In a categoric, stern and straight-forward, in-depth analysis of the events after 1984, the status of the Sikhs since then, the dysfunctional Sikh leadership which even with the best intentions has not been able to make much headway, British writer-activist Jagdeesh Singh exposes the role of the Indian state in subjugating the Panjaabi-Sikh nation. In this context, making a review of the past 36 years, he argues that structural inadequacies, democratic laxity and acute lack of intra-community dialogue are hindrances which block the progress of Sikhs as a people. 

AS WE MARK THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIKH GENOCIDE MONTH OF JUNE 1984, it is a moment to take a reflective overview of the entire Indian state and establishment’s response and approach to the historically-ongoing Panjaabi-Sikh question.

Present over-sized India was born directly out of the duplicitous transfer of conquered and consolidated territorial power from a white-British imperialist elite to a brown-Hindu-Indian elite. The inter-connected amalgam of social, religious and political guardians, leaders and beneficiaries of this gigantic, mega-Indian state; have abundantly proven themselves intolerant and aggressively hostile towards any mention, discussion, dialogue or proposal about diffusion and devolution of their centralised power. The period of 1947 to 2020, has been the story of the start and rise and further rise of the supremacist Hindu-Indian state.

Communities and countries like the Panjaabis, Sikhs and Panjaab; which have come to be entrapped and caught in the territorial and political dragnet of the Indian monolith from 1947 onwards, passed over like an imperialist possession from British conquerors, have been made a direct target of potent Hinduisation and Indianisation policies and practises applied by the Indian state. All discussion, talk, proposals and campaigns for Panjaabi autonomy, Sikh self-determination, political rights and freedoms, Sikh personal laws, recognition and official backing for the Panjaabi language, recognition as a distinct national group, calls for a referendum to determinate the political status of Panjaab: have been met with a decidedly belligerent and hostile response. All this is crushed and con­demned in an embittered and ven­omous man­ner.

Like other big nations, India too has a wholly power-centric, imperialistic mindset, which stands against the struggles of hundreds of nations through history. It is racist, imperialistic, dogmatic and supremacist.

Like other superstates, India too has a wholly power-centric, imperialistic mind­set. The In­dian state machinery has a mental blindspot and disability, in being able to un­der­stand and comprehend that people may wish to separate and live freely and independently from their rule. This is a conditioned and self-induced mental disability, which has become main­streamed and normalised. It directly contradicts India being separated and made independent of the British empire; and, to Bangladesh becoming independent of Pakistan. To any new state coming into being, upon separation and independence from a larger state. It is a wholly power-centric, superimposing mind­set, which stands against the struggles of hundreds of nations through history past and present. It is racist, imperialistic, dogmatic and supremacist.

Recent comments by the SGPC appointed ‘Jathedar’ of Akaal Takht -Gyani Harpreet Singh, making complimentary references to ‘Khalistan’ on the occasion of the annual June 1984 gathering at Akaal Takht Sahib; have been feverishly seized upon by the Indian media and political establishment. He is swarmed by their probing questions and challenges. This is demonstrative of their paranoia, insecurity and bitter intolerance for any mention or dialogue about independence and secession. Commendably, so far, he has managed to respond in a steady, proportionate and undiminished manner. He has stated affirmatively that independent Khalsa statehood ‘is in every Sikhs heart!’.

Through its 73-years of sustained violence, terror, repression and genocide; the Indian state has sought to dehumanise the Sikhs and the surrounding, connected Panjaabi population too. India’s clear and self-evident purpose is to batter and hammer the Sikhs physically, demoralise them culturally and psychologically, degrade and undermine them economically; and generally, traumatise and break them into complete submission to Indianism and its connected Hindutva identity, culture and overarching shape and form.

Recent comments by the SGPC appointed ‘Jathedar’ of Akaal Takht -Gyani Harpreet Singh, making complimentary references to ‘Khalistan’ on the occasion of the annual June 1984 gathering at Akaal Takht Sahib; have been feverishly seized upon by the Indian media and political establishment. He is swarmed by their probing questions and challenges. This is demonstrative of their paranoia, insecurity and bitter intolerance for any mention or dialogue about independence and secession. Commendably, so far, he has managed to respond in a steady, proportionate and undiminished manner. He has stated affirmatively that independent Khalsa statehood ‘is in every Sikhs heart!’.

