June 1984 will go down in Sikh history as a turning point. In that fateful year the Brahman rulers of India unwittingly gave a shock treatment that made Sikhs realize that their fate is not linked to India’s. Even prior to the operation “Blue Star” farsighted Sikh leaders like Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had been warning the community from the house-tops against falling prey to easy ways. The “maha purush” had exhorted the Sikh youth to get ready for a long arduous struggle. “Stop thinking of buying televisions buy motorcycles” was his watch-word. The genuine saint as he was Bhindranwale foresaw the current armed struggle in Punjab. What perhaps he could not imagine was the savagery and ruthlessness of the Brahman. The choice of Guru Arjun Deyjis martyrdom day for the operation “Blue Star” itself was a telling commentary on the Brahmans frame of mind Numerous subsequent operations and aggressions on Sikh gurdwara’s and villages involving the killing of more than 200000 Sikh youths rapes of hundreds of Sikh women detention of more than 50000 Sikhs during these years and the torture of more than that number in regularly-run torture chambers in Punjab and the neighboring states revealed the gory reality of the Indian state.

It was a mighty challenge to the Sikh nation which it must be admitted was not ready for this eventuality. But living up to the true traditions of the Khalsa of Guru Gobind Singh ji numerous Sikh youths took to “the sword” offered dogged resistance to the Brahman ruler and by sheer will-power and tenacity put the enemy on the defensive. The Indian state had to deal with a unique resistance unlike what it experienced in the Easter Christian dominated states or in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir.

The end result of the Sikh struggle is that India today is far weaker than it was in 1984. The country’s economy and finances have been shattered resources have been diverted to militarization of the democracy

and democratic institutions now exist in form only the content is missing. A few states are doing without elections or have to gone with sham elections as in Punjab; the country is coming increasingly external pressures In short India’s political sky-line has undergone a complete change: one finds the military or the police at almost every step in north India. All this due to the unique struggle of the Sikh youths!

That however does not mean there are no pitfalls or weaknesses On the political front despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of Sikhs in Punjab now view Khalistan as the only option before them militants have yet to produce a coherent program of action to realize the goal. Mouthing support to the concept of Khalistan at this stage has no great meaning. What is required is a realistic strategy to strengthen in a coordinated manner the under-grounded and the overground movements. Akali groups were involved by the militants in the boycott of the February election. That was a political achievement of great significance. The world must know that the only aim of the Sikhs in Punjab is Khalistan. The Sikhs clearly rejected the Longowal alternative of compromise with the Indian state. But unfortunately the thread was lost and nothing tangible was done to pick it up.

The developments of the past eight years in general and those of 1984 in particular leave many lessons to be learned. Militant outfits in Punjab need not bother about their “unity” “coordination” or hiding of “meetings” among themselves. The underground struggle must revolve round the Ume-tested guerilla concept of “small is beautiful.” There is the need for shedding the over-much concern for actions by multiple groups. A lot could be gained from actions by small groups spread all over the land Abduction as a means of promoting the struggle should not be encouraged. The experience of the Radu and Manchanda abductions has not been very happy Militant outfits will do well not to depend too much on the Indian media. Excessive use of the media has its many pitfalls. Several activists have been caught and killed in the course of their drive towards the media centers. The militant’s need a strategy and coordination but that should be provided by these positioned outside India.

A great deal of effort is required to streamline the overground movement Sikh institutions and individuals have to say good-by to the old ways. The Sikh movement both underground and overground needs financial resources. The Sikhs living in the U.S.A. as well as other western countries must contribute liberally towards financing the underground Sikhs as well as giving relief to their families in the first. There are thousands of Sikh families who deserve immediate attention. Sant Bhindranwale during the last years of his struggle had wisely ensured that the needy Sikh families received financial help at regular intervals. Certain persons claiming to be the followers of the Sant are not sticking to the priorities he had laid down. Funds for building gurdwara’s should claim a low priority for a few years at least until the Sikhs are able to defend these gurdwara’s from being demolished by the Brahman hordes. The Sikhs outside Punjab must therefore contribute only to the causes as above rather than for building gurdwara’s As far as possible Sikhs outside India should not send any foreign exchange to their relations until the Sikh movement has been successful in achieving its goal.

The overground Sikh movement could do a lot to weaken India economically. The Sikh farmers should be persuaded not to sow wheat and rice on the present scale. The area thus vacated should be reserved for forests and the dense crops like sugarcane. India should not get a drop of Punjab water and for that purpose both the overground and the underground movements should put their heads together. The Sikhs have to learn to do without Indian institutions All sarpanches and panches should resign their seats immediately. There is no need to send resignation letters to this or that organization. The letters should be sent to the relevant authorities only. This should serve as the beginning of the civil disobedience movement by Sikhs in Punjab. India’s dummy chief minister Beant Singh and his ministry should be further isolated in this manner.

There is also the need for a strict code of conduct For militants forever ground Sikh activists for the general Sikhs for Sikh government employees for Sikhs working in such key areas as newspapers other media in universities and colleges and schools. A code for on-Sikhs can nol succeed unless a code for Sikhs is enforced

Let the eighth anniversary of the operation “Blue Star” be a period of introspection for Sikh leadership as well as the Sikh masses all over the world. The above mentioned suggestions have been made by this writer in all humility. More experienced Sikh leaders could improve upon them. But in the view of this writer the anniversary of the “Blue Star” this time should not pass as another ritual.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 12, 1992