The intellectuals assembled at the University of California, Los Angeles, grappled for two days to explore possible paths for the resolution of Punjab crisis without either discovering or producing even a single ray of light. They failed not because they lacked the necessary wherewithal and the potential but because they stubbornly refused to adjust their perceptions to the realities of the situation. The path lay invitingly stretched out before them like a broad interstate freeway but, for obvious reasons, they relished drifting in blind alleys. It was hoped that in the academic climate of a university, perceptions would be tempered with sensitivity and honesty and political expediency would not prevail over intellectual integrity. But the hope was misplaced as the participants with a couple of ‘exceptions remained prisoners of their deep-seated prejudices and selfish considerations. They did not demonstrate a vision beyond the cliché-ridden tete-a-tete at the social gatherings.
In fact, determined efforts were made to ignore and undermine the real issues. Emphasis was on the extraneous byproducts of the problem rather than boldly and seriously confronting the reasons that are fast leading the situation to a point of no return.
It would have been more fruitful if equal honesty had been shown in searching for the solutions as was shown in tracing the factors responsible for the tragic situation. It was rightly pointed out that the seed for Hindu Sikh divide was sown by the Punjab Hindus themselves when they disowned their mother tongue, Punjabi. The divide was further stretched when they opposed the merger of Chandigarh with Punjab and refused to speak or stand up against the plunder of Punjab river waters and hydroelectric power. The climax came when they rejoiced over the destruction of the Akal Takht and distributed sweets to celebrate the killing of thousands of innocent Sikhs.
It was conceded that the attack on the Golden Temple was a stupendous folly which was ordered purely to register electoral victories by out communalizing the communal forces like Bhartiya Janata Party, R.S.S. and Shiv Sena that are increasingly gaining ascendency over the political horizon of India. It was also recognized that the Sikh psyche was seriously hurt and the healing touch could come through punishing those who were responsible for the Operation Bluestar and the November, 1984 slaughter of the Sikhs in various Indian towns, particularly in Delhi.
But nothing could be gained as nothing is ever gained by making just a ritual of verbally repeating the outrages. The hollow words inevitably wither away in the scorching sands of apathy. The writing on the wall now is unmistakable and unless the majority community sheds its egocentric passion for domination and devises a foolproof system in which no power-hungry or a rabidly communal ruler will under any circumstances be able to destroy the religious shrines of the Sikhs or for that matter of any other minority community; in which publically indicted murderers will not be elevated to cabinet rank positions in the government but judicially hanged if not openly lynched; in which freedom of the individual will be scrupulously protected and his rights respected.
In case the majority community cannot devise or is not interested in evolving such a political structure, then, it should leave the Sikhs to their fate and peacefully withdraw its troops from the soil of Punjab so as to pave the way for living as good neighbors, No other solution, manipulated through force or fraud, will satisfy the Sikhs. Indian rulers will do well to remember that Sikhs abhor slavery and no power on this planet is strong enough to hold them long from their cherished goal of freedom.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 30, 1987
