DOCSLIB.ORG

The Punjab Problem: a Case Study on the Rise of Sikh Nationalist Identity in India, in an Oral Examination Held on April 24, 2014

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Punjab Problem: a Case Study on the Rise of Sikh Nationalist Identity in India, in an Oral Examination Held on April 24, 2014 THE PUNJAB PROBLEM: A CASE STUDY ON THE RISE OF SIKH NATIONALIST IDENTITY IN INDIA A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts in Political Science University of Regina by Nimfa Amor Kaur Gill Regina, Saskatchewan May, 2014 Copyright © 2014: Nimfa Amor Gill UNIVERSITY OF REGINA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH SUPERVISORY AND EXAMINING COMMITTEE Nimfa Amor Kaur Gill, candidate for the degree of Master of Arts in Political Science, has presented a thesis titled, The Punjab Problem: A Case Study on the Rise of Sikh Nationalist Identity in India, in an oral examination held on April 24, 2014. The following committee members have found the thesis acceptable in form and content, and that the candidate demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject material. External Examiner: Dr. Yuan Ren, Department of Religious Studies Co-Supervisor: Dr. Yuchao Zhu, Department of Political Science Co-Supervisor: Dr. Dongyan Blachford, Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research Committee Member: Dr. Nilgun Onder, Department of Political Science Chair of Defense: Dr. Yiyu Yao, Department of Computer Science ABSTRACT Sikhs are among the many religious groups present in India. They are also one of the many minorities who have suffered since India’s independence in 1947. Since then, issues including the keeping and maintaining of its identity, growing fears of assimilation by Hindu fundamentalists and religious discrimination has surrounded the Sikh minority. The events of 1984 have also presented a new development in the Sikh identity, particularly the emergence of a separate and nationalist Sikh identity. What has caused the feeling of insecurity and the sudden rise of Sikh nationalistic identity within post-independent India? Through the use of evidence, historical and detailed case analysis, this thesis attempts to answer the growing Sikh problem by analyzing the possible causes on the sudden rise of a Sikh nationalist identity. Apart from religious and political groups which have influenced the development and expansion of the Sikh identity, the author argues that the chosen policies by India’s Hindu-dominated political Center during the critical stages of the Punjab problem, including the use of both coercive and non- coercive methods have significantly contributed to the development of a Sikh nationalist identity, as well as influenced the growing turmoil, dissatisfaction and bloodshed faced by many members of the Sikh minority. Although calls for separatism have significantly decreased since the mid-1990s, relationship between the Sikhs and the Hindu-dominated Center has not been fully resolved. This study posits that the lack of minority-sensitive laws aimed in the protection of minorities in the country have significantly contributed to an insecure and aggressive minority resulting in the formation and development of a separate Sikh nationalist identity. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am deeply grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Yuchao Zhu, and my co-supervisor, Dr. Dongyan Blachford for their continuous guidance, helpful suggestions, and kind support throughout the course of my study. I would also like to thank Dr. Nilgun Onder for providing valuable feedback which helped improve the thesis further. Special appreciation is due to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research and the Department of Political Science for the financial support through Teaching Assistantships. Last but not the least, I would like to thank Almighty God for reasons too numerous to mention. iii DEDICATION To, My respected and beloved parents whose continuous support and patience has made this work possible iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................. iii Dedication ..........................................................................................................................iv Table of Contents ................................................................................................................. v List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii List of Abbreviations ....................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1 CHAPTER TWO: INDIAN IDENTITY AND MINORITY ........................................ 6 2.1 Identity ............................................................................................................ 6 2.2 Indian Identity ................................................................................................. 8 2.2.1 Beginnings of Indian Identity ............................................................ 10 2.3 Minorities ...................................................................................................... 18 2.3.1 Minority Rights and Minority Situation in India .............................. 19 CHAPTER THREE: SIKHS IN INDIA ....................................................................... 22 3.1 Beginnings of Sikhism .................................................................................. 24 3.2 Sikh Identity .................................................................................................. 25 3.2.1 Sikhs as Religious Group ................................................................... 27 3.3 Principle of Sikhism...................................................................................... 28 3.3.1 Symbol of Sikhism: Identity Markers ................................................ 30 3.4 Sikhs as Religious Minority ......................................................................... 36 3.4.1 The Shiromani Akali Dal ................................................................. 38 3.5 Sikhs as a Nation........................................................................................... 39 3.5.1 Brief History ..................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER FOUR: THE PUNJAB PROBLEM ......................................................... 43 4.1 Green Revolution .......................................................................................... 45 4.2 Problems of the Green Revolution................................................................ 