The gesture recently of 137 senior government officials protesting against state terrorism in Kashmir is worthy of high praise. Even as they were protesting they were asked “do you know the consequences of your action.” As it was the fundamentalist Hindu Bharatiya Janta Party was strident in its demand to have these men who included the director to tourism of Kashmir removed from service. In all likelihood these men and their families will pay dearly for this right to protest. But then liberty has its price.
It was not so very long ago that Simranjit Singh Mann protested in writing against the attack on the holy Sri Harmandir Sahib, He had to endure inhuman torture in Indian prisons for five years. His crime was no different than these brave officers he spoke up for what he felt. In the civilised world one assumes the freedom of speech to be a basic right. What have not the Sikhs had to tolerate in Hindu India? In the 1950’s a circular was sent around to all deputy commissioners cautioning them against Sikhs “a criminal race.” S. Kapur Singh a distinguished officer of the erstwhile Indian civil service was at that time the deputy commissioner of Shimla. He resigned in disgust. This “criminal race” has done so well in all fields of human endeavor for themselves and what they mistakenly felt was their country that something had to be done about it. Their very religion and culture were attacked in a jealous rage.
Internationally they were sought to be branded as terrorists. Their efforts costing millions of dollars and hundreds of innocent lives (remember the Kamishka bombing) were successful. Sikhs are still working to undo the damage. A doctor was here recently trying to establish a Sikh chair at an American University. After two years of smooth sailing in 1986 the University wanted nothing to do with “terrorists”. The exasperated doctor sent in his bio data with his various degrees and work and asked, “Do you think I am a terrorist.
In all this there is a lesson for the Kashmiri intellectuals. They are dealing with very devious and crooked people. Many pitfalls can be avoided by studying the current Sikh struggle. Many hollow accords will be offered. Many fake leaders will be planted among honest people and many big promises will be made.
It is a great time which calls for great sacrifices by the people but civilised protests like the one made by these brave government officers will not work. The morality of Hindu India is as yet not in evidence anywhere in its dealings. By peaceful protests are you appealing to the conscience of the killers of women and children? The conscience of those who burnt alive 9,000 Sikh men in two days in 1984? Who is to bring the judge, jury and police to trial?
Why do you think the Hindus could never rule for long? Their great qualities of vegetarianism nonviolence were bred by 1,000 years of servility. They will emerge again soon as the Hindus have over reached themselves in Kashmir and Punjab.
The only way to deal with India is from a position of strength. It will never give us anything unless we can take it by force.
Our need is freedom and that is nonnegotiable. Sovereignty can never be conditional or partial.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 15, 1990
