THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SIKH AFFAIRS

NOVEMBER 2011

Volume 21

No. 2

Published By: The Sikh Educational Trust

Box 276, 9768 - 170th St, NW EDMONTON, AB T5T 5L4 CANADA

E-mail: http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/IntJSA

ISSN 1481-5435 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SIKH AFFAIRS

General Banda Singh Bahadar Shaheed Bilas Saint-soldier Jarnail Singh Khalsa (Bhindranwale), 1949 - 6th June, 1984. The Sikhs' Established the First Sikh Raj, 1710-1716 political and religious leader of the Sikh Nation, The Third Centenial of the Sikh Raj PUNJAB, Khalistan (under the occupation of the 'Brahmins-Hindus' alleged Indian democracy/demoncracy)

Persecution, genocide, an undeclared war in the Punjab, Khalistan under Indian Gurdwaras (Houses of God) under seige of name of "Operation Bluestar" of June, 1984; Occupation the 'Brahmins-Hindus' alleged Indian Hindu mob after an innocent Sikh woman in the democracy/demoncracy and its armed 'Landless Sikh Nation, Punjab, Khalistan' personnel (under occupation of the 'Brahmins-Hindus since 15th August, 1947). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SIKH AFFAIRS

NOVEMBER ISSUE VOLUME 21

EDITORIAL ADVISORS

Dr S S Dhami, MD Dr B S Samagh Dr Surjit Singh Prof Gurtej Singh, IAS Usman Khalid New York, USA Ottawa, CANADA Williamsville, NY Chandigarh President, Rifah Party of Pakistan

J S Dhillon “Arshi” M S Randhawa Dr Sukhjit Kaur Gill Gurmit Singh Khalsa MALAYSIA Ft. Lauderdale, FL Chandigarh AUSTRALIA

Managing Editor and Editor in Chief: Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon The Sikh Educational Trust Box 276, 9768-170th St, NW Edmonton, AB T5T 5L4 E-mail:[email protected]

NOTE: Views presented by the authors in their contributions in the journal are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor in Chief, the Editorial Advisors, or the publisher.

SUBCRIPTION: Canadian $85.00 per anum plus 5% GST plus postage and handling (by surface mail) for institutions and multiple users. Personal copies: Canadian $30.00 plus & 5% GST plus postage and handling (surface mail). Orders for the current and forthcoming issues may be placed with the Sikh Educational Trust, Box 276, 9768-10 St, NW, EDMONTON, AB T5T 5L4 CANADA. E-mail: [email protected]

The Sikh Leaders, Freedom Fighters and Intellectuals

To bring an end to tyranny it is a must to punish the terrorist -Baba (General) Banda Singh Bahadar Sikhs have only two options: slavery of the Hindus or struggle for their lost sovereignty and freedom -Sirdar Kapur Singh, ICS, MP, MLA and National Professor of Sikhism I am not afraid of physical death; moral death is death in reality Saint-soldier Jarnail Singh Khalsa Martyrdom is our ornament -Bhai Awtar Singh Brahma (General) We do not fear the terrorist Hindu regime. We are tireless: we shall return home before freedom of Khalistan -General The coward Hindu regime will never achieve our surrender -Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal One must have superior morality and lifestyle than the person he is going to punish -Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda and Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha My real life will begin from the moment of my martyrdom for the Panth Bhai Khalsa The siege of Darbar Sahib is the siege of the Sikh Nation -Justice Ajit Singh Bains No power on the earth can stop the freedom of the Sikh Homeland - -Simranjit Singh Mann, MP Even they dismember my body, I will not surrender before the terrorist police chief KP Gill -Bhai Kanwar Singh Dhami We are alive, we are awakened, we are struggling and we shall surely win -The Declaration of the Sikh Nation

The lessons of Guru Gobind Singh ji must be followed. No Sikh, whether a politician, sarpanch or jathedar, should be followed if they do not openly and unequivocally speak out for a free and sovereign Khalistan and encourage a peaceful movement -Dr Gurmit Singh, President, Council of Khalistan, Washington DC

The goal of Khalsa Panth is the Sovereigny of Khalistan. The Akali government has backed away from it. It has lost its credibility with the Sikh Nation. Do not let these Akali leaders get away with it. It is our responsibility to liberate Khalistan. -Dr Gurmit Singh Aulakh

Freedom is never given, it is won through preservance and struggle by peaceful means -Dr Gurmit Singh Aulakh Akali Party id dead -Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer

The top priority of the Sikh Nation is to “Re-establish the Sovereignty of the Sikhs' Holy and Historic Homeland, Punjab, Khalistan, by peaceful means.” -Dr Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President, Council of Khalistan, Washington DC

PRINTED IN CANADA

ISSN 1481-5435

i INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SIKH AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2011 Volume 21 No. 2

CONTENTS

The Sikh war code, its spiritual inspiration and impact on history Gurtej Singh 1 The re-assassination of Sant Bhindranwale Gurtej Singh 7 Baba Ramdev's mahasangram Gurtej Singh 13 Intensification of psychological war against the nuclear…Pakistan A Haroon Raja 17 Of Burqa-clad puerile approaches, sycophantic opinions…Sikh Ethos Gurtej Singh 19 Terrorism in perspective in relation to South Asia A S Sekhon 26 Terrorism in retrospect U Khalid 27 Sikhs and Kashmiri regard 's as the Blackest…History H Yousafzai 31 18th Session United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland A S Sekhon 33 Dal Khalsa Alliance and sister Sikh organization: MEMORANDUM to the UN:HRC 39

NEWS, VIEWS, SHORT ARTICLES, ETC. 45-55

Gurmit Singh Khalsa writes to Rozana Spokesman; Sikh Raj of a Sikh monarch…world's largest fire power by Shamshul Haq Qazi; Dr Sekhon responds to Janab Siddiqi; India using rape as a weapon of occupation by George Galloway; involved in extra-judicial killings in Kashmir by Wikileaks; K Singh on Professor Bhullar (on death row); Dr Sekhon writes to Professor A. Haq; Dr Sekhon's Open Letter to Dr Harshinder Kaur; Dr Sekhon congratulates to Bhai Sahib Panthpreet Singh on Professor Bhullar; Master Tara Singh a founding member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (1964); [political analysts] India's right wing groups are making bombs… Chidamraram, India's Home Minister; the Brahmins-Hindus' democracy and non-Brahmin-Hindu minorities are at crossroads; Saffaron Terror behind Mumbai blasts; Sirdar Gurmit Singh Khalsa on Hindus' 'Diwali' festival ; Dr Sekhon writes clarified the Sikh history from the Sikh point of view; Dr Sekhon replies on what is Pakistan?

Book Review 53

Reviewer: K Singh History of Sikhs Struggle by Gurmit Singh (1989)

*****

Call for papers: Submit your contributions, via electronic mail using the MS Office 10 programme, of academic interest onlyon the Sikh philosophy, and the Sikh Affairs. The authors of the accepted contributions for publication will be notified.

Note: Opinions and views expressed in the article(s) are of the author(s) and the International Kournal of Sikh Affairs, its management and publishers bear no responsibility.

RELEASED: 5th November, 2011

ii International Journal of Sikh Affairs Vol 21, No. 2, 1-6,-NOVEMBER 2011 ISSN 1481-5435©

THE SIKH WAR CODE, ITS SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION AND IMPACT ON HISTORY

GURTEJ SINGH, IAS & IPS (FORMERLY)

PROFESSOR OF SIKHISM

[This paper was presented to the Guru Nanak University for soldiers engaged in actual warfare, with a view to knowing publication in response to their invitation. It was not the extent to which the rules, so meticulously codified, were published because the University did not accept that Guru followed. Nanak had political concerns. This was the primary objection. My view, strengthened by this episode, is that certain people 2.In the opening verse of Guru Granth, Guru Nanak lays in our universities are succumbing to the diktat of the down, amongst others, the three most important attributes of permanent cultural majority to bring Sikhi within the ambit of the Creator that went a long way in motivating his followers’ previously prevailing culture. In my opinion this cultural conduct during war. These are: ‘The Ultimate Reality is 1,’ aggression needs to be resisted] S/He is fearless and has no enmity.’ The use of the numeral is deliberate and is meant to convey absolute oneness. ‘It is not It was Guru Nanak who laid down the basic rules that must my one God’ that the Guru believed in but the only One for govern the waging of war by his disciples. Besides pointing all creation. The effect of this belief translates into fearless out the code of conduct in conflicts, he also spoke about the combat in battlefield and humane treatment of the defeated. mental equipment, spiritual training and self discipline of a Guru Nanak’s ideal devotee of the Divne is one who is so soldier. He is again the one who defines what makes conflict ‘enthusiastic’ about playing the ‘game of love’ that he is legitimate, the extent to which it is to be pursued by prepared to stake his life in the venture (to ‘carry his head on individual soldiers and armies and the purpose to be achieved the palm of his hand.’) A person must think nothing of by waging war. He talks of brave knights and martyrs being making the ultimate sacrifice while walking on the spiritual honoured at Akalpurakh’s Court (tithe jodh mahabal soor). path. (je tau prem khelan ka chaou sir dhar tali gali mori Bhai Gurdas, one of his earliest biographers, calls the Guru a aao). ‘roaring lion’ and a ‘conquering hero.’ He goes on to commemorate him in a ballad composed in the form of 3.The Guru expects his followers not to shirk battle for a a Vaar that is normally employed to eulogise knights and to worthy cause. The cause has been defined clearly. It is the immortalise battles and victories. The ideal human of Guru Creator’s Will that absolute justice should pervade all human Arjun’s concept is ‘Akalpurakh’s champion.’ (haun gosain ka institutions, that everyone must enjoy the freedom of worship pehalwanra) The mental and physical training required of a and to preserve ones human dignity. This is the basis of the spiritually developed person is aimed at imbibing the Sikh political thought in Guru Granth. attributes of God which the Guru has revealed. The incessant Akalpurakh disapproves of oppression (har jio hankar naa striving to acquire these virtues and making them a part of bhaaviee) born of impulse of aggression. In individual character is defined as salvation. Thereafter, his Babarvani verses, Guru Nanak expounds the theory that it always standing up for the implementation of the Divine is necessary for a spiritually oriented person to physically Will, as revealed in the Guru’s word, is all that remains to resist evil-doers. He denounces the Lodhis who failed to make salvation an eternal reality. Of the greatest importance, protect the women of Hind and its culture. The conclusion is perhaps, is also the method by which salvation is to be that the devotees who strive for spiritual progress must resist achieved as well as the nature of evil that was to be overcome oppression to express their love for Him. Physical resistance in the process. It is possible to trace all this in the utterances to evil is therefore necessary for a person having spiritual of Guru Nanak. Succeeding Gurus and other holy persons aspirations. This is the ‘righteous cause’ that must be pursued (bhagta), whose word was accepted as part of the final Sikh ‘to the point of courting martyrdom (mar se mansa sooria scripture, appear to be in accord with the Guru’s thought. hak hai je hoe marahe parvano).’ Defining the righteous Therefore it is pertinent recall the conduct of Sikh armies and cause more explicitly, Guru Arjun told Adit Soini, ‘while

