NEW DELHI: Seven years ago the sweet sad smell of death hung over this government housing project just outside of New Delhi.
As many as 500 Sikhs were killed in Tilokpuris in the fiercest of the bloody communal riots that rocked India after the assassination of India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. Since that dreadful night in October 1984 the Indian government has moved about 5000 Sikhs from his community 15 kilometers east of New Delhi to the far side of Delhi to keep them away from their Hindu and Muslim attackers.
Charanjit Singh is one of a handful of impoverished Sikhs who missed out on the government offer. Too poor to move on her own she still lives in Tilokpuris with her husband and five children. If they could she says she and her carpenter husband would throw together their family’s meager possessions and be gone in a minute Waving her hand across an open sewer toward arrow of ramshackle houses inhabited now by low-caste Hindus known as Untouchables Mrs. Singh who looks much older than her 47 years said: This place was once full of Sikhs and we never used to stick out. Now we are only a few. Another difference is that in 1984 Tilokpuris was almost in the countryside and relatively uncrowned. Today the slum has the feel of the inner city. Hundreds of new homes of cardboard and palm leaves compete for space with the original buildings. India’s religious problems aside it is a telling example of how India’s population explosion is making many communities much rougher and dirtier places in which to live.
Mrs. Singh’s 12-yr-old son Balwinder said he is the only Sikh in a class of 50. His schoolmates ridicule him and pull his Judie the distinctive bun of long hair worn as a religious symbol by male Sikhs.
Everyone gives me trouble he said. I have no friends at all’ Gurmukhi Singh a 28-yr-old welder who lives nearby said he shaved his beard cut his hair and threw away his turban after surviving the riots.
Everyone is frightened of death and that is what stared us in the face that night said Mr. Singh who eventually escaped with the help of Hindu neighbors.
We were absolutely sure they’d get us. We were petrified. It was like a storm blew over and now it is finished.
An uneasy truce now exists in Tilokpuris Mr .Singh said. There is no violence against Sikhs but he is frequently reminded of his precarious position by impolite people who whenever there is a dispute say to us have you forgotten 1984?.
About 50 meters away in a courtyard crowded with children pigs and dogs a large group of Hindus waggled their fingers and exploded in a chorus of No no no when asked if the Sikhs had any difficulties in Tilokpuris today.
There are hardly any Sardarjis (Sikhs) left any way so how could there be any trouble? said Ved Prakash a 60-yr-old mason with four daughters and four sons
After discussing the situation for a while Mr.Prakesh who said he knew many of the Sikhs who died acknowledged. The carnage has left a deep feeling so it is understandable that they have fear and want to get away.
But other Hindus were plainly angry that anyone was even asking about the events of 1984. To widespread agreement a mother of six who gave her name as Bhagwant said that the Sikhs have nice accommodation now so why should they stay here? She suggested her inquisitors leave or harm might come to them.
Mr.Prakesh said one of the reasons resentment against the Sikhs still ran so deep was that those who had left had been allowed ‘the double benefit of selling their homes in Tilokpuris and then receiving free new ones from the government elsewhere.
Recalling the riot which attracted world-wide attention and disapprobation he said: ’There was no electricity and there was so much mayhem we didn’t know who was who. Elements from outside the colony caused the trouble. We tried to shield some of the Sikhs.
The police stood around and did nothing while this was going on. Later they told us to collect the bodies sprinkle them with oil and burn them. Now there are cases against some of us for burning the bodies. But the ones who did the killing got away.
Whether it is because there are so few Sikhs now or because Sikhs do not seem to have been involved there was no violence here when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated
Mr. Pradesh said it is not that communal passions have abated but the difference had everything to do with the government’s reaction to the two slayings.
The army and the police stood aside when Indira Gandhi died he said. This time the army was all over the place and the people were quiet.
Mrs. Singh whose husband was so afraid in 1984 that he went missing for 13 days said she prepared for the worst when Mr. Gandhi’s death was announced on radio. Although nothing happened to the Sikhs this time she said nothing could shake her resolve to leave Trilokpuri at the first chance.
Matthew Fisher -Globe and Mail
Article extracted from this publication >> June 7, 1991
