly transported back to the inner layer of the post by soldiers Lal Singh and Jiwa Singh. Following it, some of the most intense hand-to-hand combat took place. Ishar Singh displayed extraordinary bravery by instructing his soldiers to retreat into the inner layer while he continued to battle. Havildar Ishar Singh gave his men the order to retreat inside the fort's interior, fortify the walls, and keep firing on the assailants who were now swarming over the defenses. In courageous hand-to-hand fight against an impossibly large horde of rifle-wielding tribesmen, Havildar Ishar Singh pulled his dagger, charged into the horde, and died. So even now, seven hours into the conflict, with their leader dead, their ammunition running inadequate, and their fort engulfing them in flames, the Sikhs continued to stick it to the Pashtuns with everything they had.

The heliograph operator, Gurmukh Singh was the last to die, after being burned to death when the Pashtuns set fire to the post. He is stated to have killed 20 Afghans.

He shouts, "Jo Bole So Nihal".

There was silence. He waits for a moment and then answers himself, "Sat Sri Akal ".

He is reported to have repeatedly yelled until the end, the Sikh battle cry, “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal,” meaning “Shout aloud in ecstasy! True is the great Timeless One.” Faces of his friends and family members appear in his visualization. He whispers, "Thank God". And then he breathes his last.

Although no Sikh survived the battle, their sacrifice sufficiently delayed the Pashtuns such that reinforcements were able to arrive at the Pashtuns’ ultimate target, Fort Gulistan, in time to stop its fall. In addition to the 21 Sikh dead, reports of Pashtun losses ranged from between 180 and 600. The Pashtuns later admitted that they had lost about 180 killed and many more wounded during the engagement against the 21 Sikh soldiers, but some 600 bodies were said to have been seen around the ruined post when the relief party arrived. After Saragarhi, the Pashtun moved on to the nearby Fort Gulistan, but the delay at Saragarhi had cost them the element of surprise – the men at Fort Gulistan were ready for them, and they held the attack back while freshly-arrived British heavy artillery dropped a few hundred high explosive shells right into the middle of the enemy horde.

One of the fiercest fights ever fought in the realm of bravery, leadership, and devotion to the point of death is still regarded as the battle of Saragarhi, which took place 125 years ago. It is regarded as one of the top eight battles in the world history.