1 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© engaged in battle, contemplate on Akalpurakh, Who destroys fleeing enemy. This injunction is based on the Sikh doctrine, evil-doers; fight an ethical battle on behalf of the oppressed that that there is no ‘other’ among humans, as all derive poor.’[i] The same idea is contained in the verses of Kabir origin from the same divine entity, the common included in the scripture. ‘Truly brave is one who fights for Father/Mother of all. (na ko bairi nahi begana sagal sang the deprived,’ says the Bhagat. (soora so pehchanie jo lare ham ko ban aiee: sab ko meet ham apna keena ham sabhna deen ke het). While engaged in this pious duty, the battlefield ke sajan). It further says that evil is the result of must never be abandoned. (purja purja kat marai kbhun na misconception and wrong orientation of the human mind. chhade khet). People are intrinsically good, not bad. Once they abandon evil ways or cease to support evil causes, they must not be 4.We learn from literature other than the scripture that the molested. Qazi Nur Muhammad records, `they never kill a succeeding Gurus blessed professional soldiers and retreating foe.’[v] Karl Marx thinks that the Sikhs failed to encouraged them to develop the right kind of attitude towards consolidate their victory over the British at Mudki on warlike engagements. Guru Angad, the second Nanak, for December 21, 1945 because they would not attack a defeated instance, laid down an important rule of warfare when he told foe.[vi] a military-man Mallu Shahi, ‘do not initiate a quarrel with any one. If a battle is imposed upon you, do not give thought 6. An application of the rule relating to prisoners of war is to whether you are well or ill equipped, enter the documented again and again. George Forester records that the fray.’[ii] While wanton aggression is never justified, it is Afghan Prisoners of War were compelled to clean the mess immoral to avoid war ‘at any cost.’ But even when engaged they created at the shrine at . But, “the Sikhs – set in battle, the all-important discipline to conform to is that bounds to impulse of revenge and though the Afghan there should be no violence at heart. Guru Arjun advised massacre and persecution must have been deeply imprinted Tiloka Suhar, who was a soldier in the Mughal army, ‘do not on their minds, they did not, -- destroy one prisoner in cold be violent at heart but remain steadfast in your profession of a blood.”[vii] Rattan Singh Bhangu’s father Rai Singh soldier'.[iii] Guru Hargobind, the Sixth Nanak, fighting a ‘to participated in a battle against Jahan Khan, the Afghan the finish duel’ with the Mughal commander Painda Khan on Governor of Sarhind, ‘in the middle of November 1763 CE.’ the battlefield, would not strike first or in anger. Mohsin Fani Rattan Singh has constructed the incidents that happened on recalls an incident in which the Guru warded off an attacker the battlefields on the information received from his father. and while dealing him a fatal blow calmly observed, ‘this is He says, `the Singhs did not attack the enemy soldiers who how the sword is wielded.’ He did not forget his primary duty abandoned their weapons. They sought no revenge for they of a teacher even in those grim circumstances. The related were the personification of mercy.’[viii] When, after a duel injunction is also derived from the famous with Guru Hagobind, Painda Khan, who was lying mortally letter Zafarnamah (in Persian), supposedly written by the wounded, repented, the merciful Guru took his head upon his Tenth Guru to Aurangzeb. The oft quoted couplet is to the lap and shielded the sun from his eyes saying, ‘Painda it is effect, that ‘when all peaceful strivings is of no avail, time to repeat the ‘kalmia.’ Painda Khan was overwhelmed righteousness it is then to grasp the sword’. These sermons, by the gesture. His last words were, ‘now Guru, your sword prescriptions and acts became the basis of the firm stipulation has become my kalmia.’ In a battle against the King of that weapons were not to be taken up in anger or with Kahlur in about 1711 CE, the Sikh commander in chief aggressive intent and only in the last resort. They are Banda Singh Bahadur, issued a military order, ‘do not pursue reflected in theRehatnamas put together by devoted Sikhs a retreating soldier.’ At the conclusion of the same battle, much later.[iv] In the Guru’s eyes nothing makes the cause Sikh soldiers dug graves and buried the thirteen hundred dead more worthy than the taking up of weapons only when every since now they were beyond enmity.[ix]This tradition dates at other possibility of getting justice is exhausted. least from the time of Guru Gobind Singh who ordered a decent burial for the dead enemy after the battle of Mukatsar. 5.This attitude to war also implies humane treatment of The Sikh Commonwealth faced the greatest danger from prisoners of war, the injured, those who give up Maulvi Sayyid Ahmed Brailvi who, with the British support, confrontation, non-combatants and the slain. The Tenth led a Jehad against it (1831CE). His head was cut off by a Nanak, Gobind Singh specifically forbade the massacre of Sikh soldier who presented it to Kanwar Sher Singh. He

2 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© searched for the Sayyid’s body, retrieved it from the army to the effect, ‘now it is the privilege of the Khalsa to battlefield, wrapped it in an expensive shawl and called a lead a frontal attack. Let not the poor (those who have joined Maulvi to perform the last rites according to the Islamic the army for earning livelihood,) be pushed to the front.’ custom. All his dead companions were honourably buried. (kalghidhar de khalse hun hon moohre, agge hor garib na Their leader received state honours.[x] dhakkanai jee). In many other situations similar conduct of the Sikh soldiers has been noted. In his last battle with the 7. Guru Gobind Singh, encouraged medical treatment of the Indian army, Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa in his injured enemy, even in the field of battle. He went to the characteristically humorous way, told those around him, ‘it extent of organising a volunteer force headed by Bhai appears that at dawn we must make the last sortie. Death is th Kanheyia, in the closing years of the 17 century to pursue assured. Those who desire to live are welcome to escape. this injunction. A section of the Sikhs who continue with Don’t say afterwards that this saadh propelled us into the Bhai Kanheya’s work of serving others, are organized today jaws of death (pher na akhio es saadh ne sanoo marva ditta).’ as Sewapanthis. Those who wanted to go were allowed to depart amicably. The writer of these lines has met at least four persons who 8.In the above mentioned battle “Jahan Khan himself took to had escaped after this pronouncement. flight. All his camp equipage, relatives and dependants fell into the hands of the Sikhs. ‘But as the Sikhs of old would not 10.‘Totally devoted ones boldly face battle but the uninitiated lay their hands on women,’ says Ali-ud-Din, ‘they sent them run away from conflict,’ says the Guru Granth. (daage hoe so safely to Jammu.’[xi] The wife of Jahan Khan was amongst ran meh joojhai bin dage bhag jaee). This sentiment is the captured and it was on her wish that safe journey to echoed in the Rehatnamas, is prominent in the conduct of Jammu was arranged. A little later, Sarbuland Khan the Sikh soldiers and has been mentioned by historians military commander of Rohtas was defeated and captured by throughout the ages.[xiii] That the Sikh soldier took his Sardar Charhat Singh. “He was – treated with respect as a spiritual commitment seriously is also borne out by accounts highly placed Afghan official and as an uncle of Ahmed of the Anglo—Sikh wars.[xiv] Shah. He was so pleased with the kindness he received at the hands of the Sardar, that he offered to serve under him as a 11. Steadfastness in battle became the hallmark of the Sikh governor if Charhat Singh were to proclaim himself a king. soldier. Sikh religious discipline prescribes that when he is [Charat Singh informed him] ‘kingship is already bestowed fighting for Truth as he knows it, there is not an inch of the upon us by the Guru.’ [The prisoner was] allowed to return to field that he can yield. (purja purja kat marai kabhoon na his country.”[xii] chhade khet). This was the tradition. Gurbaksh Singh Nihang faced the whole army of Ahmed Shah Abdali with just thirty 9.Ideally from the Sikh point of view, warfare is a voluntary companions. Of him and his companions, Bhangu says that activity born of intense personal conviction. It is in this they all died while advancing towards the enemy. He says the context that the war cry of ‘jo bole so nhal, sat siri akal,’ same of the forty martyrs of Muktsar who all fell while (‘every felicity is to him who volunteers to join up on hearing advancing in defence of the Guru. After the battle, the Guru the cry of battle being waged for the cause of the Deathless’) assigned them honour after counting the steps that they had becomes meaningful. Nothing illustrates this point better than advanced from the central point of battle. Karl Marx the history of celebrated martyrs like Bhai Tara Singh Wan, instinctively knew that in the Khalsa armies, the British Gurbaksh Singh Nihang and others. According to Rattan people were facing a different kind of a soldier. He thinks the Singh Bhangu, before the final battle in which death was British commander-in-chief’s “asinine stupidity” was assured, Tara Singh told his companions that those who responsible for the defeat of the British forces at Pherushahar. wanted to escape could do so. Several went away. He also “Gough imagined he could do anything to the Sikhs, in the wrote to those who had promised to share with him their last same way as to the easily frightened Hindus of the South, by moments on earth of which, at least three came, joined him charging them with bayonets.”[xv] J. D. Cunningham who and eventually died along with him the next day. Shah was present on the battlefield during the Anglo-Sikh wars Muhammad, recording the happenings relating to a crucial observed about the British cavalry charge, “nor was it until battle of the Anglo-Sikh war, recalls the resolve of the Khalsa the mass had been three times ridden through that the Sikhs

3 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© dispersed. The charge was timely and bold; but the ground army. What these regulations were we cannot surmise; they was more thickly strewn with the bodies of victorious have not outlived their authors, nor is it probable that they horsemen than of the beaten infantry. The true Sikh was not were ever recorded; but judging from the discipline of the easily cowed.”[xvi] Khalsa we may be inclined to think favourably of them.”[xviii] 12. The earliest time to which the existence of a fully developed Sikh war code is traceable is the time of Guru 14 There are several independent observers who have noticed Gobind Singh. Bhai Santokh Singh, who did a considerable the strict code of warfare followed by the Sikhs throughout amount of research to write his popularly known Suraj the centuries. Qazi Nur Muhammad notes of the Sikhs that Prakash, is certain that there existed a written code of ‘they do not rob a woman of her gold and ornaments, may conduct for the Sikhs participating in war. He refers to it she be a queen or a slave-girl. Adultery also does not exist as gurshastra. He specifically refers to one of its provisions, among—.”[xix] Griffin noted in hisRajas of the Punjab, namely, that women were not to be molested under any “There are few stories in Sikh History of outrage to women circumstances. In this context, and as a measure particularly and torture to men such as stain the pages of South Indian relevant to wartime situation, members of the Order of the History with cruelty and blood.”[xx] Khalsa were forbidden to have intercourse with Muslim women as Muslims were the main enemies they were fighting 15.Inspired by the Guru’s injunctions, the Sikh soldiers were at that time and their women were most likely to fall into the always moved by the plight of women and recorded incidents hands of the Khalsa. A conversation on the question of the depict them as travelling hundreds of miles, courting danger ban is reported to have taken place between Guru Gobind and fighting bloody battles to rescue women in distress. Singh and a group of Sikhs. ‘All the Sikhs assembled Baghel Singh once rode to Lohari with his army on such a together to ask the ‘source of all values’. Their question was: mission. Lohari was within an arms length of where the ‘the Turks routinely rape women of Hind. Sikhs would be Mughal king still ruled. He rescued the woman, punished her doing well to avenge this. Why does the Guru’s code tormentors and had her rehabilitated with the consent of her (gurshastra) prohibit molestation of women? Then, at that clan. His entire army donated cash to give her a parting time, the True Guru spoke thus; I want thepanth to scale (new present because she had by the act of being rescued by them, moral) heights. I will not condemn it to depths of become the ‘daughter of the entire panth.’ degradation.’ It appears that these precepts were duly formally codified and strict adherence to them was stipulated 16. The most spectacular example of this chivalrous conduct as the Guru’s wish – the strongest of all sanctions for a at the mass level is the rescue of thousands of Maratha believing Sikh. Bhangu mentions that Banda Bahadur, women being carried captive by Ahmed Shah Abdali after the appointed commander-in-chief of the Sikh forces by the Third Battle of Panipat in January 1761. The earliest Guru, used to repeat his general orders on the battlefield by historians who recorded it include Ram Sukh Rao the official the beat of drums everyday. One order that was repeated historian of the ruling Ahluwalia family. It is mentioned by daily was, ‘nobody is to touch ornaments on the person of a James Brown in his History of the Origin and Progress of the woman. Similarly, no man is to be divested of the clothes Sikhs, published in 1881.[xxi] After their rescue, they were worn by him. More particularly, a person’s turban was not to escorted to their homes in and restored to their be removed.’[xvii] Of course, it all started with Guru Nanak’s families in a soul stirring gesture depicting rare moral deep anguish and distress over the rape of the women of Hind grandeur of monumental magnitude. by the invading armies of the Mughal Babur as depicted in 17. In the recent (1971) war against Pakistan for the thebabarvani verses. (paap ki janj lai kabulon dhaiya jori liberation of Bangladesh, the Sikh soldiers came across mange daan ve Lalo). women kept as sex slaves by Yahya Khan’s army. They were

13.There is another reference, which in spite of scepticism, often found without clothes (a measure to deter escape?). It is suggests that a compendium of the Sikh war code perhaps recorded that the Sikh soldiers of the invading victorious existed at the time of Ranjit Singh. “—The Darbar under the army, took off their turbans in a befitting tribute to human guidance of Ranjit Singh framed certain regulations for the dignity, to cover the naked women. The tradition launched

