Six painful years have passed since that fateful June 6, 1984 which will go down in history as a turning point for the Sikh nation. On this black day the Indian army carried out a dastardly attack on the holiest Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple in which the Akal Takht was destroyed. The horrible memories of thousands of innocent Sikh men and women crushed under tanks and hob nailed boots of Indian soldiers will always cause great anguish to Sikhs.
Among the noble Sikhs who willfully embraced martyrdom rather than submit to tyrannical despotism still sought to be imposed by Delhi on Punjab were great men like Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh and the much decorated soldier General Shubeg Singh. They lived and died by the highest principles of Sikhism the true soldier saint. They ignored the urgings of their followers to escape and gladly embraced martyrdom so that we may be awakened to the need of the Panth.
Sikh history has been a long battle against oppression, injustice and tyranny to which Sikhs have been especially singled out probably as divine tests of faith. They have passed through harsh times but today they are being subjected to a perhaps severer test. That they will come out victorious let there be no doubt. Over 500 years we have seen many mighty kings and emperors trying to impose their will vainly on the Sikhs. This tiny minority cannot and will not be subjugated. Being outnumbered 1 to 50 in India does not scare them theirs is a religion, a faith wedded to freedom, equality, brotherhood and justice and above all a faith in One Supreme God.
Since June 6, 1984 thousands of Sikhs have followed in the footsteps of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to martyrdom for the faith and thousands more are ready to lay down their lives.
How long will Delhi be blinded by stupidity and ‘arrogance? How many more must die before the West wakes up to the grim tragedy of Punjab and Kashmir? We cannot answer these questions but what we can tell you is that the Sikhs will not be found wanting. They are prepared. They will be free no matter what the price, no matter how long it takes.
A few days before he was martyred Sant Bhindranwale said, “Tell those (Sikhs abroad) that Sikhs in Punjab are slaves. We have to get rid of this curse of slavery. Sikhs had first raised the banner of freedom when they formed the Ghaddar Party on American soil; they fought and died for India’s freedom. India is free today but Sikhs continue to be slaves, tell the Sikhs to raise the same banner again. We have great hopes on them.”
Today, we call upon all Sikhs to remember all those who have died so that we may be free. We call upon all Sikhs to rededicate themselves to the cause of Khalistan. That is the only choice before us. The Harmandier Sahib must never be desecrated again. We can ensure that only when we are free,
Article extracted from this publication >> June 1, 1990
