The soil of the Punjab is enriched ‘with the blood of 500 years of martyrs, The last few years has added immeasurably to this fertile land as thousands have died for Khalsa Panth. Blood on their hands The Indian Army’s attack on June 3-6 1984 on Harmander Sahib and other Sikh Gurdwara’s was a cataclysmic event in Sikh history.
We still feel the hobbled nailed boots of the invading Indian army on our souls. Yet only a few in the west will ‘ever know about this terrible tragedy. It is a pity, and what is worse is that of those few, most are ill informed about the virtual genocide against the Sikhs that has taken place since then.
It was a preplanned attack on the Sikh religion; executed in an orchestrated manner and the day was carefully chosen. It was the Martrydom day of the fifth Guru Arjun Dev Ji when thousands were in attendance at the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple).
A question lingers in the minds of Sikhs everywhere, why this day? Why did the Indian govt. chose the Martyrdom day of the 5th Guru, Arjun Dev Jitocarry out their nefarious schemes, ‘Why the holiest of Sikh shrines, why gurdwaras, where innocent men, ‘women and children were peacefully ‘worshipping, why was no one spared? Why did the waters of Sarowar (sacred pool) run red that day?
TE this day, and these sites were chosen as a way to destroy Sikhs and Sikhism then not only did the plan fail but it precipitated a civil war in the Punjab that continues to gain momentum. The willful destruction of Holy books, historical documents and a facts is an irreplaceable loss. But merely a loss of materials, because nothing could cause Sikhs to lose their faith, If the Indian govt sought to destroy a people and a culture they merely wounded the tiger, and unleashed the fury of a people whose culture is based on the lives of Saint/ Soldiers as a basic tenet of the religion. Carrots & Sticks In the years since the central Govt. of India has sought to squash the incipient independence movement by installing an army of occupation of nearly a quarter million, The govt. has Teenaged) on various “accords” and “packages” and forsaken so-called “democratic” principals by appointing Governors and Police Chiefs in hopes of subjugating a people in order to more fully take advantage of the rich natural resources that abound. They have attempted to divide families and friends further with a barbed wire border between India and Pakistan called the “line of control.” The govt. has put forth propaganda that plays on the fears of the western world by calling the abused Sikhs “terrorists” and enacting black laws like TADA. But if the govt. thinks that they will destroy the Khalsa warriors by calling them terrorists then they are sadly mistaken, The memory of the Sikhs is long and their patience ‘great when it comes to retribution. They will follow their enemies to the ends of the earth . A fate worse than death, is the fear and anticipation of death’s certainty.
Wolf in Sheps? clothing The so-called “popular” govt. in Punjab represents the 10% of the people who voted. The 90% who boycotted the polls are not represented especially by a puppet C.M. who wears the beard of a Sikh, the turban of a Sikh but whose soul is that of a govt. flunkey who rolls over when his master calls. Beant Singh is a traitor to his faith, a Judas who has sold his people for rupees from Rao.
According to The News Agency of India, Amnesty International, and Asia Watch, 2530 boys lose their lives daily. These young martyrs, sacrificed in fake encounters, arrested and tortured as terrorists or captured and murdered as leaders of sometimes nonexistent cells or cadres of militants, are not dying in vain For each ‘one that dies, to will rise up.
This brave nation has learned from the Gunis to never attack first, but when attacked, retaliate without mercy. Indira learned, Rajiv learned, Gen. Vaidya learned, and so have many others, But the hard lesson is yet to be learned by Delhi. Now, rulers like K.P.S. Gill and Beant Singh think they are above the gods, They should not forget that every man’s time on earth is limited. Their moment will come.
The land of the five rivers is stained with the blood of five centuries of young Sikhs. Let it be that they did not die in vain, Khalistan will grow from this fertile ground and) never again: will a stranger dare to desecrate Sikh shrines or murder thousands of innocents with impunity, Note: The original version of this feature appeared in WSN, June 1992.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 9, 1995
