A painting of Sikh Akali Warriors by Emily Eden, 1844

[Druzhina]

A painting of Sikh Akali Warriors by Emily Eden, 1844

The Akalis (a.k.a. "Akalees"), "Immortals" or "Timeless Ones," is a specific class of Sikh warrior. Renowned for their bravery and ferocity, as well as for their distinctive headgear and other accoutrements, the Akalis personified the Sikh ideal of military courage and heroism.
Akali soldiers were renowned in the 19th century for their valour in defending the Sikh kingdoms of Punjab.

Are the Aklis mentioned in any accounts of battles?

Mirror site
A painting of Sikh Akali Warriors by Emily Eden, 1844

Druzhina
19th Century Indian Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

 

[matmohair1]

Spoiler

 

[Amman d Stazia]

Memoirs of Alexander Gardner
Battles of the nineteenth c., Herbert Compton
Six battles for India, George Bruce
History of the Sikhs vol.ii, Kushwant Singh

Or flashman and the mountain of light, if you are happy with historical FICTION....

The first four are quoted by GM Fraser as sources on passages regarding the Khalsa and Akalis.

 

[Druzhina]

Thanks matmofair1, I have tracked down the sources for a few of the images.

I have added more images of Sikh Akali warriors and their turbans:
Two Sikh Akalis, opaque watercolour on paper, Punjab Plain, c. 1840-1850
Akali turban; cotton over a wicker frame, with quoits and other embellishments of steel overlaid with gold; Lahore, Pakistan; mid-19th century
Akali turban, with steel quoits; Sikh, Punjab, mid 19th century
Painting, Akali Sikhs, opaque watercolour on paper, Lahore, ca. 1850
Painting, An Akali Sikh seated near the Golden Temple, by William Carpenter (1818-99), watercolour on paper, Amritsar, Punjab, India, 1854.
Akali Sikhs, Lahore, c. 1850. Freer|Sackler - The Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art
Sikh Akalis on the March, Lahore, c. 1885. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Mirror site
Sikh Akali warriors and their turbans

Memoirs of Alexander Gardner
Battles of the nineteenth c., Herbert Compton
Six battles for India, George Bruce
History of the Sikhs vol.ii, Kushwant Singh

Or flashman and the mountain of light, if you are happy with historical FICTION....

The first four are quoted by GM Fraser as sources on passages regarding the Khalsa and Akalis.

Thanks Amman.

Druzhina
19th Century Indian Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers