Dear Friend,
Sat Sri Akal We have no political clout but ultimately, ideas rule the world and are the guiding stars towards which we all tend to move, despite the zigs and zags of fame and fortune. You asked me if I could say something about peaceful resolution of the conflict in Punjab.
I have been thinking about this. I believe that, at this stage of the human condition, it is not possible to resolve fundamental conflicts of power-sharing without resort to force. Peaceful means are certainly necessary, and need to be carried to the utmost limit, because these appeal to the nobler instincts of mankind and raise the consciousness of the people for the issues involved, but force or the threat of force is ultimately necessary to bring human beings to reason and justice. Britain did not agree to quit India until she was critically weakened by two world wars, and made to realize by the mutiny of the Indian navy that she could not keep India by force. France did not leave Indo-China and Algeria until forced out by violence, Slavery was not abolished in the USA until the slave-owners were vanquished in one of the bloodiest conflicts of history. The conflict in South Africa has not been, nor will be resolved until the whites realize that they will be vanquished sooner or later by force. Negotiations between the US and the Soviet Union on various issues during the last 30 years did not succeed until the later was materially and militarily broke. Although Gandhi advised Britain to lay down arms before Hitler and request him non-violently, he acquiesced in the use of force by the Indian Govt. in Kashmir in 1948, Although he claimed non-violence as a creed, it became a policy in case of Kashmir. As he himself admitted, he was a politician trying to be a saint. It is no surprise that he too was imperfect and a broken reed, This is not a complaint because he still was an exceptional human being. No amount of nonviolence or saintliness could have saved the American Indian from suppression, murder and virtual extinction. I can give numerous examples of this kind from history.
In this world, both the pen and the sword are necessary. Guru Gobind Singhs concept of the Khalsa to be a saint-soldier was quite appropriate for the real world. Spiritual strength comes from religious, moral or ethical codes which give nobility of character to individuals and equity and justice to societies. Material strength comes from knowledge, science and technology. Peaceful negotiations can only succeed if backed by force.
The conflict in Punjab is for power and autonorny. For 30 years the Sikhs in Punjab struggled peacefully for their rights. In 198182, 50 to 100 thousand went to jail for their simple and just demands for autonomy, but those in power did not listen. The violence that followed was a direct consequence of the massive and horrendous violence perpetrated by the State. How this violence plays out in Punjab in the coming years is in Gods hands and remains to be seen, All can say is that one should always be ready to negoate without pre-conditions. The history of the conflict in Punjabis long and complex. The Akalis should have been more secular, and worked hard to get the support of the Hindus for their demands which should have been crafted in a manner that was not communal but in the interests of all the people. They should have lived according to Sikh values to serve the people and not hankered after power, The Govt. of India should have given control of Chandigarh to Punjab long ago. The Bhakra dam should have been under the control of the Punjab Govt. The river water issues should have been resolved according to law and international usage. The Punjabi scuba should have been given without opposition, Recruitment of Sikhs to the army should not have been curtailed on provincial, communal or percentage basis.
I think there was suspicion and animus against the Sikhs in some sections of the top Congress leadership. After Operation Blue Star and the subsequent events, the Sikhs seem to have lost confidence in the central Leader ship of the country. Now it seems that only drastic changes in the constitution and major steps to restore confidence can reverse the situation. At present, the militant groups, police and the bureaucracy, perhaps some sections of the top political leadership, and Pakistan have a vested interest in the status quo of violence. It is extremely difficult to put the genie of violence back into the bottle until those forces are spent out.
My belief is that peaceful resolution of conflict is only possible when all sides realize the folly of their present destructive course and the balance of forces is appropriate, When that will happen is difficult to tell, We can only say that is in God’s hands because nobody seems to have any control. Life is and will always remain like a walk on the razors edge.
That is also the reason why they say enteral vigilance is the price of freedom. I guess violence and conflict are part of life and that is how God probably willed it to be, Life is unpredictable. We should be glad that it is so. How boring it will be if it ever became predictable. We can only hope and pray and do our best to bring peace and prosperity to the troubled land of our birth.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 4, 1992