4 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© by the gurshastrahas come down to stands fully intact even today. 20.It is also pretty clear that the destruction of common heritage of humankind, such as the present day. libraries, is not sanctioned by the Sikh war code. In 1834, the Sikh forces were poised to attack Peshawar. Ranjit Singh 18. Sikh conventions appear also to have contained a gave emphatic written instructions to the invading General provision that other non-combatants besides women were to Hari Singh Nalwa that the famous library of the Akhunzadas be considered inviolable. “On December 10, 1710, (the of Chamkani was to be meticulously saved from Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah 1707-12) issued a royal edict harm.[xxv] The position may be contrasted with that of the to all the faujdars(military commanders) of Shahjahanabad Romans the most civilised of the ancient world, who burnt (Delhi) and its neighbourhood to put to the sword the the priceless manuscripts at Alexandria, or with that of the worshippers of Nanak –the Sikhs- where ever found.” Medieval Muslims who destroyed the rich library at (Nanak-prastan ra har ja kih ba-aband, ba-qatl Constantinople in 1453 and with that of the modern Indian rasanad)[xxii] The Sikh reply to this order of general state that burnt the Sikh Reference Library at Amritsar in massacre of Sikhs is recorded by the royal news-writer who 1984. informed the Emperor on April 28, 1711, “that Banda Singh – -encamped at Kalanaur – had declared that he was in no way Conclusion opposed to the Muslims and that they had the fullest liberty to recite their sermons and prayers – khutba-o-namaz. – -The Much has been written about the exploits of Sikh warriors. result of this was, the report continued, that as many as five Historical accounts of battles and wars are abundant but there thousand Muslims had joined the Sikh army.”[xxiii] is woefully little research by way of discovering the war code which Sikhs followed. There are similarities in the conduct of 19. Sikhs appear to have been instructed by the Guru to have Sikh soldiers throughout the centuries of warfare, that tell us a measure of reverence for the places considered holy by any that there existed a body of injunctions having the effect of tradition. They meticulously followed the instructions, law on the minds of soldiers who took their faith seriously. It although the Afghans and the Mughals had often destroyed is possible to say that it had spiritual discipline for its basis Sikh shrines during the period of their political ascendancy. and was eventually derived from the Guru Granth. From The holiest Sikh shrine at Amritsar was pulled down twice Qazi Nur Muhammad to the press reporters chronicling the and defiled many times more. Yet when the first great Sikh war for Bangladesh, a similarity of conduct on certain basic upheaval under Banda Bahadur took place in around 1710 CE issues is noticed. It is challenging to trace the origin of the Sikhs destroyed no place of worship. The Sikh armies instructions which are universally respected and have gathered at Fatehgarh Sahib, the place where the younger commanded spontaneous adherence in all ages. sons of Guru Gobind Singh had been bricked alive, for the final assault on Sirhind. They were within a few hundred The ultimate sanction behind exemplary conduct, expected of yards of the mausoleum of Shaikh Ahmed Sirhandi who had a soldier, was spiritual. A Sikh soldier was consciously been the implacable foe of the Sikhs. Ideology emanating playing the role of Akalpurakh in human affairs. For that he with him was responsible for the execution of two Gurus, the had to be imbued with the qualities which the gurbani reveals persecution of four and the execution of the Guru’s to be His attributes. A Sikh’s salvation depended upon sons.[xxiv] Shaikh Ahmed called himself the ‘prophet of the implementing the Divine Will in the world. Its operative part second millennium’ and received homage as such. Many dealt with removing human suffering by seeking to establish princes of Afghanistan lie buried at the graveyard attached to justice and by banishing oppression from human affairs. This his shrine. The Sikhs never thought of destroying or even is the meaning of the assertion that ‘he is to be considered a despoiling his grave or the graves of their sworn enemies brave knight who fights for the downtrodden’ (deen). (Guru whom they knew to be despoilers of their land. Sirhind was Granth, 1356). The very opening verse of the Guru destroyed totally and the land on which it stood was ploughed Granth states that the Ultimate Reality is ‘fearless’ and is in revenge for the execution of little princes, the sons of Guru ‘without enmity.’ While a soldier expected himself to be Gobind Singh, aged seven and nine years. It was cosidered to attuned to these concepts in daily life, he knew that in have forfeited the right to exist. The Shaikh’s mausoleum adversity and in war, the only measure of his conduct was

5 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© living up to them. That was especially important for his deceiving strategists. Several accounts of the Anglo-Sikh spiritual self esteem. It constituted salvation itself. Until the wars depict that the ordinary Sikh soldier was full of coming into existence of the Sikh states, the Sikh armies were contempt for their unethical behaviour. Earlier Ranjit Singh totally voluntary forces. Even after that a significant part of had told reverend Wolff, a German missionary, who said he the army remained voluntary and unpaid. That had something had brought civilising tidings to the Punjab, ‘why don’t you to do with the war code voluntarily observed as a part of the go and preach in Calcutta? The Governor General and his strict spiritual discipline. cohorts are the only uncivilised people in India.’

Most of original Sikh literature and history books written by Engaging in warfare is not the only activity the Khalsa is the Sikhs has been destroyed. It was the first target of all their created for. The war without is to take place as a last resort proselytising enemies. The process was started by Lakhpat measure. It is the war within that is to occupy a person most Rai a satrap of Shah Nawaz, the Mughal Governor of Lahore of his life. It is as unrelenting as the physical warfare. The in mid eighteenth century. He is reputed to have filled up five vices, desire, anger, greed, attachment and arrogance are wells with books on Sikh theology and history. The latest to be completely subdued. It is a total war – to the very finish. example of such wanton destruction was in 1984 when the Human birth is a rare opportunity. (manas janam dulambh invading Indian armies set fire to the Sikh Reference Library hai hoe na baram bar). It cannot be wasted (is pauri te jo nar and burnt up thousands of invaluable manuscripts, some chookai aai jai dukh paida). Just, like the battle without, dating back to the early seventeenth century. It is noteworthy there is a code of conduct for the battle within. There is also that the library in the Darbar Sahib complex was burnt the discipline which is basically symbolised by the five deliberately after the conflict with the militant defenders had symbols of faith bestowed upon the Khalsa by the come to a close with the death of all of them on June 6, 1984. compassionate Guru. With such equipment, the Khalsa must contend within and renew themselves like the bird of paradise Any study of the Sikh War Code will be incomplete without with the help of the Guru’s transforming touch. (pasu prethon an in depth study of the Guru’s concept of ‘open dev kare poorai satgut ki vadiai). It is this that diplomacy.’ Of Helvetians, Julius Caesar observed, “The theRehatnamas advocate while prescribing ‘he alone is tradition in which they had been schooled by their forebears Khalsa who mounts a charger (in this case the human body) was to fight like men and not to rely on cunning or and is ever engaged in warfare.’ (Khalsa sou jo charhe stratagem.”[xxvi] The same appears to have been true of the turang, Khalsa sou jo kare nit jang). At that plane, the only Sikhs and squares with the concept of ‘open diplomacy’ other worthwhile activity recommended to a seeker is sewa or strictly enjoined upon the Khalsa by the selfless service to humankind in its myriad forms.

Guru. The British were perceived to be morally degraded *****

THE RE-ASSASSINATION OF SANT BHINDRANWALA (Shaheed-Bilas Saint-soldier Jarnail Singh Khalsa)

Gurtej Singh, IAS & IPS (formerly) Professor of Sikhism

[Every year at about this time of the year, the perpetrators of the 1984 armed forces attack on the Guru’s Darbar air their views on why they did it. Every time, they come up with a new piece of propaganda – sometimes characterized by the crassest meanness at others by couldn’t careless superciliousness. Every time our martyrs are ridiculed and we are told that we deserved our fate. Yet every time we shy away from putting forth our point of view based on the facts as we know them. Somebody prejudiced is writing our contemporary history under our very noses. Must a full century pass by before we sit up and take notice?]

It is incomprehensible why it should be so. In 1984, it war’ included children of five to women, elderly was a war (howsoever, unequal). The Indian Media persons, temple priests, temple servants and of course, characterized it as the Third Sikh War. ‘Prisoners of pilgrims. Everything that a conquering army does to a

6 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© defeated people was done in the Darbar complex. One however, every inch of the land belongs to every of our noblest persons, Bhagat Puran Singh recorded citizen. The Sant and his companions were in the some aspects of it. Guru’s Darbar as a matter of right. The invaders had no locus standi. As was admitted by a person who was later the law minister of the Indian Union, the Sant had One side to the war was backed by the might of the the right of self-defense. The forces had gone there to modern state. It employed trained army, air force, kill him. Before man and God he was fully justified in navy, artillery, helicopters, anti-aircraft guns, armed resisting the invasion. personnel carriers, battle tanks, stun grenades, poisonous gases and all else that it had in its arsenal. The other side had David’s sling, in comparison. If you The other side did not discover the WMD’s[Weapons of don’t count the innocent non-combatants that were Mass Destruction] there, did not unearth any political killed, we lost some forty-five of our noblest and the resolution demanding Khalistan, and could find no most motivated men and women. Masada happened political party supporting secession. Ever since, its once again; the story of Chamkaur was repeated. The representatives have been sheepishly filing past the enemy on the other side had at least seven hundred reckoning post of history, expressing sorrow at the dead (according to Rajiv Gandhi) and unspecified but wanton destruction they caused. But the expressions of innumerable casualties. The other side has been sorrow have been marred by their insistence on crowing about its ‘victory’ for the past twenty-five dancing with the veil on their faces. Let them remove years –in contrast, the truly victorious have not even their veils and admit freely the enormity of the started writing their battle despatches. dastardly act. They must fully and graphically describe what they are apologising for. They must point out the guilty ones to us. We need to see their faces that have Two and a quarter century earlier, similar contest had been blackened by their deeds. They must atone taken place at the same Darbar. We were then just properly for their sins, must compensate generously twenty-two soldiers. On the other side was the most and must cap their regret with a solemn public promise dreaded general of Asia, Ahmed Shah Abdali who had never to repeat their folly. a huge army at his back. But we defended the Guru’s Darbar to the last man – to the last serviceable sword. Our general in the field then was Gurbax Singh So far the sanctity of their apology and expressions of Nihang. Abdali, the usurper pretended to legally own regret are marred also by the continuity of repression the Punjab because it had been ceded to him by the that shows no signs of abating. The police are as brutal Mughal emperor Ahmed Shah of Delhi. But it was the as ever. Innocent people continue to die in police Guru’s Darbar and since we did not recognise the firing. Custodial deaths keep happening in a sickening Delhi pretender or his beneficiary, it was our Punjab routine and the lawless custodians of law go that we then defended. In the earlier encounter, the unpunished as has been the practize of several decades. End to the people’s misery and humiliation is not in sight. then most powerful empire of Asia failed to defeat us – it just killed a handful of our soldiers. We acquitted ourselves gloriously. This time we fared better. This The Sikhs too need to spell out what kind of apology time a representative of the sovereign panth Sant is acceptable to them and what future safeguards are Jarnail Singh fought besides our general Shabeg Singh. deemed adequate. If I had their ear, I would advise the Sikh people to come together in a solemn gathering on the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan to give a full Death is in the hands of Almighty and will come when throated, free, fair and frank expression to what they it will come. It is not for mortals to determine the time have learnt from the event and what they make of the or the mode of their death. Victory, however, is a half-hearted expressions of regret that they hear off matter of perception it is the ornament of the ever and on – sometimes in words, at other time in gestures. unconquered psyche. In both the situations, the They must freely spell out what, in their opinion, the invaders hoped to scare us to death. Their might future holds for them under a dispensation in which counted for nought with us. Our soldiers in both they have no voice. They owe it to posterity to answer situations died defending the Guru’s Darbar and took a the question, whether their faith and progeny is safe in heavy toll of the invading enemy. In both cases the a country in which no law, no law court, no legislature, frustrated enemy destroyed holy shrines. In 1984, no Media, no human rights organizations can protect Indira Gandhi was one up on Abdali. She burnt down them in the hour of their need. It is not enough that the Sikh Reference Library. She surpassed Abdali in when the chips are not down, when the going is many other ways also. smooth, all these institutions and organizations exhibit themselves in myriad pleasing colours – one brighter Abdali had a semblance of justification because legally than the other. the country belonged to him. In a democratic republic,

