By: ‘Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer Professor of Sikh Studies

On July 19, 1982, Bhai Amrik Singh and Baba Thara Singh were arrested on frivolous charges. This became the basis for an ‘Akal agitation against State repression, _ During this agitation the Silks had to face S persecution throughout the subcontinent. 7 The most shocking was the insult to the Sikhs during the Asian games 19.11.1982 ““104,12;1982), Judges, army officers, businessmen and other honorable Sikh perfects were shamefully insulted, thus erecting the feeling among the Sikhs that They Were slaves in a Hindu India. He Aksli Dal called a convention of “retired army officials on December 23, 1982, The this Conference, thousands of army officers, including five major generals. 51.Generals, 20Brigadicrs,70Colomnels, 400 very senior army officers, participated, Joginder Singh Maan proposed a resolution asking the Shiromani “Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee {(SGPE) to appoint (Sant) Jamail Singh Bhindranwala)as the caretaker of Akal “Pakht Sahib On January 9, 1983, a Sikh intellectuals Conference was held. Most Sikh intellectuals wished that the caretaker of Akal Takht should be selected by Sarbat Khalsa. By then, one was sure about the concept of Akal Takhit Sahib and called Jathedar ship of Akal Takht Sahib This issue remained unresolved, After “some months, Kirpal Singh, who had been Functioning as the acting caretaker of Akal *Takht Sahib, was confirmed as the fully “fledged caretaker. This bright an end to the issue of selection by Sarbar Khalsa, *Kirpal Singh belonged to a group which Bwas opposed to (Sant) Jamail Singh Bhindranwala’s organization, After a few weeks, Kirpal Singh issued a statement that no Sikh should’ carry weapons in DarbarSahib. Atthis (Sant) Jamail Singh and his companions began offering prayers at Darshani Deodi, Atthis, Kirpal Singh Retreated saying that had not issued any such statement.

In April 1983, Akali Dal declared that a band of one hundred thousand Marjiwraas (martyrs) shall be formed. These Sikhs ‘were to sacrifice their lives for the freedom of the Sikh nation. On April 12, 1983, the enrollment of this band was begun at Akal Takht Sahib, (Sant) Jernail Singh was the first to enroll. This gave a boost to the Akali agitation. More than ‘one hundred fifty thousand Sikhs offered themselves for arrest. The Indian regime did not heed the Sikh demands. The international community watched with surprise the indifference of the Indian government.

‘As an eye wash the Indian government began dialogue with the Akalis but severely the Indian regime was planning a colossal persecution of the Sikhs, Amodel of Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib was constructed in the hills of Chakrata (U.P) and the army was trained to attack and destroy the Sikh shrines. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister herself, was in charge of this secret planning. The attack on the Sikh shrines was postponed three times but was finally carried out in June 1984.

On June 3, 1984, the Sikh ‘Homeland was besieged by the Indian army. All cities, towns and big villages were occupied by the army. On June 4, 1984 at 4.40 A.M the Indian army began its attack on Darbar Sahib, Thousands of Sikhs were present in Darbar Sahib 10 observe Guru Arjan Sahib’s martyrdom Day. The day was ‘chosen intentionally in order to kill the greatest number of Sikhs, The Hindu rulers wanted to teach the Sikhs a lesson, the attack was quick and savage. Helicopters, tanks, and the most sophisticated weapons were used to destroy the Sikh shrines. ‘The attack was 50 fierce that more ammunition was used in this attack on Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib than during the entire Indo Pak wars. This proves that the intention of the Indian government was to terrorize into submission the Sikh nation.

The Sikhs fought the Indian army with ‘exemplary bravery although the Sikh fighters numbered not more than 100, It was a symbolic fight reminding one of the fight ‘0f 30 Sikhs under the command of Baba Gurbakhash Singh on December 1, 1764 against 30000 soldiers of Ahmed Shah Durrani, The Indian army was led by General Vaidya, Sunderji, Dyal etc. (subsequently General Vaidya was killed on August 10, 1986 at Poona).

During this attack Jarnail Singh Khalsa (Sant Bhindranwale), General Subeg Singh, Bhai Amrik Singh and thousands of Sikh pilgrimage were killed by the Indian army. Several Sikhs were killed Mafia style with their hands tied behind their backs. Dead bodies of thousands of Sikhs were removed in garbage tricks and burnt in bulk. The Sikh archives, the record of the Sikh Parliament (the SGPC), the Sikh Reference Library and the other libraries were burnt to ashes. The butchery had put the great terrorists of history into shame and shade. [tis known that the whole operation was supervised by the Russian KGB and even the guidance of British military was made available to the Hindu Indian army.

During this attack, Darbar Sahib was badly damaged (there were more than 350 bullet holes) but the building of Akal Takht Sahib was almost entirely destroyed. Kirpal Singh, the caretaker of Akal Takht Sahib appeared on Indian Television and stated that nothing had happened to Akal Takht Sahib. This was a lie, this was sacrilege of Akal Takht Sahib and an insult to his being a Sikh. By this action, Kirpal Sinhjpso facto ceased 10 be the caretaker of Akal Takht Sahib as a liar ‘cannot be caretaker of the Throne of Almighty. If he claims that he had made the ‘statement for fear of his life, then even a coward should not be allowed to remain the caretaker of Akal Takht Sahib.

On June 7, 1984 the Indian army had full control of the Sikh shrines at Amritsar as well as all the major Gurdwsras in the ‘Sikh Homeland. In addition to the massacre of the Sikhs at Darbar Sahib and Akal ‘Takht Sahib, several thousand Sikhs were killed at Tarn Taran, Patiala, Mukatsar, Fatehearh Sahib. ‘When the news of the attack on Darbar Sahib reached the Sikhs, they began their journey of Amritsar, The Indian army attacked the processions. on the way to Amritsar, killing several hundred more. These Sikh soldiers too marched to Amritsar. Thousands of Hindu soldiers followed and attacked the Sikh soldiers, killing several of them. Thousands of Sikh soldiers were arrested, sentenced to jail! For Jong terms and then dismissed from service.

The massacre and MeCarthy style persecution was condemned by various sections of some humanitarian organisation. It is strange that the world leadership which always condemns the Killing of a ‘small group of persons in different parts of the world, kept silent on the carnage of the Sikhs. The international sympathy turned out to be a “business oriented” plienomenon, Moreover, Hinduism Punjab celebrated the killings of the Sikhs. Sweets were distributed marking the victories of Hindus over Sikhs. On June 8, Zail Sinh, the President of India, visited Amritsar to confirm how much success had been achieved by the army over the Sikh nation. Indira Gandhi, too, visited Darbar Sahib on June 23, 1984 to observe her success, On June 25 some persons were shown the colossal destruction of Akal Takht Sahib and Darbar Sahib.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Article extracted from this publication >> May 5, 1995