WE should appreciate and remember our national heroes, but we tend to ignore them. For instance, 40 freedom fighters were massacred by the British in Peshawar parade ground on June 10, 1857. This day should be observed with due solemnity in Pakistan, but that is not the case.

Unfortunately, while others pay rich tribute to their heroes, we forget ours and remain confused about various freedom movements against the British; be it 1857, the Frontier uprising of 1897, Jallianwala Bagh massacre or any other such event of historical significance.

The Pakistan government had in 2019 allowed New York-based Saragarhi Foundation to officially install plaques for 21 Sikhs from the 36th Sikh Regiment of British Indian Army who were killed by Mujahideen during the 1897-98 Tirah campaign at Fort Lockhart. The battle was fought at the Saragarhi hill near Hangu in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

We should also have appreciated the Mujahideen who fought so bravely against the British might in that battle, and a memorial for them should have been erected at the place. There is a dire need to carry out a serious research into various freedom movements from 1857 to date. The bravery of our freedom fighters should be taught in schools throughout Pakistan.

Muhammad Shahbaz
Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2026