7 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

The Sikhs must also say whether they are comfortable unfolding events and failed to prevent many a tragedy. with the memory of the thousand upon thousands of Since the June 1984 event, the Sant has been re- their people having been killed in India by state action assassinated several times in an attempt to cast a veil since 1947? Or, does their fate rankle in their hearts over the dark designs of the rulers. That has not helped. and their pyres are constantly burning in their mind’s The truth continues to exist in such a sublimely eye? Are they reassured that no one will have to die luminous state that constant denials and persistent such deaths in future? obfuscations become necessary every now and then. A mind-boggling variety of tricks and canards have been For articulating all this they need to formulate their churned out by the official propaganda mill. This is just own theory of why things have always taken an ugly to ensure that the truth is rendered unrecognizable. turn in relation to them. It must be based on the hardest This year’s trick is very ingenious and is being stated of hard facts we know, for we are to perform the sacred officially for the first time. An official volume of the duty of informing the right minded persons of history of the Congress is being thrown up for the conscience. ‘Truth above all else,’ is our motto Media and the public to lap up as uncritically as it has preached to us by Guru Nanak. Hitherto, it was been accepting the official propaganda on the subject, difficult to speak aloud on the subject for the fear of so far. There are however, valid reasons and known being dubbed a terrorist sympathizer if not a terrorist. facts that militate against the proposed theory and need The risk now is considerably reduced as the realization to be brought to the attention of the public so that it can of the wrong done to the Sikhs has percolated to the make up its mind without succumbing to the canard mind of every reasonable person. The Sikh writers, sought to be popularised. The print Media (Indian historians, ideologues, theorists, social and political Express, May 8, 2011) has carried the story about the scientist and leaders, must gather courage and must fifth volume of the history of the Congress Party that is give expression to their wholesome ideas in a dignified scheduled to be shortly released – just in time to and becoming manner of those who have lost much influence the June anniversary discussions about the since 1947. We waited for twenty-five years after attack on the Darbar in 1984. An advanced copy has Banda to express ourselves. Twenty five years have been made available to the Indian Express. The lapsed since the martyrdom of Sant Baba Jarnail Singh reporter appears to believe it makes a startling Khalsa (Binderanwale). revelation. “In a party where no one questions the leadership in public, linking the rise of “Frankenstein monster” of Sikh militancy to Indira Gandhi is a By way of a humble contribution to the exercise and startling concession,” writes Seema Chisti. If it were just to provide a preliminary working paper for the indeed that, it would certainly be a strange deviation expected debate, the article which follows is being from a well established and scrupulously followed written. It is on all fours with the facts as I know them. tradition of the . The tradition It is hoped that much better informed much more remained in place when M. K. Gandhi, J. L. Nehru and enlightened views will find expression during the June V. B. Patel were not called upon to explain why they 2011 congregations all over the world. Let this be our caused the . It was blamed on Jinnah year of introspection and articulation. A Sikh who sought it the least. They escaped scrutiny again expression is overdue. - Author] when they failed to agree to exchange of population in The assassination of Sant Baba Jarnail Singh Khalsa 1947 and became responsible for the violent uprooting Bhinderanwale by the Congress (I) was planned well of more than ten million people and brutal deaths of a and much in advance to the event. In an article written million Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus. Truth is stranger in December 1982 and published in April 1983. this than fiction. Gandhi and Nehru who, inflicted immense author had predicted that the Sant would be killed. The violence upon the Sikhs and Dalits by consigning them assassination and the decimation that followed, was to position of slaves and additionally gifted India with sold to the rest of India as the most effective tool of the permanently festering sore of Kashmir are not chastising a turbulent nation that continued to insist called upon to answer for their sins at the bar of history that it had certain rights under the constitution of 1950 but are worshipped as the “apostles of peace.” Their and would not tolerate their curtailment. Every other mugs can be seen on the republic’s currency. party and individual acquiesced to the plan. Indira According to a perception Indira Gandhi was the Gandhi was able to rope in almost all individuals who Frankenstein of Indian politics and her ascent followed mattered in the body-politic of India. It was a perfect the death of Lal Bahadur Shashtri in exceedingly chakravyuh - with the highest in the land playing their suspicious circumstances in Russia. On the occasion of part. Not all of them though – Chandra Shekhar, attack on the Darbar it was rumoured that Russian Subramaniyan Swami and Acharya Rajneesh were the hordes were present in India providing the background only ones who had the tremendous courage to disagree. support and advice. Of course, they could not stop the juggernaut of rapidly In this portion of its official history, the Congress party is ostensibly blaming Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi for the rise of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa

8 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Bhinderanwale. It will appear strange to the surface Indira Gandhi put together had spent in educational reader that the book containing the “scathing criticism” institutions. is edited by well known family loyalists, namely, To call him a fundamentalist and using the term Pranab Mukerji the present Finance minister of the impliedly in the Semitic, mainly Christian sense is also New Delhi administration (NDA) and Anand Sharma misleading. The term, in the context of Sikhi, has no who is the industries minister. It is calculated to connotation that it conveys in the original faith. There permanently channelize future discussions on these is no fundamental stance of Sikhi that clashes with least harmful lines. Such mind control exercises and human rights, scientific inquiry, liberalism, pluralistic obfuscations have not been unknown to history. The thought or individualism. Neither is Sikhi in conflict book is not yet out. Advance copies of it have been with rational thought or human tendency to progress, made available to journalists who are considered most innovate and to adapt upon which all advancement likely to toe the official line on the subject or are depends. Fundamentalism in Sikhi connotes absolute considered dumb enough to do so. Such pre-views adherence to universal values. Such ‘fundamentalism’ coming just before the June anniversary of the armed cannot promote conflict with any other human being forces’ attack on the Guru’s Darbar are calculated to much less with a society or a nation. The matter of influence discussions that will inevitably take place. ‘amity with all’ is the fundamental doctrinal stance of The theory is not new either. Earlier it was hurled at the Sikhi. conniving Congress (I) in the nature of an accuzation The most pronounced phenomenon of the times was by others. It is now presented in the form of a critical that the disenchantment of the people on account of the self-analysis and is propagated as an explanation for refusal of the Akali Dal to address Sikh issues was the killing of thousand upon thousands of innocent growing and was gnawing at the inner strength of the Sikh women, children and gurdwara functionaries then party. Ideologists like Sirdar Kapur Singh were and since. It is to serve as an explanation also of the spending much time and energy to give new direction army attack on the Guru’s Darbar, the destruction of to Sikh politics. Young people were disgusted with the the Akal Takhat, Supreme Seat of Sikh Polity, and the Akalis and were organizing themselves. Initial attempts burning of the Sikh Reference Library. It is being at throwing up alternate leadership were becoming palmed off to unthinking authors and uncritical pronounced and numerous. It then appeared that Sant journalists. Inder Malhotra, author of the second Jarnail Singh would be an important leader of the chapter “Indira Gandhi: a Review” is one of the earliest future. In such circumstances the Akalis and the journalists to have been attracted to the hypothesis. Congress colluded to destroy the new leadership that That Zail Singh and Sanjay Gandhi picked up Sant was naturally emerging amongst the Sikhs. Some of the Jarnail Singh is old hat now being dusted for the new correspondence of the Akalis with Indira Gandhi’s occasion. secretariat is a compelling evidence that they invited The description of the Sant as a “relatively obscure, the ‘thunderstorm to destroy the Sikh garden’ as Iqbal young and fundamentalist lay preacher” picked up would have put it. “with a view to building him up as a rival to the Akali This is the reason why the Akalis were not destroyed as leadership” is a mixed bundle of absurdities, a result of the Congress (I) misadventure. The most misstatements, and illogical assertions and of course, prominent Akali was who had lies. Such assessments only confirm that Inder been elected chief minister of the Punjab for two terms Malhotra has become a willing victim of a clever ruse before 1984 but had functioned only for about forty-six made current by the Congress. The Sant duly months. Since 1984, he has been elected chief minister succeeded the predecessor at a solemn ceremony in for another two terms and is scheduled to complete the which the entire Akali leadership of the times full term of 120 months. All the people available to participated. So much for being ‘picked up’ by the two politics in his family have been cabinet ministers and politicians. That the Sant was built up to embarrass the his son is currently the deputy chief-minister as also the Akalis to render them readily available for destruction obvious successor. The next most important leader was is a canard with gaping holes. On the surface, the Akali who was the president of the Dal was then the most well established political party Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) with a chequered history. It had already formed three for fourteen years after 1984 until his death separated governments in the Punjab. That the Sant was the new him from his beloved post. The third man in this head of one of the most popular religious seminaries respect is who had been a minister without the slightest intention of moving into politics, for short periods before 1984. He became a chief has not been taken into consideration. He had no minister for about nineteen months afterwards. He is political party to back him and created none during his currently ensconced in the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhawan in short meteoric public career. The Sant also was not a the fourteenth year of his gubernatorial office. The ‘lay preacher.’ He had been trained at the seminary for likes of Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Sukhdev Singh much of his life and was at that time thirty years old. Dhindsa and Kanwaljit Singh similarly progressed. He had received education in his field for a larger Their next generations now occupy equally important number of years than Zail Singh, Sanjay Gandhi and positions in the Akali hierarchy and have been tipped to take over the future. Incidentally, the net worth of all

9 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© the Akalis has increased to a phenomenal extent. The mayajal of the Zail Singh-Sanjay tale has been woven. only two Akalis who could not benefit from the It is the equivalent of a dense fog that prevents the bonanza are Sant Harchand Singh Longowal though he sight from falling upon the ground (realities). was much lauded and Balwant Singh who deserved to By now it is well known that Indira Gandhi like her be ignored and was ignored. They were both father before her was no stickler for faiths and had assassinated some quarter of a century ago. Longowal journeyed through more than one faith while remaining has a memorial erected to him at government expense. an agnostic at heart. But suddenly, early in her last stint It is apparent that the Akalis were not destroyed. In fact as the prime minister she started supporting signs of the Congress (I) built them up into colossuses (albeit being a good Hindu. Saffron saris, rudaraksh bead with the feet of clay). If this is destruction then what is garlands, visits to shrines of Hindu deities, warming up re-vitalization, rejuvenation and the grant of eternal to Hindu saints and so on were some of the more life? pronounced lakshanas of her new incarnation. She had Had Indira Gandhi just aimed at destroying the Akalis, been turned away from a holy place or two for the she would have kept others at par with them during the obvious reasons but she persisted. This was her way of period of 1980 to 1984 at least. If the Sant was to be harvesting the fast spreading communal sentiment built up as a rival to the Akalis, he would have been amongst the permanent cultural majority of the represented at the numerous parleys conducted with the country. She had realized that in order to perpetuate the Akali Dal. He was scrupulously kept out of the dynasty in the emerging scenario, it was imperative for exercise. It is also a known fact that the Sant was not her to incarnate into a Hindu deity. She hoped to keen on politics and formulated no political agenda of emerge as the Mehshasurmardini of Indian his own. He kept a copy of the Anandpur Sahib imagination. Integral to this was the need to designate Resolution under his pillow and would pull it out for some entity as the Mehshasur. The hunting of heads in reference on every conceivable occasion. the northeast region had been going on since the The Akalis, on the other hand, had deviated from the middle of the century and had become a routine matter. original purpose of representing the Sikh point of view The Neillie massacre did not yield results beyond in Indian polity with the advent of Sant Fateh Singh, slightly pushing her up the communal ladder. The known to be the protégée of Mohan Lal Sukhadia, killing of Muslims was inconvenient because of the Partap Singh Kairon and Jawahar Lal Nehru. By the existence of about fifty Muslim states, which were time the Badal-Barnala-Tohra trio took over, the Dal keen observers. Besides, the average Hindu has lived in had drifted at least a thousand miles from the Sikh the mortal dread of Muslims for centuries and it is not political purpose or psyche. During the time of Sanjay possible for him to imagine that India is capable of Gandhi and Zail Singh, their trusted comrade delivering a final solution to the ‘Muslim problem.’ Harkishan Singh Surjit was already advising the Akalis The fact that the Muslims formed about a fifth of the through Balwant Singh, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the Indian population and were fast growing, had also to be unlettered Jagdev Singh Talwandi and others including taken into consideration. The day is not far when it will Surinderpal Singh Mann. They freely acknowledged again be difficult to ignore numbers. To convince the him as “guruji.” He was behind the scene president of masses about a conclusive victory over a potentially a committee of the Akali Dal entrusted with revising powerful foe, who has been the master for centuries, the original Anandpur Sahib Resolution. It will be was a hard to sell proposition. remembered that this document was used both by That is where the next most favourite whipping boy, Indira Gandhi and her son as hub of the secessionist the Sikh, entered the scene. The Sikhs were a simple propaganda against the Akalis. God-fearing people who had been slated for slow The situation of the Akalis may be contrasted with the elimination anyway. They considered themselves fate of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa who was ostensibly patriots and had made more contribution to the welfare chosen as an ally by the Congress (I). He was martyred and security of the country and more sacrifices for in the same complex from which several prominent common causes that they were not likely to become Akalis were pulled out with tender care. About half a aware of the changed circumstances for a long time to dozen members of his family, most of his trusted come. They plotted against none and were unaware that lieutenants and companions also became martyrs. Of anyone else would conspire to eliminate them outright. those who survived, none is prominent in political They had the additional advantage of being wide open field. None, not even Bhai Jasbir Singh, has made the to manipulation because their leaders had joined the kind of economic progress that sevadars in the Akali Congress bandwagon since Fateh Singh became Dal have made. Association with the Sant has proved president of the Akali Dal. The Sikhs also had no sufficient in the last quarter of a century to condemn a newsmedia support. Such people were deemed more person to derision or at least immediate dislike and suitable for role of Mehshasur. oblivion. The exercise to cast them in such a role had started in It is obvious that reasons for the long planned attack on the constituent assembly itself where Patel had accused the Darbar complex have to be sought elsewhere. It is them of aspiring for separation from the country to block that realization from the mind’s eye that the because they wanted separate electorate in accordance with the Objective Resolution of the Assembly. M. K.