46 4.2.1 Exhaustion of Soil Productivity ........................................................ 46 4.2.2 Loss of Diversity ............................................................................... 47 4.2.3 Lack of Central Aid towards Punjab................................................. 48 4.2.4 Social Division .................................................................................. 50 4.2.5 Health Problems caused by the Green Revolution ........................... 51 4.2.6 Rise in Farmers Debt ........................................................................ 54 4.2.8 Water Shortages ................................................................................ 56 4.2.9 River-water Problems ....................................................................... 58 4.3 Anandpur Sahib Resolution .......................................................................... 62 4.3.1 What is the Anandpur Sahib Resolution ........................................... 62 v CHAPTER FIVE: BHINDRANWALE, OPERATION BLUE STAR AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ............................................... 68 5.1 Bhindrawale .................................................................................................. 68 5.1.1 Issues and Controversies ................................................................... 69 5.1.2 Charges towards Bhindrawale .......................................................... 71 5.1.3 The Agitation .................................................................................... 72 5.1.4 Sikh Militancy and Separatism ......................................................... 74 5.2 Operation Blue Star ...................................................................................... 76 5.2.1 Pre-Operation .................................................................................... 77 5.2.2 Beginnings of the Operation ............................................................. 78 5.2.3 Deaths and Casualties ....................................................................... 81 5.2.4 Aftermath of the Operation ............................................................... 84 5.2.5 State-Sponsored Pogroms ................................................................. 85 5.3 Human Rights Violations.............................................................................. 89 5.3.1 Extra-judicial Executions .................................................................. 90 5.3.2 Enforced Disappearances .................................................................. 92 5.3.3 Torture............................................................................................... 95 5.3.4 Illegal Cremations ............................................................................. 97 CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION ................................................................................ 100
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Nishaan – Blue Star-II-2018
    II/2018 NAGAARA Recalling Operation ‘Bluestar’ of 1984 Who, What, How and Why The Dramatis Personae “A scar too deep” “De-classify” ! The Fifth Annual Conference on the Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, jointly hosted by the Chardi Kalaa Foundation and the San Jose Gurdwara, took place on 19 August 2017 at San Jose in California, USA. One of the largest and arguably most beautiful gurdwaras in North America, the Gurdwara Sahib at San Jose was founded in San Jose, California, USA in 1985 by members of the then-rapidly growing Sikh community in the Santa Clara Valley Back Cover ContentsIssue II/2018 C Travails of Operation Bluestar for the 46 Editorial Sikh Soldier 2 HERE WE GO AGAIN: 34 Years after Operation Bluestar Lt Gen RS Sujlana Dr IJ Singh 49 Bluestar over Patiala 4 Khushwant Singh on Operation Bluestar Mallika Kaur “A Scar too deep” 22 Book Review 1984: Who, What, How and Why Jagmohan Singh 52 Recalling the attack on Muktsar Gurdwara Col (Dr) Dalvinder Singh Grewal 26 First Person Account KD Vasudeva recalls Operation Bluestar 55 “De-classify !” Knowing the extent of UK’s involvement in planning ‘Bluestar’ 58 Reformation of Sikh institutions? PPS Gill 9 Bluestar: the third ghallughara Pritam Singh 61 Closure ! The pain and politics of Bluestar 12 “Punjab was scorched 34 summers Jagtar Singh ago and… the burn still hurts” 34 Hamid Hussain, writes on Operation Bluestar 63 Resolution by The Sikh Forum Kanwar Sandhu and The Dramatis Personae Editorial Director Editorial Office II/2018 Dr IJ Singh D-43, Sujan Singh Park New Delhi 110
    [Show full text]
  • The Causes and Consequences of State Repression in Internal Armed Conflict: Sub-State Capacity and the Targets of State Violence
    University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Political Science ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations 9-5-2013 The aC uses and Consequences of State Repression in Internal Armed Conflict: Sub-State Capacity and the Targets of State Violence Philip Hultquist Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/pols_etds Recommended Citation Hultquist, Philip. "The aC uses and Consequences of State Repression in Internal Armed Conflict: Sub-State Capacity and the Targets of State Violence." (2013). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/pols_etds/10 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Political Science ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Philip Hultquist Candidate Political Science Department This dissertation is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication: Approved by the Dissertation Committee: Christopher K. Butler, Chairperson William Stanley Mark Peceny Neil Mitchell i THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF STATE REPRESSION IN INTERNAL ARMED CONFLICT: SUB-STATE CAPACITY AND THE TARGETS OF STATE VIOLENCE by PHILIP HULTQUIST B.S., Government and Public Affairs, Missouri Western State University, 2004 M.A., Political Science, University of New Mexico, 2007 DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Political Science The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico July, 2013 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank everyone who has supported me while completing my doctoral degree and especially while writing this dissertation. To do so, however, would result in an acknowledgements section much longer than the dissertation.
