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The Shaheedi of Guru Arjan Dev Ji & the Events of June 1984

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The Shaheedi of Guru Arjan Dev Ji & the Events of June 1984 The Shaheedi of Guru Arjan Dev Ji & The Events of June 1984 1 GURU ARJAN DEV JI Prakash - 15 April, 1563 Father Guru Ramdas Ji, Mother Mata Bhani Ji Married to Mata Ganga Ji Gurgaddi 1 September 1581 Completed Ramdas Sarovar and started Harmandir Sahib Compiled Adi Granth, scribed by Bhai Gurdas Ji Prakash of Adi Granth in Harmandir Sahib in 1661 and assigned Baba Budda ji as first Granthi 2 GURU ARJAN DEV JI Son – Guru Hargobind Ji born 9 June 1595 Upon sangat’s request, rejected request to marry Guru Hargobind ji to Chandu’s daughter Chandu was Wazir of Jahingir, and complained to Jahangir Jahangir summoned Guru Arjan Dev Ji to Lahore and told him to change baani, accept Islam or be ready to die Upon Guru’s refusal, Jahangir ordered Guru Sahib on Red Hot Plate, poured hot sand and made Guru Sahib Shaheed on 25 May 1606 3 30 YEARS SINCE GENOCIDE Large scale Genocide of Sikhs Mass murder by Military June 1984 Genocide of November 1984 Intense propaganda and disinformation campaign to hide the truth Perpetrators of crimes enjoying the high life, while the victims families forever bear the pain No justice, continued risk for minorities 4 BRIEF BACKGROUND Sikh Panth – An Independent Nation Khalsa Raaj – Misls to Maharaja Ranjit Singh Annexation by British – 1849 Major contributions by the Sikhs in Independence of the Indian Sub-continent against the British (1947) Partition of Panjab Broken Promises - 1947 to 1984 June 1984 Attack on the Sikh Nation Eyewitness Account Video (www.ensaaf.org) 5 QUESTIONS TO ASK! What were the reasons? Was this Pre-planned or Last Minute? Why was Baba Jarnail Singh staying in Akal Takht? Why were there Weapons? Why not Kill or Arrest SJSB? Why June 1st ? What happened? What do we learn? Sarbat Khalsa Self-Determination 6 WHAT WERE THE REASONS? Broken Promises Panjab divided into India and Pakistan Indian Constitution Inequality – rejected by Sirdar Kapur Singh Panjabi Speaking State / Panjabi Suba Movement River waters sharing Sikh Identity Lack of rights for Indigenous people of Panjab Emergency by Indira ‘77– Strong Sikh Opposition Vaisakhi of 1978 Propaganda of insulting Sikhs and Guru Granth Sahib Murder of 13 Sikhs by Nirankaris Anandpur Resolution Greater Autonomy of all States and preserving the Sikh Identity Sikh Movement Led by Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale Sikhs were always a threat to Indira because they always stood up for their rights and against the Government Atrocities Designed to Teach Sikhs A Lesson Know your place in India and accept it / break our spirits 7 BROKEN PROMISES PRE-INDEPENDENCE “No Constitution would be acceptable to the Congress which did not satisfy the sikhs.” (Collected works of M K Gandhi Vol.58. p. 192) “The brave Sikhs of Panjab are entitled to special consideration. I see nothing wrong in an area and a set up in the North wherein the Sikhs can also experience the glow of freedom. (Jawaharlal Nehru, Congress meeting: Calcutta – July, 1944) POST-INDEPENDENCE “The Sikhs as a community are a lawless people and are a menace to the law abiding Hindus in the provice. The deputy commissioner should take speacial measures against them” (Chandu Lal Trivedi, Gov of Panjab, October 1947) Indian constitution adopted in 1949 – no autonomous Sikh State, rather in article 25 declares Sikhs as Hindus, creates regressive and discriminative policies based on caste system – rejected by the Sikhs “Times have changed” – Nehru (1950) “To preserve the Unity of India, if we have to eliminate 2 Crore Sikhs, we will do so” (Balram Jhakar, Cabinet of PM Narsimharao) 8 PRE-PLANNED VS LAST MINUTE? Sikh Movement / Dharam Yudh Morcha led by Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale Jathedaar of Damdami Taksal Preached Sikhi Got people to stop using intoxicants and other vices Strongly opposed Indira’s agenda against the Sikhs Moved into Akal Takht around 6 months before Bluestar Gen. RK Sinha / Gen. Vaidya/ Gen. Brar Sinha opposed Indira’s plan to attack, he was sacked Vaidya and Brar led the Military Operation Brar’s Grandfather got Kartar Singh Sarabha arrested and hanged 1982 Model in Doon Valley UK & SAS advice Feb 1984, and possible involvement of other Foreign agencies 9 WHY WAS BABA JARNAIL SINGH IN AKAL TAKHT? AND WHY WERE THERE WEAPONS? Akal Takht – Political/Military Capital Established to handle Sikh Panthic Issues Guru Hargobind Ji’s Akaal Sena Military / Gatka training Use of weapons for self-defense Carry weapons all the time Baba Deep Singh Fought Abdali’s Army to protect Amritsar / Golden Temple Sukha Singh / Mehtab Singh Fought and killed Massa Rangar to presence sanctity of Golden Temple History / Library / Artifacts Rumors of Model and Attack Run away or Defend? 