Sir,
Dalit Voice a magazine mainly concerned with the affairs the Dalit community has cast aspersions on Khalistan Movement and put forward misleading interpretation of the term “self-determination”.
In an article reproduced by WSN the paper alleged that Khalistan is a “Nazi invention”.
“Nazism” is based on the assumption that “pedigree” rather than “character” “capabilities” or “accomplishments” determine the merit of human beings——that people of’ a certain race are superior.
How can the author of the article in question call Khalistan a “Nazi invention” when equality of mankind is one of the basic principles of Sikh ideology?
The Sikhs seek to liberate their homeland Khalistan because they find survival-with dignity within the Indian union impossible—not because they believe that the Sikhs are superior to non-Sikhs.
Sikh moreover is not a “race” but a multi-racial society synthesized by an outlook any way of life. Anyone accepting the Sikh outlook and way of life becomes a Sikh irrespective of his race or caste.
How can then the demand for a sovereign homeland for Sikhs be dubbed a “Nazi invention”?
Let us hope that the author of the article is not acting on the famous English adage; “Give the dog a bad name and shoot him”.
Dismissing the Sikh demand for Khalistan the article observes: “If the Sikhs wanted a separate country they had the option at the time of partition (1947) itself but they willingly opted for India”.
The author lost sight of the legal principle that the failure of one party to perform its part unbinds the second party to a contract.
Viewed in the light of this principle the Sikhs’ accession to the Indian Union became null and void when the other party— the Indian Government—failed to perform its part.
Let us remind DV that Pandit Nehru had repeatedly assured the Sikhs during the Swaraj Movement that “a separate region will be created in the North in which the Sikhs will be able to enjoy the fruits of freedom”.
Let us also remind that this promise was reaffirmed during the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress and again in Parliament during its debate on the Objectives Resolution.!
Let us further remind that shortly before independence Mahatma Gandhi assured the Sikhs during a meeting at the Sees Ganj Gurdwara Delhi that “no constitution will be forced on the Sikhs against their wishes”
But the Indian rulers reneged on these solemn promises made by the Congress leadership during the run-up to independence—and in effect forming part of the agreement under which the Sikhs opted to join the Indian Union.
The failure of the Indian rulers to honor their part of the agreement automatically unbinds the Sikhs from the obligations that came with their accession to India.
The agreement has thus become null and void—and the Sikhs have no obligation whether legal or moral to remain within the Indian Union.
It is also worth remembering that replying to a question raised at the Sees Ganj Gurdwara Mahauna Gandhi had said categorically: “If the Hindus renege on the promises the Sikhs will be justified in taking up arms (to protect their interests).”
This is what the Sikhs are doing!
The other matter calling for comments is the misleading interpretation of “self-determination”.
The article says: “When Mann talks of self-determination what he means are the rights of the Sikhs to decide what they should talk eats sing dress write plan work and think. That is all.”? What naivety!
The rights enumerated above are not disputed even by the bitterest opponents of the Sikh struggle. Nobody denies the Sikhs the right to eat sing dress write plan work or think as they like.
DV needs being reminded that the Khalistan struggle is not about these “freedoms” that it is about the Sikhs’ right to live with dignity as envisaged in the above-quoted assurances by the Congress leadership
The article goes on to declare that his community was not interested in “going over to Pakistan or Khalistan”.
Let the author know that Khalistan will not beg them to change their mind—nor surely will Pakistan.
And the author let the cat out of the bag by suggesting that Dalit representatives too should be invited to talks with the Government over the Punjab issue.
So the whole sermon was aimed at an invitation to talks!
Dr Jagit Singh Chohan 9/64 Westbourne Terrace
Article extracted from this publication >> April 5, 1991