    [Show full text]
  • Khalistan & Kashmir: a Tale of Two Conflicts
    123 Matthew Webb: Khalistan & Kashmir Khalistan & Kashmir: A Tale of Two Conflicts Matthew J. Webb Petroleum Institute _______________________________________________________________ While sharing many similarities in origin and tactics, separatist insurgencies in the Indian states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have followed remarkably different trajectories. Whereas Punjab has largely returned to normalcy and been successfully re-integrated into India’s political and economic framework, in Kashmir diminished levels of violence mask a deep-seated antipathy to Indian rule. Through a comparison of the socio- economic and political realities that have shaped the both regions, this paper attempts to identify the primary reasons behind the very different paths that politics has taken in each state. Employing a distinction from the normative literature, the paper argues that mobilization behind a separatist agenda can be attributed to a range of factors broadly categorized as either ‘push’ or ‘pull’. Whereas Sikh separatism is best attributed to factors that mostly fall into the latter category in the form of economic self-interest, the Kashmiri independence movement is more motivated by ‘push’ factors centered on considerations of remedial justice. This difference, in addition to the ethnic distance between Kashmiri Muslims and mainstream Indian (Hindu) society, explains why the politics of separatism continues in Kashmir, but not Punjab. ________________________________________________________________ Introduction Of the many separatist insurgencies India has faced since independence, those in the states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have proven the most destructive and potent threats to the country’s territorial integrity. Ostensibly separate movements, the campaigns for Khalistan and an independent Kashmir nonetheless shared numerous similarities in origin and tactics, and for a brief time were contemporaneous.
    [Show full text]
  • Contributions of Lala Har Dayal As an Intellectual and Revolutionary
    CONTRIBUTIONS OF LALA HAR DAYAL AS AN INTELLECTUAL AND REVOLUTIONARY ABSTRACT THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF ^ntiat ai pijtl000pi{g IN }^ ^ HISTORY By MATT GAOR CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 2007 ,,» '*^d<*'/. ' ABSTRACT India owes to Lala Har Dayal a great debt of gratitude. What he did intotality to his mother country is yet to be acknowledged properly. The paradox ridden Har Dayal - a moody idealist, intellectual, who felt an almost mystical empathy with the masses in India and America. He kept the National Independence flame burning not only in India but outside too. In 1905 he went to England for Academic pursuits. But after few years he had leave England for his revolutionary activities. He stayed in America and other European countries for 25 years and finally returned to England where he wrote three books. Har Dayal's stature was so great that its very difficult to put him under one mould. He was visionary who all through his life devoted to Boddhi sattava doctrine, rational interpretation of religions and sharing his erudite knowledge for the development of self culture. The proposed thesis seeks to examine the purpose of his returning to intellectual pursuits in England. Simultaneously the thesis also analyses the contemporary relevance of his works which had a common thread of humanism, rationalism and scientific temper. Relevance for his ideas is still alive as it was 50 years ago. He was true a patriotic who dreamed independence for his country. He was pioneer for developing science in laymen and scientific temper among youths.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Roll Numbers for 'Ayurvedic Pharmacist-470' Examination Date 4.9.2016 (10 AM to 12 Noon)