10 WHY NOT JUST KILL OR ARREST BABA JARNAIL SINGH? Easy to meet or assassinate – so why attack? He surrendered him self to the Police 6 months before the attack, but was not arrested V.C of Police Amritsar, Gurdev Singh wanted arrest warrant It was not about Baba Jarnail Singh, it was trying to suppress the Sikhs The attack was not on a political figure or movement, but to suppress a religion, to attack their heart, to strike a blow at their spirit and self confidence – Joyce Pettigrew Used heavy artillery, tanks, helicopters, commandos Illegal per Indian Law Around 40 other historical Gurduaras attacked at that time, thousands more innocent Sikhs were murdered 11 WHY JUNE 1ST Guru Arjan Dev ji’s Shaheedi Divas Maximum damage to the Sikhs Only allowed to enter, no one could leave No warning before attack Elders, Women and Children not spared Stop Grain Shipment / Tax – Dharam Yudh Morcha Media Blackout, Communications Cut Amnesty Banned Propaganda about Khalistan Paid Anti-Sikh Propaganda by agencies such as Rediff Govt agencies still active in Gurduaras around the world 12 WHAT HAPPENED? Gen Shubeg Singh setup defense Hero of the Indo-Pak/Bangla War of 1971 From the lineage of Mehtab Singh Military Assault from May 31 to June 7 Akal Takht Destroyed In-humane treatment of prisoners and murder 5-8K pilgrims killed (Gov’t claims <500) Bodies taken away and cremated / no records kept Reference library looted and burnt 40 other Gurduaras attacked same time “I don’t give a damn if the Golden Temple and whole of Amritsar are destroyed. I want Bhindranwala dead” (Indira communicating with Gen Vaidya during Operation Blue Star) “We have broken the back of the Sikhs and we will 13 get them elsewhere” (MK Wali, India Foreign Sect on CBC) CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS May 25 100K Army troops deployed around Amritsar June 1 Pilgrims gather for Guru Arjan ji’s Gurpurab Some sniper firing by the Army June 3 All communications are cut, Curfew imposed, journalists are expelled June 4 Army starts firing towards Bunga’s, Water tank, Teja Singh Samundri Hall and surrounding buildings June 5 Heavy artillery used by the Army, commandos start entering the complex, temple complex is blazing, various attempts to enter Akal Takht. Darshani Deori June 6 Tanks enter the complex, destroying the marble parkarma and started firing Akal Takht. Regiments invading hostel complex. Innocent pilgrims rounded up, tourtured and killed point blank – including women and children. Troops enter Akal Takht, little resistance Army troops on rampage, killing and looting surrounding Sikh houses June 7 Bodies of Baba Jarnail Singh and other Shaheeds found Darshani Deori destroyed, treasures looted, library burned down, historical artifacts lost/stolen Thousands of innocent pilgrims murdered Followed by a decade of illegal / fake police encounters killing thousand of innocent Sikhs “You do not know the might of our armed forces. We will eliminate 10,000 Sikh youths 14 and the world will know nothing about it” (PM Chander Shekar, 1991) SARBAT KHALSA 1986 April 13, 1986 Sarbat Khalsa held at Akal Takht Sahib Amritsar Over half millions Sikhs attended and all Jathas came together to make a decision for the Panth Rebuild Akal Takht that was previously built by Government after 1984 Declaration for Independence of Sikhs - Khalistan! 15 ACCORDING TO UN – WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION Identifiable Group Identifiable Location Historical Rule Will to Self Determination Demonstrate Capacity to Self Determination Effective Group Suffers continuous oppression of Human Rights 16 WHAT DO WE LEARN? Do Not base our history and heroes from impartial Government reports Through our History, our Heroes are based on our Sikh perspective US got it’s freedom from England because of brave citizens who stood up against tyranny! Heroes who stand up for common people always face character assassination Until Lions have their own historians, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter! Few brave Sikhs, held the world’s third largest Army for 6 days with only few outdated weapons Use it as an inspiration – stories such as Garja Singh Bota Singh, Meer Manu etc. Remember this not as Operation Bluestar, but as THE BATTLE OF AMRITSAR RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION 17 THE END 18 SOURCES www.ensaaf.org www.sikhri.org www.sikhyouthalliance.org www.neverforget84 www.everything13.org www.sikhsforjustice.org Saka Neela Tara – Giani Kirpal Singh Ji Saachi Sakhi – Sirdar Kapur Singh Ji The Gallant Defender – A.R. Darshi Various Speeches Harinder Singh (sikhri) Dr. Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke Bhai Mukhtiar Singh Ji 19 .
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