There is a certain irony to this book and a harsh lesson for those willing to learn it. It is written by a retired officer (Lt.Col.) of the Indian Army with years of patriotic service now calling for dismemberment of India. Nobody can deny his years of loyalty to India just as nobody can negate the monumental contribution of the Sikhs to India’s independence, unity, economic progress, military might and virtually its survival as a nation, at least since independence. Particularly because of events in the Punjab and the plight of the Sikhs, India stands at the brink of the fragmentation. The key to grasping India’s present predicament lies in understanding why the Sikhs (and people like Partap Singh) now see no future for themselves in India.
For serious students of the modem Indian political scene this is a useful book but they will have to rise above their own emotionalism and that of the book. For instance, the titles of the book will tum off many who should read it. The pro-India lobby or the Khalistan is respectively will condemn it or laud it without the mature, thoughtful consideration and analysis that it deserves.
Despite the fact that the author is not a professional writer, political scientist, practicing politician or bureaucrat, this book is pretty clearly written, It is not noted for its literary style or richness of prose, but it does what it sets out to do, It lays out in a methodical fashion the growth of Sikh disaffection and alienation with independent India. How and why did the Sikhs get so estranged from India? It traces from before 1947 until now, the tortuous history of promises made and broken, systematic betrayal of Punjab and particularly the Sikhs. It is not so gentle a jab in the ribs of our conscience and a call to action.
Unmistakably clear from the book is the raw searing anger at the double crossing of the Sikhs by successive Indian governments starting in 1947 when the promises made to the Sikhs before independence were systemically ignored, The sordid process started with the refusal for 19 years of the demand for a Punjabi speaking state of Punjab when the rest of India was reorganized on a linguistic basis. It reached its zenith in 1984 when the Indian army was deployed to attack the Golden Temple and many other Gurudwara across Punjab. This was followed by repressive laws enacted specially to subjugate the Sikhs a process that still continues as a reign of terror in Punjab where the rule of law has been replaced by state terrorism. Partap provides some rare details of India’s “Operation Blue Star” in 1984 which set in motion the government’s reign of terror and the continuing undeclared war against the Sikhs, This operation was followed by others with code names that seem to have come out of Le Carre’s spy thrillers; details of these operations have not been easily available but none of the published data has ever been denied or disproved. Partap cites extracts and relevant portions from historical documents, government reports, army papers, statements of government officials, as well as Sikh and non-Sikh politicians. Punjab is now an occupied land and the Indian government no longer has any claim on the hearts and minds of the Sikhs, most of whom view the present governmental policies as genocidal. One has to ask the rhetorical question: How can any government treat its own citizens this way and yet retain is right to govern?
Unfortunately, this book does not provide a complete bibliography or a list of references following every chapter or at the end of the book, with a listing of “literature cited” it would be immeasurably more useful to scholars. It is unnecessarily repetitious in places and could have profited from rigorous editing. A professional writer would have toned down the anger and polished the style; the book would have become more palatable but would have lost its fiery energy. It is good that no ghost writer or back was involved. It is a powerful indictment of Indian governments, a bugle call and a bold challenge.
Prior to writing this book, the author founded the Khalsa Raj Party, a political organization with a very limited agenda formation of Khalistan, a Sikh homeland independent of India. How wide is the base of support of this political party? If free elections were held today in Punjab, will those who opt for Khalistan be voting for an idea they clearly understand and want or venting their anger against the government’s policies of 45 years? The party manifesto is presented although the book remains short on specifics statistics on the proposed Khalistan: its boundaries, its people, its structure or its policies etc. Perhaps all that has to wait the call to action which is the gist of this book.
If India survives its present self-destructive course, will most Indians come to appreciate and understand the struggle of the Sikhs for a more equitable relationship with the federal government? Will India ever have the courage to admit that in their fight for justice, the Sikhs and authors like Partap Singh have rendered a service at great cost to themselves? Will India acknowledge its debt to the Sikhs?
A footnote to all this: Partap Singh now languishes in an Indian jail for his non-violent political activities; there have been no charges, no trial.
There remains an Alice in wonderland quality to Justice for Sikhs in present day India sentence first and trial afterwards, if at all,
Article extracted from this publication >> June 12, 1992