    List of Roll Numbers for 'Ayurvedic Pharmacist-470' Examination date 4.9.2016 (10 AM to 12 Noon) Applicatio Name of Father/Husba DOB Roll No Examination Centre n ID Candidate nd Name 81004 NEENA DEVI SHAMSHER 18/02/1984 470000001 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre SINGH One, District Hamirpur (HP) 69728 Dinesh S/O: Babu 12/4/1990 470000002 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Kumar Ram One, District Hamirpur (HP) 24497 Sameena W/O Sher 17/03/1986 470000003 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Devi Khan One, District Hamirpur (HP) 31483 Kamal S/O Jagdish 29/11/1984 470000004 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Kumar Singh One, District Hamirpur (HP) 35534 Indu Bala D/O Vikram 7/2/1986 470000005 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Kashyap Singh One, District Hamirpur (HP) 61994 Sunil Kumar S/O Tulsi Ram 15/11/1982 470000006 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre One, District Hamirpur (HP) 31257 Vinod Kumar S/O Amar 23/09/1984 470000007 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Singh One, District Hamirpur (HP) 30989 Anil Kumar S/O Pratap 27/07/1986 470000008 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Singh One, District Hamirpur (HP) 38835 Usha Devi Nikka Ram 19/11/1989 470000009 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre One, District Hamirpur (HP) 106612 Sushma W/O Rajesh 9/10/1983 470000010 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Kumari Kumar One, District Hamirpur (HP) 51251 PRAVEEN JAVAHIR 12/8/1993 470000011 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre YADAV SINGH YADAV One, District Hamirpur (HP) 37051 Suresh S/O Baldev 15/07/1983 470000012 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Kumar Dass One, District Hamirpur (HP) 20316 Anju Devi D/O Suram 5/12/1988 470000013 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Singh One, District Hamirpur (HP) 51530 Sushma Govind Ram 13/04/1990 470000014 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Kamal One, District Hamirpur (HP) 62270 Sharmila D/O Tulsi Ram 29/03/1985 470000015 Gautam College Hamirpur Centre Kumari One, District Hamirpur (HP) 24854 SANDEEP SH.
    [Show full text]
  • Mapping the 'Khalistan' Movement, 1930-1947: an Overview
    Journal of the Research Society of Pakistan Volume No. 55, Issue No. 1(January - June, 2018) Samina Iqbal * Rukhsana Yasmeen** Kalsoom Hanif *** Ghulam Shabir **** Mapping the ‘Khalistan’ Movement, 1930-1947: An overview Abstract This study attempts to understand the struggle of the Sikhs of the Punjab, during the colonial period (1930-1947), for their separate home-land- Khalistan, which to date have been an unfinished agenda. They still feel they have missed the train by joining hands with the Congress Party. There is strong feeling sometime it comes out in shape of upsurge of freedom of moments in the East Punjab. Therefore it is important to understand what was common understanding of the Sikh about the freedom struggle and how they reacted to national movements and why they filed to achieve a separate homeland-Khalistan. The problem is that the Sikh demands have so been ignored by the British government of India and His Majesty’s Government in England. These demands were also were not given proper attention by the Government of Punjab, Muslim leadership and Congress. Although the Sikhs had a voice in the politics and economic spheres their numerical distribution in the Punjab meant that they were concerted in any particular areas. Therefore they remained a minority and could only achieve a small voting strength under separate electorates. The other significant factor working against the Sikh community was that the leadership representing was factionalized and disunited, thus leading to a lack of united representation during the freedom struggle and thus their demand for the creation of a Sikh state could not become a force to reckon.
