A Sarbat Khalsa (Sikh National open meeting) was convened on April 29, 1986. This came in the wake of the massive sociopolitical upheavals our homeland had witnessed over the past few years since 1978. It was left for the people to decide in the most democratic form of the Sarbat Khalsa to decide the fate of the Khalsa nation. The vision and valor of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who can be said to be the guiding light of the movement for freedom was reverently remembered. All in all, the resurgent Khalsa agreed to follow the path shown by this revolutionary Sikh leader the like of whom we had not seen in this century.
Four years ago, we the Sikhs, had firmly resolved not to rest till an independent Khalistan was a reality. This was the only solution to all our social, political and religious problems. We were at a crucial crossroad in our history and the congregation decided that the time for a parting of the ways had come.
The Khalsa was to be master of his own destiny. The mistakes of Sikh leaders had proved unstatesman like and painfully expensive.
‘Sikhs who had in just four decades proved to be the most productive and successful community in India were at first the victims of not so discreet discrimination which did not take long to change to open hostility and aggression. This rage fueled by jealously led to an attack on the holiest shrine of Harmandir Sahib the very Mecca, the Vatican of the Sikhs. Not a single Sikh, no matter what his political affiliation could tolerate this barbarous act and will never forgive it.
‘These past four years the youth of our nation has taken upon itself to ensure that never again would such a heinous crime be permitted again; never again would our women and children be killed in places of worship or in city streets; never again would our women and children be tortured and killed in jails.
We have come a long way since April 29, 1986. Freedom is closer to reality. The sacrifices have been great and many and the struggle has been intense. Guerrilla warfare in the worst possible terrain of open flatlands has been perfected so that while the army of occupation has grown larger our losses have been smaller.
A new and very significant factor has come into play. The Kashmiris to the north of us have also realized that Delhi’s false promises would enslave them forever. They have not only vindicated the Sikh stand but have also picked up the gun as the only means of achieving their long cherished dreams.
As the desperation in Delhi grows, expect rash and ill-advised moves like a war with Pakistan. Things often get worse before they get better.
Four years ago we firmly set out on a course of constructive action to achieve freedom. This Vaisakhi in thousands of gurdwaras the world over Sikhs sought the Almighty’s blessing in this endeavor and rededicated themselves to seeing the saffron Nishan Sahib fluttering free over Khalistan.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 27, 1990