10 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Gandhi had contributed to that image by projecting front of him. It was even nearer. While sitting there a them as violent and unruly in his ‘prayer meetings,’ thought crossed his mind that they were sitting ducks that he used to hold during his last days. They had for the police personnel. The guns of the Central more or less reconciled to their lot because they had Reserve Police Force (CPRF) were always trained in been mourning their dead and their leadership, never the direction of the Darbar Sahib. All that was required too wise, had been successfully out maneuvered and was to take aim and to pull the trigger. In a moment the was lying in a shambles. The prejudices of the pcm Sant would be no more. With the well oiled against them had never abated and were unlikely to propaganda machine that was ever willing, the Sant’s ever cease. It had never forgotten the revolt of the assassination could have found a hundred ingenious Sikhs against the manavdharmashastra and had ever explanations. been keen to see them destroyed. These were the Indira Gandhi had a much more sinister design. There lessons learnt from the five hundred years of pcm – are several circumstances to suggest that she was not Sikh relations from the earliest times. gunning for the Sant alone. Taking advantage of the The argument advanced by the Congress (I), either predicament in which she had thrust him, she aimed at from behind the veil or officially as it now transpires, is destroying the entire Sikh nation and at wiping out the specious. It is advanced just to hide much that is Sikh legacy altogether. She deliberately ignored all relevant to the plight of the Sikhs. The strongest chances of reconciliation with the Akalis. Comrade evidence against that line of thought are about half a Surjit who was in the know of things has confirmed dozen letters that the Akali leaders wrote Indira that at least on three occasions, agreements had been Gandhi’s office that show that Bhinderanwale was the reached through her accredited representatives but she common enemy and both entities were colluding in reneged on them every time. Evidently she was eliminating him. A telephonic conversation heard by blowing the balloon out of proportions so that she Sant Singh Tegh is to the same effect. Sant Harchand could prick it for spectacular effect. Singh and Gurcharan Singh Tohra were heard Almost up to the last minute she kept on solemnly conveying to Indira Gandhi in May 1984 that the Sant affirming that her army had no plans to enter the had grown too strong for them and must be got rid of. shrine. The Darbar was invaded on Guru Arjan’s The present explanation is calculated to lead the martyrdom day (June 3) when the crowds of pilgrims country astray on the real causes prompting the were expected to be the thickest. The curfew imposed government of Indira Gandhi. The famous saying, around the shrine was lifted for a few hours to let ‘nothing may be considered unequivocally denied until crowds in before it was finally clamped again. Indira it is officially confirmed’ applies to the present Gandhi hoped to inflict maximum damage so as to proposition. demoralize the people. Forty [one hundred twenty-five, Had she intended to destroy the Akali Dal, then it stood according to India News, an official publication of the completely shattered when most of the Akali members Indian High Commission, Ottawa, On, Canada) other of the legislative assembly including the most trusted shrines all over the Punjab were also invaded where man of Parkash Singh Badal, for example, Gurdev there was no Bhinderanwale. Her canvass was much Singh Badal had publicly defected and gone over to larger, her designs more sinister. Sant Bhinderanwale in the full view of the newsmedia. No warning was given to the Sikhs inside the shrine The Akali Dal almost did not exist that afternoon (27th that the army attack was imminent. This much has been April 1984). Instead of taking advantage of the situation to finish it, Indira Gandhi moved swiftly to admitted by president of India Giani Zail Singh who curb the ever growing influence of Sant Jarnail Singh. was also the commander-in-chief, in his memoirs. The It would also be too simplistic to believe that she authorities clearly did not want anyone to escape from merely wanted to assassinate the Sant after having the carefully contrived death trap into which they had erected him into a demon of desirable proportions by led the people. The intention of the government government action and orchestrated newsmedia became clear from the house journal of the Indian support. Had the Sant alone been on her mind, there army, Baatcheet, that advised targeting Amritdhari or was nothing easier than killing him. There were - initiated Sikhs. military outposts on roof-tops all around the Darbar All through the period of the agitation, she drummed complex and it was the easiest thing in the world to kill up most virulent propaganda against the Sikhs in the him because he moved about freely and openly in the compliant Media. The newsmedia willingly prostituted Darbar premises. On April 29, 1984, the present author itself to her policy. The aim was to maximize the spent several hours with the Sant on the roof of the perception of danger to the country so that she could Langar building. They sat on the floor in the shade of come down heavily on a handful of sitting ducks. It the central cupola. He saw a police post on his right was not merely against the Akalis or Bhinderanwale as atop the then existing Sindhi hotel. It was less than has often been made out. President of the Akali Dal, sixty yards distant. From where he sat, he could see the once on the matter being brought to his notice in early eyes of the armed policeman manning the post. The 1983, constituted a committee under Surjit Singh other post on another Akhara (Sangal wala) was in Barnala with instructions to go to all the provincial capitals to explain the Sikh point of view. Sant Jarnail

11 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Singh had taken his own precautions. Both the Congress (I) governments in the province as Indira Gandhi kept in touch with all the prominent well as the centre continued to give support to the people in the struggle through a set of different Nirankari sect in recognition of its ultimate design. So emissaries and kept on misinforming them of her universally was the project approved by the pcm that intentions. She shuffled their concerns as one sitting at the interim governments of Desai and Charan Singh a game of chess, arranging matters as she exactly had also continued to support them even more wanted them. She used her contacts to keep the vigorously. After her return to power in 1980, Indira cauldron with bat’s wings, owl’s blood and chicken’s Gandhi felt there was no alternative to the elimination neck on the boil, until the appointed day. In any other of Sant Jarnail Singh if protest against the Nirankaris democracy this kind of maneuvering would be was to be silenced. In addition she wanted to do it in a considered a base stratagem, and crass opportunism at manner such as would go a long way in achieving the the cost of the nation. Here it was deemed as the primary object of also destroying Sikhi root and branch. hallmark of statesmanship. This would necessarily weaken the hold of the Akalis These inputs must contribute to any realistic on the Punjab since they relied upon the Sikh votes at assessment of the situation then prevailing. More that juncture. Besides being most plausible in the credible and truly objective construction of events to circumstances, this construction fits in neatly with the assess the exact nature of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa history of the pcm-Sikh relations over the centuries. It Bhinderanwale’s relationship with the Congress (I), is also most satisfactorily explains subsequent events. possible only after taking these and other attending The Frankenstein of Indian politics paid the price of circumstances into account. It is not a matter of mere her misadventure in accordance with: “God said take assertion by one interested party or the other. what you like from the world and pay for it.” Anyone The Nirankari sect in Punjab is bolstered up by the willingly blindfolded (like Gandhari) and struck stone- Congress government in recognition of and in deaf by prejudice (like Dhritrashtra) was rendered deference to the deep set prejudices of India’s incapable of realistic evaluation of the risks involved in permanent cultural majority. The Nirankaris were such a macabre undertaking. All history and mythology considered an efficient instrument towards achieving tells us that hatred, contempt and insatiable thirst for the ultimate aim. The obvious motive of the pcm is human blood often materializes enemies from the most now well documented. It is to destroy the Khalsa ethos inhospitable environment. Bhagat Prahlad went ahead from amongst the Sikh people as a precursor to wiping to embrace the red hot iron pillar when he saw an ant out the legacy of the Gurus from India. In 1984 and sauntering about it leisurely. Narsimhan appeared from subsequently, the operation conducted against the within the pillar and tore down the arrogant anti-God Sikhs is much on the lines of the efforts made by tyrant with its claws. This must be recognized in all Shankracharya to eliminate the Buddhism from India. humility instead of making false explanations current The census figures of four successive decades tell the to hide the truth. It must be understood that the sinful story of what Indira Gandhi and her father had and sacrilegious acts hardly become heads of secular, achieved. The growth rate of the Sikhs from 1961 to democratic polity. These must be abandoned publicly 1971 was 32%, from 1971 to 1981 was 26.2%, from before they do more harm to the country. Unless a 1981 to 1991 was 25.5% and from 1991 to 2001 it solemn statement to that effect is made, the Sikhs will suddenly dropped to 16.9%. remain locked in the time bind, unable to move During the 19-month suspension of civil liberties in forward. Employment of atrocities upon the Sikh India, Indira Gandhi was incensed by the formal daily constituents of the polity with the support of ‘bought political protest registered by the slaves,’ constitutes the worst mode of governance in in the form of courting arrests in large numbers for modern times. Efforts at trivializing the martyrdom of restoring civil liberties. However, she was dismayed by Sant Baba Jarnail Singh Khalsa is an invitation to a the open religious protests marches lead by Sant Kartar storm in the psyche of honest observers of events and Singh Bhinderanwale specifically against the heretical must be forthwith abandoned in the interest of probity, Nirankari sect patronized by the government humanity and country’s welfare. subservient to the wishes of the pcm. The Sant had On May 29, 2011, at about 11A.M. a small organized thirty-six mammoth protest marches all over representative convention of Sikhs from all walks of the Punjab and one in Delhi. The Nirankari sect was life was held at the Aroma Hotel in Chandigarh. About being used as an effective check against the rapid fifty persons who attended adopted a resolution to spread of the Sikh faith as is obvious from the census make the people aware of true facts. figures. According to a perception, Sant Kartar Singh In what appears to be an immediate reaction, to the was eliminated by the Nirankaris in a contrived road proceedings at Chandigarh, the Congress spokesperson accident. His young successor, Sant Baba Jarnail Singh clarified that though the volume of contemporary Bhinderanwale now had two weighty reasons to oppose history “has been commissioned by All India Congress the Nirankaris. They were perceived to be enemies of Committee”, “the views in the volume are not official his faith as well as the murderers of a holy man held in line of the party.” (See Hindustan Times May 30, high esteem by the Sikh people. 2011[1]). The detailed denial appeared on May 31,

12 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 13-16,2011©

2011 in the Indian Express.)

*****

BABA RAMDEV’S MAHASANGRAM

Gurtej Singh, IAS & IPS (Formerly)

Professor of Sikhism The Delhi police force is mainly composed of sons of escape wearing a ‘salwar kameez and dupatta, the rural folks from neighbouring Haryana and UP. They Punjabi dress’. His reference to women in this context are almost all Hindus. If someone has spotted on Sikh is politically correct and no fault may be found with it. amongst them on the TV, he/she may correct me. Many Then of course he quoted example of Shivaji Maratha of them must have been from Baba’s own sub-caste, to justify his equally ‘great escape’. Shivaji’s example Yadavas, the descendants of the illustrious Sri Krishan. was uppermost in his mind. Had he not been an Arya The police officer who led the brave soldiers from the Samaji sadhu he would have also quoted his ancestor front was none other than a prominent acolyte of the Sri Krishna, who deserted the battlefield and hid in a Baba. TV channels displayed his images publicly cave. They have Ranchodji’s temple there now where touching Baba’s feet and offering him flowers. When Sri Krishna is worshipped in a ‘deserting battlefield the force that swooped down so stealthily, so posture’. Had he learnt his Hindu mythology well, he determinedly on the sleeping mass of humanity, in the could have quoted the original Shiva’s example when tradition of the Indian armed forces going for a kill, it he ran away to take shelter with Brahma on seeing that must have entered the tented accommodation ‘with Bhasmasur was bent upon burning him to cinders – prayer on their lips, helmets on their heads and somewhat in the style of Sikhs burnt on the streets of reverence in their hearts.’ That they had batons in their Delhi in November 1984. The Baba could have hands, hate in their eyes and blood on their boots—is completed the story by quoting the example of Brahma of course another matter altogether —a matter that the who immediately incarnated as a beautiful woman, not likes of saffron brigade love to exaggerate and exploit. for the first or the last time, and lured Bhasmasur to destroy himself. Indira too sought shelter with Durga A lesson has been taught to a teacher who presumed to when he was defeated by the asuras. This example undermine the (black) economy of the country. Well, to could have been the most appropriate as later be more correct, it was taught more to his followers Subramanya Swamy drew a parallel between the ruling and the rural ruffians of India who had crudely Congress and the rakshas. exceeded their republican brief of voting at elections. That is their only duty in Indian democracy. They had One is left wondering whether Sant Bhindranwale tried to limit the wealth of our elected masters without could have used these inspirational springs to escape caring to know that after all, this money is used to buy from Darbar Sahib on June 6, 1984? The seminary he grinder-mixers, fans, televisions and even scooters at headed is partly Sikh in looks and partly Hindu in the time of elections to enable them to vote for the thought. Still the inspiration available to him was that most generous. How ungrateful and nasty can a rural, of the Guru Granth’s stipulation. Nanak says therein, if uncultured, ill-clad, fowl smelling, floor-sleepers can you want to express love for God, step on the path to be is also a lesson that the elected masters have learnt. Him after abandoning the desire to cling on to life? In When the Punjabi farmers were sitting in protest in the same scripture Bhagat Kabir stipulates, “recognize Chandigarh, an important newspaper of the region had him as a hero who remains steadfast at the battle front, summed up the situation with the headlines, “Stinking fights for the downtrodden losing limb after limb before days ahead.” Eventually it was a teaching camp at the dying in a fierce contest.” These inspirations pitted Ramlila ground. So many lessons were learnt by all the Sant Bhinderanwale against an armed might of a state, concerned in a single day. Wonderful! armoured carriers, tanks, battle-helicopters, heavy artillery guns and all else. The Sant was not a celibate On Sunday, the day of the attack (5th June), Baba ‘sanyasi’ like Ramdev who has conquered the senses Ramdev spoke to the television channels after being but was a humble house-holder Sikh of the Guru. He dumped in his Haridwar ashram. He was wearing was a family man to whom spiritual calling mattered white clothing. He explained that he had averted an more than any worldly temptation. attempt on his life by using this ingenious method. He later replied to criticism on these issues in the Baba Ramdev, to be fair to him, has escaped death by newspapers (Times of India and The Tribune, June 7, cunning and stratagem. Since that was the aim, the 2011). ‘A women gives birth to man and is therefore maneuver was well executed. Using the faculties of an stronger not weaker than man’ so he didn’t do wrong to ever alert yogi, he divined in an instant that the