    [Show full text]
  • Sikh Self-Sacrifice and Religious Representation During World War I
    religions Article Sikh Self-Sacrifice and Religious Representation during World War I John Soboslai Department of Religion, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair, NJ 07043, USA; [email protected] Received: 5 January 2018; Accepted: 8 February 2018; Published: 10 February 2018 Abstract: This paper analyzes the ways Sikh constructions of sacrifice were created and employed to engender social change in the early twentieth century. Through an examination of letters written by Sikh soldiers serving in the British Indian Army during World War I and contemporary documents from within their global religious, legislative, and economic context, I argue that Sikhs mobilized conceptions of self-sacrifice in two distinct directions, both aiming at procuring greater political recognition and representation. Sikhs living outside the Indian subcontinent encouraged their fellows to rise up and throw off their colonial oppressors by recalling mythic moments of the past and highlighting the plight of colonial subjects of the British Raj. Receiving less discussion are Punjabi Sikhs who fought in British forces during the Great War and who spoke of their potential sacrifice as divinely sanctioned in service to a benevolent state. Both sides utilized religious symbolism in the hope that Sikhs would again enjoy a level of self-rule that had been lost with the arrival of the British Empire. Keywords: Sikhism; World War I; self-sacrifice; imperialism; British Raj When the British Raj gave way to the dual nation-states of India and Pakistan in 1947, the partitioning of the two was determined largely on the basis of religion. Pakistan became the home for the area’s large Muslim population, and India for its Hindus.
    [Show full text]
  • Sikhism Reinterpreted: the Creation of Sikh Identity
    Lake Forest College Lake Forest College Publications Senior Theses Student Publications 4-16-2014 Sikhism Reinterpreted: The rC eation of Sikh Identity Brittany Fay Puller Lake Forest College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://publications.lakeforest.edu/seniortheses Part of the Asian History Commons, History of Religion Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Puller, Brittany Fay, "Sikhism Reinterpreted: The rC eation of Sikh Identity" (2014). Senior Theses. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Publications at Lake Forest College Publications. It has been accepted for inclusion in Senior Theses by an authorized administrator of Lake Forest College Publications. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Sikhism Reinterpreted: The rC eation of Sikh Identity Abstract The iS kh identity has been misinterpreted and redefined amidst the contemporary political inclinations of elitist Sikh organizations and the British census, which caused the revival and alteration of Sikh history. This thesis serves as a historical timeline of Punjab’s religious transitions, first identifying Sikhism’s emergence and pluralism among Bhakti Hinduism and Chishti Sufism, then analyzing the effects of Sikhism’s conduct codes in favor of militancy following the human Guruship’s termination, and finally recognizing the identity-driven politics of colonialism that led to the partition of Punjabi land and identity in 1947. Contemporary practices of ritualism within Hinduism, Chishti Sufism, and Sikhism were also explored through research at the Golden Temple, Gurudwara Tapiana Sahib Bhagat Namdevji, and Haider Shaikh dargah, which were found to share identical features of Punjabi religious worship tradition that dated back to their origins.
    [Show full text]
  • The Institution of the Akal Takht: the Transformation of Authority in Sikh History
    religions Article The Institution of the Akal Takht: The Transformation of Authority in Sikh History Gurbeer Singh Department of Religious Studies, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; [email protected] Abstract: The Akal Takht is considered to be the central seat of authority in the Sikh tradition. This article uses theories of legitimacy and authority to explore the validity of the authority and legitimacy of the Akal Takht and its leaders throughout time. Starting from the initial institution of the Akal Takht and ending at the Akal Takht today, the article applies Weber’s three types of legitimate authority to the various leaderships and custodianships throughout Sikh history. The article also uses Berger and Luckmann’s theory of the symbolic universe to establish the constant presence of traditional authority in the leadership of the Akal Takht. Merton’s concept of group norms is used to explain the loss of legitimacy at certain points of history, even if one or more types of Weber’s legitimate authority match the situation. This article shows that the Akal Takht’s authority, as with other political religious institutions, is in the reciprocal relationship between the Sikh population and those in charge. This fluidity in authority is used to explain and offer a solution on the issue of authenticity and authority in the Sikh tradition. Keywords: Akal Takht; jathedar; Sikh institutions; Sikh Rehat Maryada; Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC); authority; legitimacy Citation: Singh, Gurbeer. 2021. The Institution of the Akal Takht: The 1. Introduction Transformation of Authority in Sikh History. Religions 12: 390. https:// The Akal Takht, originally known as the Akal Bunga, is the seat of temporal and doi.org/10.3390/rel12060390 spiritual authority of the Sikh tradition.
