Kashmir of the Sikhs Beyond 1947 a War Epic Sikhs of Kashmir Today Floods and Fellowship

IV/2014 NAGAARA Kashmir of the Sikhs Beyond 1947 A War Epic Sikhs of Kashmir Today Floods and Fellowship 38 A Crucible of Strife CContentsIssue IV/2014 2 Editorial : Kashmir of the Sikhs, beyond 1947 39 The Sikhs of Kashmir today 50 Being a Sikh-Kashmiri Komal JB Singh 51 Digging in their heels Vijay C Roy 15 The Trauma of October 1947 Sikhs around Baramula today [Photos from Dr. DP Singh] 52 55 Khalsa High School in Srinagar Kashmir : a capsulated socio-economic history 4 VP Jain 20 A Haunted Legacy Amardeep Singh 57 Baba Baghel Singh Ji Sports Tournaments in Srinagar 59 Floods and Fellowship 10 1947: Savage Partition, Vicious Invasion 26 A War Epic 63 Celebrating the Sikh Turban [Images from LIFE magazine] 1st Sikhs save the Kashmir Valley Vandana Kalra Editorial Director Editorial Office IV/2014 Dr Jaswant Singh Neki D-43, Sujan Singh Park New Delhi 110 003, India Printed by NAGAARA Executive Editor Pushpindar Singh Tel: (91-11) 24617234 Aegean Offset Printers Fax: (91-11) 24628615 Joint Editor e-mail : [email protected] Bhayee Sikander Singh Please visit us at: Published by www.nishaannagaara.com Editor for the Americas The Nagaara Trust Dr I.J. Singh at New York 16-A Palam Marg Kashmir of the Sikhs The opinions expressed in Beyond 1947 Editorial Board Vasant Vihar A War Epic the articles published in the Sikhs of Kashmir Today Inni Kaur New Delhi 110 057, India Floods and Fellowship Monica Arora Associated with Nishaan Nagaara do not Cover: Assembly at the Khalsa High Distributors The Chardi Kalaa Foundation necessarily reflect the views or School in Srinagar (photo by Jagjit Singh) Himalayan Books, New Delhi San Jose, USA policy of The Nagaara Trust. EEditorialEditorial Kashmir of the Sikhs, beyond 1947 n continuation of the theme ‘Kashmir of the Sikhs’ That ‘Haunted Legacy’ of 1947 is recalled by the first part in Nishaan III/2014, began with the Amardeep Singh, now a Singaporean citizen-banker Ivisit to this land by Guru Nanak Sahib which is whose family came from Muzaffarabad, now capital vividly commemorated from Ladakh to the Vale and of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Many of his ancestors Ibeyond the Pir Panjal to the Jammu region. Our Sixth had fallen victim to the invading Kabalees from Guru, Chhevin Patshshahi Guru Hargobind Sahib came the northwest frontier in October 1947. Searching to Kashmir about a century after Guru Nanak and for his roots, his writing and many of his evocative there are scores of gurdwaras in the Valley sacred to photographs, including those of the ill-fated Domel his visit, an abiding legacy. The composite culture bridge where over 300 Sikhs were shot in cold blood, of Kashmir and its Kashmiriyat was established appear for the first time in print. centuries back even as Kashmir became part of the It was thus perhaps fated that Sikh troops would Sikh Empire after its conquest by Hari Singh Nalwa in be in the forefront of halting the invasion and then 1819. Then, in the 1820s, Zorawar Singh expanded the reversing it in the closing months of 1947. The valiant Empire north-eastwards, incorporating Ladakh and Ist Battalion, Sikh Regiment which had distinguished there are several Sikh forts and baghs in Kashmir that themselves only a few years earlier during the Burma are witness to that time. Campaign of World War II, stopped the raiders’ Thereafter, the Dogras ruled Kashmir for nearly a advance and then in bold counter-attacks retook most century after the British had ‘given’ this vast territory of the valley in desperate battles which actually saved to them as ‘reward’ for their ‘services’ (read treachery) Kashmir. Stories of valour, dignity and honour of during the hard fought Anglo-Sikh Wars of 1845-6 one’s duty abound in this battle of saving Kashmir. and 1848-9. This issue of the Nishaan takes the Soldiers like Nb Sub Nand Singh Victoria Cross, who narrative forward after that century and in fact, then won a posthumous MVC, was the most decorated begins with the article ‘1st Sikhs save the Kashmir soldier of the Commonwealth, while others like Sub Valley’ which they did in dramatic manner, just over Bishan Singh, L/Nk Karam Singh PVC and many a century after Sikh warriors captured the Kashmir others continue to inspire generations several decades valley and its reaches from the Afghans. Sikh warriors later. were again in the vanguard, this time leading an Following such turmoil and pandemonium that independent Indian Army to defend and secure the has ironically been fate of this ‘Paradise on Earth’, Vale and reaches beyond from invading hordes, the resplendent Valley was barely able to restore possibly even descendants of the same tribes they had normalcy and smoothen the socio-economy fabric battled a century before but this time around from the of its inhabitants over the next few decades when north west frontiers of a newly born Pakistan. strife and violence again reared