13 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2,2011© policemen inside the enclosure were thirsting for his burning an offending intruder to ashes immediately on blood. Those who were abusive (pakro sale ko, maro opening his eyes. Our modern Baba couldn’t even sale ko means catch the bastard, kill the bastard) surely handle a couple of policemen bent upon murdering had a murderous intent’, according to Baba’s own him. So certain it is that there are no such things as assessment. He says it is better to ‘live to fight another eight siddhis that have been hailed for centuries as day’ like Shivaji. No practical and worldly wise man adjuncts of yogic prowess. They include ‘anima, will find fault with that statement. mahima, garima, and vashita, and the power to become unseen (adrish) at will. This myth is busted for ever. So Let us not presume to sit on judgment on the conduct also has been the myth that a yogi can prolong his life for a thousand years by fasting. It didn’t work on the of the two eminent persons, mentioned above. There is th deep chasm between the civilizational approaches of Baba, he had to be hospitalized on the 7 day and these individuals. The two very great men are worlds would certainly have passed away had he not broken apart. The Sant was actually a sensitive house holder, his fast on the ninth day. That the frail old worldly man the Baba is a ‘sanyasi’ (a person who has renounced Darshan Singh Pheruman lasted 74 days in 1970, can the world) sitting on a multi-million empire and is into easily be ignored. He was a Sikh and everybody knows teaching the most expensive yoga (the technique of that a Sikh will do anything to attract attention. The disassociating the self from the world). Baba was already in bad shape. Of all the ayurvedic drugs that he sells to cause magic cure, none came to his rescue in an emergency. Finally, the emergency had Both of them were right in their own ways and both to be handled by doctors trained in western medicine deserve respect one of about a billion Hindus and other and by western methods. This will suffice to expose the of just 20 million Sikhs. Such is the diversity with superiority of ayurveda, over western medicine, i. e., which Indian is endowed by the Creator! Praised be medical science, methodology and drugs. He! It is surprising that his famous technique of ‘anulom- It is unfortunate that being an Aryasmaji holyman the vilom’ which is supposed to unusually strengthen the Baba is not inspired by the folk mythology of India. He body, to tune up the metabolism and so on, did not help could have easily claimed the status of a modern the Baba. In the process, the idea of a ‘sanyasi’ has ardhnareshwar. His attempted great escape in a also taken a battering. It has acquired new nuances—or woman’s clothing fairly and squarely qualifies him for was it always like that? the unique distinction. Then perhaps his full name could have been Ranchodji Ardhnareshwar Sitaram Dev Baba Yogi. Gone are the days when a sanyasi was a man of no- possession and lived on alms provided by poor villagers. Today’s sanyasi owns much more that The Baba episode has also helped his countrymen in a perhaps a million villagers put together own. He variety of ways. The entire spectrum is not certainly has more land than land owned by several immediately apparent but will be fully known as time villages and his profits are limitless because despite his passes. Yoga does not necessarily lead to complete immense wealth he, being a sanyasi, is still entitled to equanimity and fearlessness. We see Baba Ramdev solicit and accept alms including gift of even an island. escaping from the grip of a policeman and jumping off the 8 to 10 feet high platform [18th June, 2011, ATN newscast monitored in Canada MST]. Those who There are even brighter sides of the Baba episode. Any looked closely must have seen distress, fear and person in his right mind must have felt happy at the bewilderment written all over his face. At the same spontaneous outrage of the general public against the time it must be appreciated that his decision to ‘run attack on the sea of sleeping humanity. Six to seven away to fight another day’ was sound and shows that people were seriously injured about a dozen had his decision making powers were fully intact—perhaps perhaps to be hospitalized and many more must have a gift of his yogic discipline. received minor injuries. This atrocity was considered incomparable to anything that had happened in India since 1947. The Media was also outraged like the The Baba is hailed as the greatest yogi of the modern general public. Some commentators had to go back to age. One is left wondering whether it means anything. colonial times to find a parallel. A diligent search Either the measures to quantify yogic accomplishments yields the infamous Jallianwala Bagh incident in which (siddhis) have changed drastically over the ages or close to a 400 Sikhs was killed by gunfire by the forces perhaps much yarn has been spun about ancient yogis of the state. It was universally deemed a perfect without taking facts into account. We hear of yogis in parallel. deep slumber for over a millennium. They remain fully alive and their bodies resume normal functioning, the moment they wake up. One of them became capable of Nobody found it worthwhile to remember the same

14 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

June 4 day of 1984 when the whole might of the state Most heartening of all was the conduct of the higher converged upon a holy place and ended up killing judiciary in relation to the Baba episode. Just as it was upwards of ten thousand (according to Sant Longowal) in June 1984, the Supreme Court was in recess. Urgent innocent children (the youngest was two weeks old), work was being looked after by a vacation bench. A men and women ninety-nine percent of whom, were lawyer drafted a petition in a hurry on Sunday and pilgrims, temple priests and sewadars. That was not approached the court on Monday. He apologized for considered as grave an incident equivalent to the not getting his plaint registered. The court told him not atrocity of June 4, 2011 presumably because all who to worry as i twas taking suo moto notice of the died in June 1984 at Amritsar were Sikhs who are best happenings of Saturday-Sunday night. It did take a when dead. For the same reason perhaps the killing of strong action in summoning the government officials to thousands of Sikhs in the streets of the very same show cause why action should not be taken against Delhi, setting of houses, business locations and holy them for perpetrating an outrage. It was a bold action places on fire, rape murder and loot of thousands was a and an appropriate action. It is for such interventions much smaller tragedy. A tragedy becomes a tragedy that the constitution vests such vast powers in the only when one from the permanent cultural majority judiciary. Everyone must be glad that the judges were (pcm) dies (in this case ‘almost dies’) and not when the graceful enough to exercise the wide powers without Sikhs die in thousands. This appears to be the logic of loss of time. Justice will now not be delayed. The the fourth estate. The Gujarat atrocity was also no country will rejoice that the story of November 1984, parallel because most of the dead were Muslims, who in which thousands of Sikhs were killed by goons led would have devoured ‘x’ number of cows each had by the Congress leaders could not get justice even in they remained alive. the next three decades, will not be repeated.

Nevertheless assault on the sleeping Baba and his It is encouraging also that the judiciary appears to have followers was an atrocity at which civil (civilized) travelled far in sharpening its sensitivities. This is the society ought to have been outraged. Anna Hazare and difference between than and now. Someone put in a his followers went on a day’s hunger strike in protest. habeas corpus petition for producing Sant Harchand The Bhartya Janata Party did the same. It was one up Singh Longowal in June 1984. A single judge was on Hazare in this that it also danced in protest, as they sitting that day. He simply refused to intervene even in should have done seeing their political opponent in a so sacrosanct proceedings as habeas corpus. He had to fix. That was all very apt. It will still be disputed invent a brand new judicial doctrine to justify his whether they should have chosen the Gurdwara Sis- inaction. He did so without batting an eyelid. It is the Ganj where Guru Tegh Bahadur suffered martyrdom “doctrine of weak shoulders”. He ruled, ‘my shoulders for the sake of freedom of belief and rights of man for are too weak to bear this burden’. Message to the Sant protesting and not the cenotaph of a man whose politics went loud and clear that he should expect nothing from violently vivisected a country (Bharatmata to the pcm) the judiciary. His choice was to languish in jail for a and laid the foundations of violence in India by long, long time to come or he could craft a humiliating dispensing injustice to the Sikhs, tribals, Dalits, compromise with the executive that was holding him. Kashmiris and Muslims. India of course has no He took the hint and accepted the terms dictated by the patience to go into such details. Anna Hazare and the executive. This, however, can be said to be a knee jerk BJP leaders share their beliefs with the rest of India, no (lack of) reaction in the circumstances of the case and matter how awry they are in particular circumstances. must not suggest that some classes are beyond the pale of justice. Justice is blind –more, blind in respect of The other very heartening site was to see Baba putting some and not so blind with respect to others. These are a thumb impression on (presumably) his health record routine matters. In the case of Devinder Pal Singh presented by an attending doctor. It was a sight to Bhullar the Supreme Court held by a two to one remember and cherish for its Sikh content. The Sikhs, majority “that proof beyond reasonable doubt” should despite being the most literate people, always choose be “a guidance not a fetish” and that procedure is only the most illiterate to lead them. The pcm is doing the “a handmaiden and not a mistress of law.” (See, Manoj same. It is something that must afford immense solace Mitta, “Bhullar row: where’s judicial objectivity,” The to the Sikhs. Times of India, June 5, 2011,)

Some people will also find it extremely satisfying that For negative reaction to Khushwant Singh’s plea that age old Hindu practice of taking the ashes of the dead came a later than the Longowal case, we will have to to Haridwar was reversed and this time a fully alive find another excuse for the judiciary. Khushwant Singh yogi was taken to Haridwar. It is to be hoped that in pleaded that the executive had attacked the Guru’s total reversal of roles Ganga will nourish the disturbed Darbar in pursuit of ulterior motives. It should be yogi to perfect health. called upon to account for damage to life and liberty of citizens and to the holiest shrines. The court in its

15 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 16 2011© infinite wisdom dismissed the petition without so much Hailing from Haryana, the Baba must also be familiar giving notice to the executive. See the sea change that with the creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh. has come over the court in mere 27 years! Deaths of It was created to preserve the ‘Shastra’ or the true thousands then meant nothing to it but now it has been philosophy. Its approach was two fold: it had to live the moved by the plight of about a dozen injured and some philosophy and had to protect it with arms if it became twenty thousand disturbed in their sleep. We can all necessary. Since universal amelioration through hold our heads high in the comity of nations and spiritual elevation, economic development, political proclaim from the roof tops that at least in the year and social liberalization was the aim, the exercise was 2011 we have the most sensitive judiciary that bound to be succeed. Maybe that is the answer if the jealously safeguards the human rights of people and Baba wants universal good. In such a society in which has zero tolerance for wanton assaults on people’s every citizen in also a soldier, every individual is safe liberties by the state. and no state power can so much as touch him. All roam free in the social and political order recognizing only On June 5, 2011, the Baba held a meeting with the God as the True Kind and His innate discipline as the Media at Haridwar. At this he announced that he would eternal law binding on all creation. Surely the Baba, as train eleven thousand volunteers in the scriptures and a sanyasi knows all this. If so, he should become a part weapons. These young men and women will provide of the Guru’s experiment along with his followers just protection to him and will see that the Ramlila incident as Dharam Singh from his state had joined the Guru in is not repeated ever again. The phraseology used by the 1699. The Baba will then be able to create a just Baba is familiar to the Sikhs and has been often used in society. the recent conflict since 1982. It also unearths the secret ‘factory’ established by the executive of the Banda Singh Bahadur before him was just wasting his country to simulate retaliation before coming down life as a sanyasi—a renegade from social and political upon such self-respecting groups after designating order that he did not approve of. He was pursuing them, ‘terrorists’. Baba Ramdev has a hand on the yogic siddhis which, of course, do not exist. That people’s pulse and maybe knows the quality of stuff to continued until the Guru introduced him to the whom he is about to entrust his security. Such attempts dynamics of human development calculated to yield have been made in history earlier. They have not early results. He then successfully conducted the always yielded the desired results. The Caliphs tried experiment of resisting tyranny which was an this experiment but the Mamluks (body guards) immediate success and has not been forgotten still. He became so powerful that they murdered one of the established the first ever ‘People’s Republic’ led by the Caliphs in 862 CE and later played with the lives of Khalsa that measured up to as perfect justice as a several more. Caligula, the Roman Emperor had earlier human institution may measure up to. been assassinated by the head of his Praetorian bodyguard on January 24, 41 CE. The fate of Indira **** * Gandhi at the hands of her own bodyguards is too recent to bear re-telling. Baba must have thought of all that.

He must know that, only propertied people with dynastic ambitions and political stakes need to take such precautions. Every sanyasi knows that the human body is so perishable a commodity and no one can save it once its time has come. He who gives life decides also the hour of death. Nothing and no one can alter that by a split second. So what will Baba’s bodyguards

do? Why must so much care be taken to preserve the perishable? The ancient Markandey, after whom a river has been named in Haryana, lived a thousand years (or was it ten thousand) and did not care to build even a shelter for the body.