    [Show full text]
  • Taajudin's Diary
    Taajudin’s Diary Account of a Muslim author who accompanied Guru Nanak from Makkah to Baghdad By Sant Syed Prithipal Singh ne’ Mushtaq Hussain Shah (1902-1969) Edited & Translated By: Inderjit Singh Table of Contents Foreword................................................................................................. 7 When Guru Nanak Appeared on the World Scene ............................. 7 Guru Nanak’s Travel ............................................................................ 8 Guru Nanak’s Mission Was Outright Universal .................................. 9 The Book Story .................................................................................. 12 Acquaintance with Syed Prithipal Singh ....................................... 12 Discovery by Sardar Mangal Singh ................................................ 12 Professor Kulwant Singh’s Treatise ............................................... 13 Generosity of Mohinder Singh Bedi .............................................. 14 A Significant Book ............................................................................. 15 Recommendation ............................................................................. 16 Foreword - Sant Prithipal Singh ji Syed, My Father .............................. 18 ‘The Lion of the Lord took to the trade of the Fox’ – Translator’s Note .............................................................................................................. 20 About Me – Preface by Sant Syed Prithipal Singh ...............................
    [Show full text]
  • 'A State of One's Own': Secessionism and Federalism in India
    0 Working Paper no. 80 A STATE OF ONE’S OWN: SECESSIONISM AND FEDERALISM IN INDIA Neera Chandhoke Developing Countries Research Centre September 2006 Copyright © Neera Chandhoke, 2006 Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this Working Paper, the Crisis States Research Centre and LSE accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims or accuracy of information provided by contributors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored ina retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without hte prior permission in writing of the publihser nor be issued to the public or circulated in any form othr than that in which it is published. Requests for permission to reproduce this Working Paper, or any part thereof, should be sent to: The Editor, Crisis States Research Centre, LSE, Houghton Streeet, London WC2A 2AE 1 Crisis States Research Centre ‘A State of One’s Own’: Secessionism and Federalism in India Neera Chandhoke Developing Countries Research Centre (I wish to thank Praveen Priyadarshi and Noni Meitei for great research assistance. I also wish to thank the members of the research team who conducted the surveys. This paper is part of a work in progress and comments, criticisms, and suggestions are more than welcome) Introduction Ever since the ‘ethnic explosion’1 and secessionism blasted across the world in the mid-1980s, theorists have worked overtime to devise solutions to what appears to be an intractable problem. The problem is simply this: how can the escalation of ethnic discontent into violence, armed struggle and demands for separation be pre-empted? Violent conflicts can be managed, but when politics in the violent mode overlaps with identity issues, the problem verges on the insoluble.
    [Show full text]
  • Gurduara: a Sikh Place of Learning
    Gurduara: A Sikh Place of Learning State of the Panth, Report 3 September 2018 Guarduara Janam Asthan Guru Nanak Sahib Nankana Sahib, Panjab 1933 (Photo: Panjab Digital Library) State of the Panth The State of the Panth is a series of reports on Sikh topics presented by the Sikh Research Institute to the global Sikh community. The series reflects on matters affecting either a large section of the Sikh population or provides a perspective on critical issues facing the human race at large. It surveys the self-identified Sikhs on their stances. It outlines a Sikh perspective based on Gurmat (the Guru’s Way) traditions of Bani (wisdom), Tavarikh (history), and Rahit (lifestyle). It lays out recommendations for individual Sikhs and Sikh institutions in “best practices” approach to strengthen the bonds within the community. Report prepared by Harinder Singh, Senior Fellow, Research & Policy Parveen Kaur, Research Assistant Inni Kaur, Editor Acknowledgments Reviewers We are indebted to Gurdit Singh, Rajvinder Singh, and Sundeep Kaur for their insights during the research phase of this report. Their comments on early versions of the manuscript were invaluable in shaping its final iteration. Any omissions or errors found in the report are a full responsibility of SikhRI. Skyrocket We thank the Skyrocket team for sharing their design expertise and making the report as beautiful as it is. The strength of our brand is supported by their knowledge. V 1.0, confidential and not for circulation 3 Table of Contents Summary 5 Bani Wisdom 7 Tavarikh History 11 Rahit Lifestyle 18 Survey 25 Recommendations 31 References 34 V 1.0, confidential and not for circulation 4 Summary The Gurduara is considered to be the heart of the Sikh community.
    [Show full text]