their ugly visage in The raiders or Kabalees, including Pathans, 1989. Withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan Chitralis and viscous Mahsuds plus regular after a decade of conflict signalled a new phase in Pakistan Army troops “on leave”, after capturing Kashmir, with a new surge in the Kashmiri ‘struggle’. NISHAAN Muzzaffarabad and Domel on the Kashmir border, Indian security forces in Kashmir were now faced by had swept the few State Forces troops aside and after a new and deadly enemy armed with a vast variety sacking Uri, had invested Baramula, an hour’s drive of weaponry, including diabolical IEDs. There was 2 away from Srinagar itself. a surge in the number of youth crossing over to Pakistan for war-like training and procurement of in the Vale of Kashmir, many around the town of arms, the ‘indigenous’ militant groups including the Baramula, some in the Tithwal Valley and Tangdhar, pro-independence JKLF and the pro-Pakistan Hizb- surrounded on three sides by territory under control ul-Mujahedin (Hizb). During decade of the 1990s an of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. In Jammu province, estimated 10,000 Kashmiri youth were estimated to there are half a million Sikhs, making a combined have joined various militant groups. population of over 600,000 Sikhs in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Yet many feel that Sikhs of the State have The Indian Army and paramilitary forces were been denied support, not even being recognised by the given the task of counter-insurgency, leading to a Government as “a minority”. vast deployment of troops in the region. The AFSPA, or Armed Forces Special Powers Act was, and still Although the Sikhs go about living their lives continues to be, a source of tension between the as normal citizens, as administrators, teachers, locals and the establishment. Twenty five years on, farmers, businessmen or serving with the police and terrorist attacks may have become less commonplace, civil services, they have not remained unscathed. but stone pelting is now seen as the Kashmiri Scores have died in cross firing between militants and appropriation of ‘Intifada’, a term used meaning security forces, others being killed in landmine blasts. ‘uprising’, often used synonymously with the And yet, their inter-personal relationships with Palestinian situation. local Muslims and other Hindus, who call Kashmir Bearing the brunt of this virtual ‘Talibanisation’ their home, are impeccable and a shining example of Kashmir have been the common people, especially of inter-religious peace, harmony and brotherhood. those who did not succumb to the path of mindless This fraternity of Kashmiri Sikhs have maintained the violence. They lost their homes, livelihoods and kith historic gurdwaras in the Valley with much affection and kin to the violence and no matter whose guns and kept them spruced and robust, a manifestation these bullets came from, they extinguished the light of of their dedication towards their universal faith in life of many a hapless Kashmiri. the goodness of mankind and love for humanity, despite all odds. Their selfless spirit of servitude Almost a quarter of a century back, when such during the devastating floods of September 2014 and violence peaked in the Kashmir valley, most Kashmiri their resilience under distress continues to inspire Pandits left the Vale for the safety of Jammu and millions of Sikhs settled in different parts of India and beyond. Such an “ethnic cleansing” had begun the world. with creation of a fear psychosis, spearheaded by aggressive crowds, clearly communal, flooding the The Sikhs of Jammu and Kashmir have always streets, their slogans mixed with dire warnings. played an important role in the political scene of the State, holding important portfolios and From mid-September 1989, there wasa virtual responsibilities of governance. Their contributions exodus and the eventual numbers of Kashmiri Pandits are briefly acknowledged in this Issue which fleeing the Vale of Kashmir swelled to 750,000, also highlights some Kashmiri Sikhs who have thereafter living a life of refugees “in their own distinguished careers in India’s armed forces, Army, country”. In sharp contrast, even as the tragic ethnic Navy and the Air Force. cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits was underway, the Sikhs of Kashmir stood out for their steadfastness Many intrepid Kashmiri Sikhs have taken the amidst the political, economic and civil turbulence in initiative to celebrate sporting events and tournaments, the state. the Khalsa High School at Magarmal Bagh in Srinagar, is a shining example of how high level education is Sikhs are seemingly ‘accepted’ by the imparted to all communities in the Valley. overwhelming Muslim majority as being part of ‘Kashmiriyat’ but unfortunately have been ignored, This issue of the Nishaan then pays fine homage nay even neglected, by the Government.

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