16 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 17-18, 2011©

INTENSIFICATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR AGAINST PAKISTAN”S NUCLEAR

PROGRAMME

Asif Haroon Raja

Our suspicions about ill-designs of USA and its which raged from August 2008 till February 2009, strategic allies Israel and India concerning Pakistan’s large number of Tajik and Uzbek fighters nuclear program are now turning into reality. President supplemented Mullah Faqir Muhammad force. Even Ahmadinejad’s recent statement that USA has evil now Afghans are involved in Bajaur, Mohmand and designs against our nuclear program has further Dir. heightened our anxieties. Psychological war on our nuclear program was ignited by US government and Jewish controlled think tanks and media sometime in Once the main bases of militants were dismantled and 2004 and became more and more vicious with each its leaders sought refuge in Afghanistan, the passing year. Pakistan’s nuclear program was made to conspirators then shifted terrorism to major cities. This look unsafe after overplaying threat of terrorism, which was made possible after the induction of Blackwater in was also inflamed by USA and its allies by occupying 2008. Several security companies like Dyncorps Afghanistan and then pushing terrorism into Pakistan cropped up in capital cities. Dozens of militant groups affiliated with TTP and al-Qaeda and linked with Blackwater are wreaking havoc in cities. While launching of military operations by the Army in Waziristan at the behest of USA led to emergence of Pakistani Taliban, two drone attacks in Bajaur Agency While the people have not come out of the shock of in 2006 instilled hatred against the Army particularly two attacks in May, the foreign and local media is when October strike on a seminary killing 80 students adding to their apprehensions by floating rumor was wrongly owned by the Army. Brutal military balloons of despondency and trying to undermine the action against inmates of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafza capabilities of armed forces. An impression is being in July 2007 triggered recruitment of young Taliban. It created that the military is incapable of safeguarding also ignited spate of suicide bombings in cities. our vital interests. Great majority in Pakistan distrusts Thereon, it became easy for the senior members of TTP USA and suspect that it will again strike Pakistan to to motivate young boys aged 12-16 years to become denuclearize it. They are not convinced with John suicide bombers. Kerry assurances that the US is not interested in Pak nukes particularly after NATO Secretary General’s statement that it is the collective responsibility of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) established in international community to secure nuclear assets of December 2007 under deceased Baitullah Mehsud, Pakistan. which has its tentacles in all seven tribal agencies as well as in settled areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Swat, Malakand, South Punjab, Pashtun belt of Balochistan Despite multi-layered system of security evolved by and its long arm can reach any part of Pakistan is of Pakistan which is second to none, doubts are still being chief concern for Pakistan but of no concern to USA. aired by vested interests that Pakistan’s nuclear Several foreign agencies are providing massive funds, program is unsafe and needs to be secured before they weapons, equipment, explosives, training facilities, fall into wrong hands. Although our leaders are guidance and manpower reinforcements from Afghan claiming that no harm can befall upon our strategic soil to TTP since they desire this force to possibly assets, in my humble view the threat is of different defeat or as a minimum contain bulk of Army. nature about which our policy makers have given no thought. Their eyes are fixed on local terrorists about whom the US is repeatedly ringing alarm bells. But for foreign support in huge quantities, it would not have been possible for the TTP to rebound after its backbone had been broken in the two decisive battles The biggest threat is not from US or Indo-Israeli direct of Bajaur and South Waziristan in 2009. Footprints of assault, or from local terrorists who are anti-American, foreign hands were clearly seen in all the regions that but from foreign backed terrorists trained to undertake were recaptured from the militants. In the Bajaur battle special operations, like the ones against GHQ and

17

International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 18- 2011©

Mehran Base. Another possible dangerous threat is Forces, complete homework has been done. The only from pro-American elements or sympathizers of thing left is to decide the date and time. In my foreign sponsored terrorists working inside nuclear reckoning, this reckless option may coincide with final setups who may be bribed to steal fissile material and phase of withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan. God fuses and pass them on to wrong people. One must not forbid, if our adversaries succeed in their evil designs, forget that CIA had been able to buy the loyalties of that will be day of mourning for Pakistan and a day of several scientists working in a nuclear plant in 1990s. rejoicing for USA, western world, Israel and India. Brig Imtiaz working in ISI had busted the band on the payroll of CIA, after he accidentally found out from a girl ditched by one of the scientists belonging to this group. Pakistan Army managed to get out of the deathtrap laid by its adversaries in Swat and South Waziristan. USA has now prepared another deadly deathtrap in North I am certain that the heavy CIA network established in Waziristan and is once again trying to lure in Pak Army Pakistan since 2010 must be continuing with its efforts with a hope that this time it will get trapped. It is only to cultivate scientists, officials and security guards when major portion of our combat divisions get employed in sensitive organizations. The theme of embroiled in the war in northwest that India will make nukes falling in hands of religious extremists was its Cold Start doctrine operational on the weakened purposely floated to provide smoke screen to its own eastern front. 5/2 and 5/22 incidents have already covert actions. USA, Israel and India are the actual helped our adversaries in creating despondency, in thieves bent upon stealing or destroying our nukes. discrediting armed forces and intelligence agencies and Varieties of contingencies have been prepared to in spoiling civil-armed forces relations. Economically, destroy, steal or overpower the arsenal. The noose has Pakistan has become dependent upon IMF and US aid. been sufficiently tightened and the thieves have Politically it is polarized and dysfunctional. Socially prowled closer to the intended sites and believably the society stands divided. Pakistan has been brought to have stealthily encircled them. this abysmal situation under an orchestrated program to make it helpless. Unfortunately our media stalwarts, PML-N, Asma Jahangir and even higher courts instead of defeating foreign propaganda are providing strength After performing the gory act, irrespective of marginal to foreign agenda against armed forces. success or complete failure, red alert will be sounded and the whole blame put on al-Qaeda/affiliated groups. The UN and the world will be ready to accept US contention since the latter has already poisoned the Since 2007, the US is trying to remove highly enriched minds of world power centers. Our rulers too would uranium from a Pakistani research reactor. While I pray promptly blame local militant groups. The UN will that our security forces are able to thwart hostile then come into action and will seek immediate closure attempts made on our nuclear arsenal and delivery of our nuclear program and demand transfer of all the means and are able to safeguard the frontiers against nukes along with fissile material to safer location foreign aggression under such insalubrious outside Pakistan. environments, what I am worried is that we have still not identified our foes and snakes in the grass and taken preventive measures. Unless we guard against the designs of our foes pretending to be friends and Mir With regard to the last option of destruction by drones Jaffars, we will not be able to confront the worst threat and bombers, or physical occupation by US Special which is looming over Pakistan’s horizons.

*****

18 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 19-26, 2011©

[Contemporary history]

OF BURQA-CLAD, PUERILE APPROACHES, SYCOPHANTIC OPINIONS AND DESTRUCTION OF SIKH ETHOS

Gurtej Singh, IAS & IPS (Formerly)

Recently I was invited to the Guru Nanak Dev My plea was that the article must be published as it was University. I was to present my views to the and the ‘sick historian’ may write to point out the seminarians trying to understand Guru Nanak’s nature of controversy it raises. I will try to counter the teachings. It was a very gracious invitation by the head argument. Thereafter, we must leave it to the scholars of the department that could not have been refused. to judge who is right and who is wrong. This according Just before the seminar began, some students sang the to me was the only method of resolving academic poem ‘deh shiva bar nohe ihe’. Those who revere it as controversies. the composition of the Tenth Guru believe (against all available evidence) that Shiva in the verse alludes to The ‘sick historian’ perhaps refused to shed his veil Akalpurakh. Those who know the context and the (burqa) of anonymity and the article remained meaning explicitly assigned to it in the composition unpublished—so it remains up to now. know that it is another name of Parbati, the consort of Lord Shiva of Hindu trinity. They who understand this So, seeing Dr. Julka sitting in front of me, I remarked much cannot be seen praying to a mythical being as that I may not pursue Parbati[Parvati] issue further as worship of Akalpurakh alone is permissible in the Sikh it may erupt into a ‘controversy’ which the learned faith. Doctor disapproves of. According to me, I had settled the five year old issue in a light-hearted and I stood up in the worshipful mode as I did not want to meaningful manner. As an aggrieved party, I had the create a scene by walking out or by remaining seated. right to say more, but I did not do so. I found that even Had I known that this would be sung, I would have this much could not be tolerated in an academic come in a little late and saved myself the gathering which should have been geared to embarrassment. Now it became necessary for me to accommodate all kinds of viewpoints. Dr. Jaswinder disassociate myself from the homage to Parbati. Kaur made some sarcastic mention of it in her presentation. I interpreted those as mild though fully Before beginning my presentation I said words to the and wholly unwarranted but said nothing about it to effect: ‘now that the students have started the maintain the decorum. proceedings by worship of Parbati, I shall be looking forward also to a cup of hashish (bhang), Shiva’s During the recess I discovered out that the ‘Sikh favourite drink.’ It was natural to expect a stimulating historian’ who had given puerile comments about my cup as without drinking it no worship of Shiva is article being controversial was none other that Dr. complete. Kirpal Singh. I also came to know that the decision to withhold the article was taken by the entire department Then I remembered what the department had done to of Guru Nanak Studies and not by Dr. Shashi Bala my article. I had written an original article on a hitherto Julka alone. little touched upon theme, namely “Sikh war ethics: spiritual inspiration and impact on history.” I also saw I reproduce the entire correspondence on the subject Prof. Shashi Bala Julka, who had been corresponding below and leave it to the scholars and lay people to with me in connection with that article written on her make what they will of it. A few words about Dr. invitation. Initially she had liked the article and had Kirpal Singh whom I have known and have closely promised several times to publish it. Eventually some observed for several decades, will be found to be in change came about in her attitude and it was decided order by the reader. According to me he is the hatchet that the article in that form should not be published. man of the forces inimical to Sikh culture, his function Her argument against publishing the article was that it is to confuse Sikh point of view, to destroy Sikh ethos was ‘controversial’. The argument was unacceptable as and to dismantle the Sikh identity by challenging all it is the university’s business to deal with controversies expressions of it based on authentic Sikh values. He in rational manner. does not pit a rational opinion against a thesis but an emotional one based on his own warped understanding She had told me that the article had been referred to a of patriotism. He hopes that the support of the ‘Sikh historian’ and that the referee had found it permanent cultural majority will lend dignity to his ‘controversial’. She had not named the ‘Sikh historian’ feather weight musings. Do we need enemies when we or the sick historian. have such friends!

19 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

I may also mention here that I wrote to Dr. Jairup With regard. Singh, the Vice-Chancellor of the University to bring the matter to his notice. My communication remained Yours Sincerely unacknowledged. It has often been observed in academic circles that our universities were being -sd- controlled by forces that had other interests at heart. They were understood to be operating under (Shashi Bala) the influence of dwarfed and amorphous concept of Tue, 7 Feb 2006 03:16:46 -0800 (PST) national interest. Consequently they were making an all out effort to obliterate the Sikh culture and to ascribe new meaning to the Sikh scripture in their Ref. No. 221-272/DGNS dated 30.1.06 quest for uniformity. This perception was based on observation. Now there appears to be even more Dear Dr Shashi Bala ji, tangible evidence on the subject. Thank you for the invitation to write for your esteemed Next week, I will put the article in question on this Journal of Sikh Studies. blog-spot so that the reader may judge whether it was worth publishing or not. I will be sending my article by about the end of March DEPARTMENT OF GURU NANAK STUDIES on e-mail as required by you.

GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY Regards,

AMRITSAR-143005 Yours sincerely, No.221-272/DGNS Gurtej Singh Dr. Shashi Bala Chandigarh Date 30-1-06 Fri, 7 Apr 2006 12:03:17 +0100 (BST) Head Respected Sir, Respected Prof. Sahib, Sat Siri Akal! As you are aware, the Department of Guru Nanak Studies has been publishing a bi-annual Journal of Sikh I am waiting for your article for publication in the Studies since 1974. It covers a wide range of areas pertaining to Sikhism viz. religion, philosophy, history, Journal of Sikh Studies as you have promised earlier. sociology, art, music and hermeneutics. The journal has Please send it as early as possible. wide circulation and has acquired encouraging recognition not only in India but at the international Thanks, level also. Besides articles, the journal also includes book reviews relating to Sikhism and other allied With deep regards, fields. Yours Sincerely, You are an eminent scholar in the field of Sikh studies. Therefore, on behalf of the department of Guru Nanak Shashi Bala Studies, I feel honoured to request you to oblige us by contributing an article in your specialization for Tue, 11 Apr 2006 05:26:57 -0700 (PDT) publication in our journal. Dear Ms. Shashi Bala Julka, It is requested that the article should be unpublished before, and references should be placed at the end of the manuscript. A brief bio-data may also be enclosed I am sorry for the delay. I was really very busy. along with your article. I hope you will like the article. This subject has not I will feel obliged if you could send your paper through been paid much attention to. It may be of interest to e-mail or floppy/ CD on MS Word, by the end of scholars. March,2006.

