WSN Special Report by: M. Daniells
Every generation and culture has an event that, for them, is the defining moment of their lives. For those of my parent’s age, 1L1s the moment when President Franklin Roosevelt’s voice came over the radio announcing that on Dee 7, 1942, Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor and that the day would live ‘forever in infamy.’ World War II began for the US. For my generation it was the assassination of President John F, Kennedy. Everyone I know can tell you where they were and what they were doing on that Nov day in 1962. But for the Sikhs of many generations and homelands, it’s the 6th of June 1984, India’s day of Infamy, when the tanks rolled through the Holiest of Sikh Shrines, the Golden Temple complex, and made martyrs of the thousands of innocents who were worshipping on the martyrdom day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji,
The stage had been set for such an act decades earlier. When the colonialist Brahmins were Left in power after partition, it became evident that any viable attempt at true democracy would be sup pressed. The post partition Sikhs were so suspicious of Brahmin motives that they never even signed onto the Indian constitution in the first place, Intelligent, industrious Members of the traditionally martial culture, the Sikhs were both a well-regarded ally and a well-respected adversary.
But, as Akali and Congress battles begun to be politically waged, it became apparent to the “Gandhi Raj’ that something had to be done about maintaining power. Overt rules, regulations and bureaucratic boondoggling were used to strangle the economy of the Punjab, rob it of its wealth and punish it for the very qualities of which its people were most proud. Industries were denied permits to operate, Life giving water was siphoned off to arid regions. And the proud Punjabi’s were denied their language and their livelihood.
Yet the basic demand of the people remained a simple one. Autonomy, state’s rights, a voice in local affairs. This simple re quest became a threat to the “Powers that be “What if everyone wished to exercise this right The pyramid would collapse and the Delhi Raj would lie in the dust.
The propaganda machine went into action, the movement for State autonomy was termed “secessionist’ and therefore to be quashed. Slowly and surely various Hindu factions were Convinced of the Sikh subversion in their midst. Communal Passion Were subtly aroused, thereby maintaining an anti Akali union that would guarantee Indira another term in office. It is often the case that the temptations of a clever enemy are difficult to recognize. Also true is the fact that a cunning enemy will use a trusted figure to betray his own. Such was the case with Sant Jamail Singh Bhindrawale, Here was a religious leader who spoke out on behalf of the Sikhs, fearlessly and boldly, Indira and her henchmen cleverly exploited him. First painting him a fanatic rustic and using that an excuse to destroy the rising aspirations of the Sikhs. A moderate upstanding man, he almost believed the “law and or der” lies that were being spread. But intelligence and faith led his heart to the truth and he became a beacon of virtue to the people and a threat to the established order.
And Operation Blue Star came into being.
What reasons, or excuses has India given for spilling the blood of the faithful at the Golden Temple that day? The fear of the prayers of women and children? The strength of the faith Of old men? The treasonous ideas upheld in the holy books? Or, that a small band of men in the temple complex were such a threat to the country that they had to be destroyed at any cost?
Blue Star was a declaration of war, Before the guns and tanks rolled in, the Nishan Sahib flag had been the symbol of the Sikh religion. On June 6th 1984, it became the emblem of a Nation, The dream of Khalistan was born from the blood of the dead and dying and the saffron banner signaled defiance not defeat.
Where were you when you heard? Aska Sikh and he or she will know. They will remember the heart wrenching disbelief, the fog of surrealism, the grief for loss and desecration, and, they will acknowledge their resolve. Ho locust survivors have two slogans that stand for their resolve “We remember” and “Never again,” The Sikhs too, have taken the vow of ‘never again’ and their tradition of a ‘long memory’ is an established part of the culture. Action reaction, this is basic physics and basic humanity. Restriction leads to rebellion, desecration to assassination, and repression to reprisal, all spiraling toward the “day of reckoning” when the last of the long line of “patri Gandhi” floats in the Ganges. Such is Karma.
Desperate people commit desperate acts. The true traitors in the midst will be ferried out someday, and the Beant Singhs and KPS Gills will be recognized for the quislings that they are. AS will those who rape and rob under the guise of ‘militant’ for they are no better than the uniformed betrayers. In this tragedy, the last act is yet to be played out, but when the curtain falls, the Khalsa will be found victorious, by the grace of God.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 4, 1993