The pattern of oppression, violence, subjugation and devastation is similar to what has been seen across the world map with regards to many similar indigenous nations targeted and victimised by imposing powers. Currently, we have the Kurds, Palestinians, Uighurs, Tibetans, Baluchis and Tamils, for example.

The conscious Sikhs with their intrinsic sense of self-identity and self-determination, ethnicity, culture rooted and integrated into their indigenous Panjaabi homeland, country, language, customs and life; prolific inspiration and philosophy from the Gurus; invariably poses invariably pose a challenge and threat to the overwhelming power centric Indian state. The Sikhs have demonstrated themselves to be a lead annoyance to the Indian establishment, resulting in the fully orchestrated genocidal onslaught of June 1984, November 1984 and 1984-1995 in Panjaab, intended to finally teach us a crushing lesson! Indigenous nations are always a counter to bullying state power and their power accumulation and power imposition.

Like fellow small indigenous nations, we Panjaabis and Sikhs are a people caught up in a forced and abusive marriage with India. When we have complained about mistreatment and demanded dignity, equality and justice; we have been rebuked, hit and brutalised. When we have now demanded a divorce, we have been further threatened, brutalised and taunted and criminalised for daring to speak up and speak out! We remain stuck in a forced and abusive marriage to India, since 1947.

The Indian state is a political and territorial structure led and run by a mixed power elite, predominantly Brahmin with various non-Hindu collaborators who benefit from the riches, political positions, military careers, financial wealth and security that involvement with the Indian state affords to them. Exactly similar, to the relationship which every human elite has with a particularly territorial and political structure. Such as China, the British Empire, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and so forth.

India’s strategy to grind the Sikhs and Panjaab into submission, is one that it has consistently duplicated across other communities and regions like Kashmir, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Bengal, etc. The BJP has simply continued a pre-existing trend and trajectory, which started in 1947, Hindu-Indian elites coming to newfound power. A power notoriously handed to them by the outgoing British establishment, in a dubious political negotiation.

Some deluded individuals have perceived a ‘dif­fer­ent’ In­dia which was ‘de­mo­c­ra­t­ic’ and ‘sec­u­lar’. Such minds clearly are in­sen­si­tive or ignorant, or both,  to the seven decades of suf­fer­ings of the Sikhswhich some deluded saw as a different India which was a ‘democratic’ and ‘secular’. Such minds clearly are insensitive to the sufferings of the Sikhs, Nagas, Kashmiris and more. Indeed, there were many who felt the British Empire provided a decent and reasonable life. It is a matter of perception and prejudice.

Like fellow small indigenous nations, we Panjaabis and Sikhs are a people caught up in a forced and abusive marriage with India. When we have complained about mistreatment and demanded dignity, equality and justice; we have been rebuked, hit and brutalised. When we have now demanded a divorce, we have been further threatened, brutalised and taunted and criminalised for daring to speak up and speak out! We remain stuck in a forced and abusive marriage to India, since 1947.

Meanwhile, thirty-six years after the devastating onslaught of June 1984, there is much for us as an affected and traumatised community to reflect on about the pre-1984 and post 1984 experience in struggle and conflict with the Indian state and our own growth and development.

There is much soul-searching to be done about our own internal undemocratic and oppressive poor quality and corrupt ‘leadership’; and the cycle of impediments, diversions and stagnation that they have caused to our national journey. There is much to consider about the infrastructure inadequacies and acute lack of democracy and democratic dialogue which prevails across our small, medium and large organisations and our central institutions and decision-making structures.

Meanwhile, thirty-six years after the devastating onslaught of June 1984, there is much for us as an affected and traumatised community to reflect on about the pre-1984 and post 1984 experience in struggle and conflict with the Indian state and our own growth and development.

Becoming free, independent, self-determining and sovereign; as powerfully demonstrated by our indelible Gurus, starts with empowering and engaging the grass-root masses. There is a present, palpable reality and danger, that, the Indian defects have been reproduced and infected into our own decrepit, self-imposing and self-styled crude ‘leadership’ which is presently taking us nowhere but stagnation and into continuous status quo.

The Gurus brought honesty, principle, democracy, engagement, directness into the life of Panjaab. Those will be the winning and liberating qualities which will make our future.