Sikhs living outside Punjab are conscious of their growing alienation from the ruling majority community. They complain of unconcealed antagonism and calculated economic discrimination. They admit that they are considered suspects, outsiders and even undesirables. They also concede that the menace of increasing fundamentalist polarization will ultimately leave no option for Sikhs but to separate. They know Sikhs can’t trust a government run by murderers like H.K.L. Bhagat and Jagdish Tytler. They can’t reconcile with government’s arrogant refusal to prosecute the perpetrators of arson, rape and massacre of Sikhs. They are convinced that Sikhs can never expect justice from an enslaved judiciary or from puppet Mishra Commissions.
Yet they are not generally in favor of a separate Sikh State. At least such is their public posture. Their disinclination to support Sikh cause is the product of factors that are partially rooted in misjudgment and partly flow from the hurried recollections of 1947 partition holocaust when most of them had to abandon their ancestral homes and flea almost empty handed, when thousands of their kith and kin were butchered in cold blood.
Because of these factors they have been living in a climate of fear. To most of them, the threat is palpably real. Their mental responses have become so conditioned that they do not consider it necessary to analyses the full significance of the emergence of an independent Sikh Nation.
They need to realize that with the formation of Sikh State, Sikhs in Delhi, Kanpur and in other Indian towns and cities would be far more secure than they are today. Jews everywhere have become more secure after the creation of Israel than they ever were in history. Security comes with power and not through ignominious surrender. Life has value only if lived in honor and freedom. They should remember that no country, no International Organization or Body raised even an eyebrow at the brutal invasion of the Golden ‘Temple or at the massacre of Sikhs in the after-math of Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Even the free-world pretended to be ignorant for fear of hurting their trade interests in India. They accepted Indian Government’s hollow version and started treating Sikhs as terrorists,
‘What could be the reason for this callous indifference? How could champions of human rights turn a deaf ear to Sikh Plight? The answer is simple. Sikhs have no media. They have no trade pressures to make the world condemn unspeakable atrocities. Sikh Organizations in England, America and Canada raised the issue at appropriate forums but India’s purchase of helicopters here and arms deal there neutralized their efforts. Besides Indian Consulates unleashed a terrible propaganda blitz that rendered Sikh protests ineffectual.
In this context. Would it not be worthwhile to visualize the scenario when there would come into existence an independent Sikh State. Would it then be possible to outrage the sanctity of the Golden Temple? Would it be easy for government inspired goondas to murder Sikhs in Delhi and escape ramifications? Would Rajiv Gandhi be able to publicly talk of teaching a lesson to Sikhs? Would it be possible to paint Sikhs as terrorists? Sikhs will have a powerful media. They also would exercise trade pressures and use their strategic location as lever for better appreciation of their stand, Besides their military might would itself Prove a powerful deterrent to freeze the evil and envy of Brahmin-Bandaging.
To lead dignified life Sikhs everywhere must get rid of the fear psychosis and stop listening to spineless prophets of doom amongst. Them who have sold their conscience for a handful of coins. They must remember that fear will only help to perpetuate slavery and destroy the moral and spiritual fiber of their coming generations. It would make them relapse into that wretched state of abject slavishness from where their Gurus had redeemed them. What should they like? — Freedom or slavery, choice lies solely with them.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 23, 1986