20 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Regards, I would like to seek your permission for publishing it in the next issue i.e. 2007. Yours Sincerely, With Profound Regards, Gurtej Singh Yours Sincerely, Tue, 11 Apr 2006 05:57:45 -0700 (PDT)

Please ignore the earlier attachment as it contains Shashi Bala, G.N.D.U. the rough draft which was inadvertently attached due to Fri, 9 Feb 2007 01:37:44 +0000 (GMT) operational error. Respected Sir, Thu, 11 May 2006 11:26:29 +0100 (BST) I replied to your e-mail earlier but got no reply from Respected Sir, your side. Regarding your article, I may submit that it is in the process and I was waiting for your reply and I am sorry I could not reply you earlier due to internet consent to include it in the Journal of Sikh Studies, problem at my home as well as at office. Now I have 2007. seen and download the attachment. I am very grateful to you for your positive response to my letter and hope With due apology, I already replied that in the first to get the similar cooperation from you in future also. issue of the journal, we could not include it as the Your valuable research paper is preserved for the next jounal was already sent to the press. The second issue issue of the journal i.e in Aug as the previous one has was special issue on Guru Arjan Dev' Life and already been sent in the press. I deeply regret for the Martyrdom and another Journal Perspectives on Guru delay due to the failure of internet system Granth Sahib includes articles relating to the themes of Thanks and with profound regards. The Scripture.

Shashi, Dept of Guru Nanak Studies, GNDU, Asr Due to the above stated reasons, the article could not be Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:04:47 -0800 (PST) published so far. As the theme of your article is most relevant, I would like to seek your permission Dear Dr. Shashi Bala ji, to include it in the next issue, if you have not sent it for I am interested in knowing whether you could publication anywhere. I used to read your articles in the publish my article on Sikh War Ethics. If it is Sikh Review. published, could you please let me know the details Hoping to get your cooperation for the dissemination of of the publication? Sikh perspective of philosophy and religion, and Regards, waiting for your consent.

Gurtej Singh With deep regards,

Chandigarh Shashi Bala, G.N.D.U.Amritsar.

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:14:15 +0000 (GMT) Fri, 9 Feb 2007 01:54:01 -0800 (PST)

Respected Sir, Dear Dr. Shashi Bala ji,

I am sorry to say that your article on Sikh War Ethics The article was written for your journal. It has not been is still in the process of publication. I could not include sent to anyone else. The Sikh Review is publishing my it in the second volume of the Journal of Sikh translation of Panth Parkash. Studies as this volume was special issue relating to the You may publish the article sent to you in the Journal. life and martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev.

21 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Regards, 2. Whether accepted/rejected/revised: SHOULD BE REVISED BEFORE Gurtej Singh PUBLICATION

3. If accepted:

a) to be published in original form: NO

b) to be published in modified form: YES

DEPARTMENT OF GURU NANAK STUDIES c) Details for the modification: SEPERAE SHEET ATTACHED GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY (attach sheet if necessary) AMRITSAR-143005 d) Broad comment about the paper: SEPERAE No.361/G.N.S SHEET ATTACHED Dr. Shashi Bala (attach sheet if necessary) Date 9-4-07 DETAILS FOR THE MODIFICATION Head The first para of the article as cited above either be deleted or reconstructed. Guru Nanak, the founder of Respected Sir, Sikhism inculcated in his followers the spirit of fight against tyranny and injustice and defend the weak and As you know, the Journal of Sikh Studies is a referred downtrodden. He is considered Prophet of Peace who Journal. Your article entitled ‘Sikh War Codes: wanted reconciliation between the warring Hindus and Spiritual Inspiration and Impact on history’ was sent Muslims. It would be inadvisable to associate Guru to the referee approved by the Vice Chancellor and the Nanak with War Code whatsoever. Similarly, Guru details for modification as suggested are attached Arjan’s hymn quoted in the first para referred to above, herewith. I hope you won’t mind to change the article is a description of struggle against five evils in our accordingly. body viz Kaam, Krodh, Lobh etc. He does not refer to With regards any external enemy because he saysn ‘Sagal Sang Humko Ban Ayee…’. Association of war code with his Yours Sincerely hymns is not proper.

-sd- On pages 4, 7and 8 there are references to and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala. His role in (Shashi Bala) the Operation Blue Star is controversial so it would be better to avoid it.

On page 7, it has been stated that Indian Govt. claimed Gurtej Singh that they have burnt the Sikh reference Library which is not correct. The Govt. has never claimed to have 742, Sector-8 burnt the library. There is no question of deliberate burning of the library. The library was burnt no doubt Chandigarh-160008 but why—is not known. It would thus be better to delete all these references from the article. ***** Wed, 18 Apr 2007 05:07:46 -0700 (PDT) DEPARTMENT OF GURU NANAK STUDIES

GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY, AMRITSAR From: Gurtej Singh,

Report of referee regarding publication of research # 742 Sector 8, paper in the Journal, Journal of Sikh Studies Chandigarh- 160009 1. Name of the Paper : SIKH WAR CODES: SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION AND IMPACT ON To: Dr. Shashi Bala HISTORY

22 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Head Himself fought for his army. All the time he was leading the Jews to peace and prosperity. Jesus Christ Department of Guru Nanak Studies, the ‘prince of peace’ as his followers call him, had deep-rooted social and political concerns. The scholars Guru Nanak Dev University , Amritsar. are now piercing the wall of propaganda built around April 18, 2007 him by twenty centuries of all out effort by the Church, to discover that he was perhaps the leader of a local Dear Dr. Shashi Bala ji, sect engaged in resisting the Roman Empire by violent means (see the Dead Sea Scrolls). It is recorded that he Many thanks for your letter No. 361/GNS dated April overturned the tables of the money changers thus 9, 2007. I am very glad that you have finally decided to resorting to reform by violence. All his companions at spell out your objections to my article written on your the Last Supper were armed and one is reported to have kind invitation. cut off the earlobe of the governor’s minion with his I am not sure the objections raised by the anonymous sword. His statement that he had come to promote referee whose opinion you sought, are valid or precise. conflict and to bring about warlike conditions in every I propose to deal with them as follows: family he came in contact with, is a part of the New Bible. His authentic image takes care of his social 1A). The referee says, ‘Guru Nanak was a prophet of concerns which are reconcilable with his image as a peace and he cannot be said to have had political prince of peace as in the case of almost every other concerns.’ Politics is very much a part of human life prophet or incarnation in human history. and the situation has been that way since the dawn of civilization. Humankind is moved through politics and Why does your University think that such for that reason many momentous social and economic reconciliation, in the case of Guru Nanak, is changes have come about through the instrumentality impossible? of politics. Destinies of nations have been profoundly 1B). By pretending to promote Guru Nanak exclusively affected by politics. Every prophet and incarnation as prophet of peace, your University is trying to defame including our own Buddha, Ram and Krishna have his successors who organized the Sikhs to resist been preoccupied with politics. The same is true of tyranny. The Sikhs, the Guru Granth, and all Sikh Sumerian, Semitic and Graeco-Roman gods, prophets theologians believe that all the Gurus were one and and figures of eminence all over the world. If any preached the same doctrine. To this school of thought change has to be brought about in the ways of humans all the Gurus remain ‘princes of peace’ and their and if an attempt to establish permanent peace has to be resistance to violence remains till today the only made, it has to be done through politics. A prophet who method of establishing peace. Bertrand Russell and wishes to establish ‘Ramrajya’ has of necessity to M. K. Gandhi had no peaceful answer to the violence resort to war. Sri Ram, the incarnation of Vishnu had unleashed by Hitler. Gandhi even contemplated suicide started fighting wars in his childhood and continued on seeing that his hollow notions about non-violence doing so till the very end of his human existence. The were not adequate to meet everyday problems arising same is true of Sri Krishna. The same is true of in the world. Lord Wavell has recorded that he was for Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Durga and Indra. They are establishing peace in Kashmir by sending in the Indian known to be armed (some to the teeth), they promoted army to counter occupation by forces loyal to Pakistan . conflict, took sides in the battles and adorned He also did not care if human blood flowed in rivers battlefields as warriors. All the time they had the idea provided the British made an immediate retreat from of establishing peace nearest to their hearts. Prophet India. Anyone who does not believe that superior Muhammad’s religion is all about peace as the very violence is required to meet aggression and assault on name Islam suggests; yet he fought wars and made human dignity, would be running the risk of being Jihad compulsory for believers. Moses not only led his flock in war but is on record as claiming that God

23 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© called ‘intellectually challenged.’ This is the lesson of the successor Gurus to maintain a permanent force of all history. 2200 horse was not about muttering the name of God but was about meeting the tyrant on the field of battle. 1C). Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel It is preposterous to hold that social and political Prize in return for his help in curbing the Punjabi concerns were not an integral part of Guru Nanak’s and Bengali violent resistance to the British rule in thought. The Department of Guru Nanak Studies is India. He travelled all the way to San Francisco to tell distorting Sikhi if it is teaching such stuff. My own the Ghadarites to stop violence against the British formulation on the subject (“Political ideas of Guru colonial power. He was severely and effectively Nanak,” pp.61-72) is a part of a book published by the chastised by the freedom fighters. It was in an attempt Punjabi University (Recent Researches in Sikhism, (Ed. to deflect the Sikh movement from its true moorings Jasbir Singh Mann et. al, 1992). that he invented the theory of one or two Gurus having broken off from the peaceful path of Nanak. True 1E). Your referee’s interpretation of the hymn of Guru patriots (though I disapprove of earth bound patriotism) Arjan is by no means final. For one, Jehangir did not and genuine scholars have all along considered this accept it and the Guru faced martyrdom. That should to be no more than a lap dog performance by an be proof enough of its true nature. The historian Ganda imperialist stooge. It constitutes a lowgrade attack on Singh and the theologian Teja Singh in their “A Short another culture. Gandhi adopted Tagore’s thesis and History of the Sikhs” also differ with your referee. went ahead to preach hatred of the Sikhs and their There are others too, some of whom are mentioned in Gurus. To the best of my knowledge, this is not the the previous paragraph. Recently, I read a keynote ideology that the Guru Nanak University was founded address at the Punjabi University where some scholars to preach. from your university were also present. It was regarding the martyrdom of Guru Arjan and I 1D). Guru’s faith is not about ‘interiority,’ in spite of propounded my thesis more cogently. It has been what McLeod and his anthropologist followers have to deemed worth a consideration by several eminent say on the subject. There are many scholars, including historians and interpreters of the scripture. historians and theologians whose books your university and other universities have published, who are clear 2A). I hope your referee is talking about Sant Jarnail that Guru Nanak had deep-rooted social, economic Singh in his second paragraph. Sant Jarnail Singh is a and political concerns. Some of them got together to well known personality and a person accepted as one of propound the ‘Guru’s Miri-piri system’ as Daljit the greatest martyrs of the Sikh faith, by many Sikh Singh called it. Noel Q. King is asking ‘how did and non-Sikh scholars. It is not proper to use his name interiority lead to the promulgation of the Order of the without the epithet ‘Sant.’ Your referee should get it Khalsa and how did their teachings inspire people to clear that he was not the only Sant in human history to become the makers of history?’ This is the position have defied the might of an empire on the battlefield. I today and the Sikhs are making history even at present. have been watching the recent happenings in the Dr. J. S. Grewal (your own erstwhile head of the Punjab from close quarters. I have enough inside History Department and the ex-Vice Chancellor) is knowledge about what transpired. For the sake of truth, aware that the Kabi[r]panthis, Ravidasis, followers of I must write what I have witnessed and known through Mirabai and host of other sects and denominations eyewitnesses. There is nothing controversial about never intervened in history and remain confined to their what I have written about the Sant. It is an eyewitness ‘interiority’ and oblivion. Guru Arjan was not talking account that has to be recorded for posterity. If, about enemies inside the self-alone. He was also however, someone considers it ‘controversial’ let him preparing his people to challenge the tyrant in the present what s/he considers to be his or her side of the mundane world. His asking his followers to get controversy. That will provide the future historians familiar with horses was not about ‘interiority,’ but had with material to formulate their own views. Why something to do with cavalry. His asking his son and should a university want to avoid mention of recent

24 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© events and why should it dub them as controversial? reasons rooted in the most considered philosophical Contemporary history is a very respectable discipline premises known to all societies, I do not subscribe to and countless books appear on the subject every day in the theory that your referee is asking me to comply today’s world. The Iraq war has been discussed in with. Universities all over the world constitute forums hundreds of books all over though it is still happening. where thought flows free and unchecked. Your Besides, the thesis I am proposing in my article, must University wants me to subscribe to a thought that all of necessity mention the Sant to show that a certain reason and understanding beckon me to repel with all ancient tradition is current in the contemporary Sikhs the force at my command. I am not a party to those at society. It is an integral part of my thesis. your University who are carrying on relentless propaganda to denigrate Sikhi, to defame the Sikh 3A). Your referee has not understood the relevant Gurus and to detract from the thesis presented in the paragraph on page 7 of my article in proper perspective Guru Granth. I resisted, Piar Singh, the earlier or I have not been able to make myself very clear to spokesman of such evil forces and a stooge of the him. There are two views about the Sikh Reference Euro-centric foreign scholars. I write only to share the Library, one is that it was burnt up and the second is truth as I have known it and not to take sides with a that it was carried away by the invading forces. The people forming this or that gang constituted with the government claims that it was burnt. There is no doubt intention of imposing its views on others. How on about that. I have discussed the matter with more than earth, can I change my views, just to suit the one Prime Ministers of India. Iknow the official requirements of your Journal; just to see my name government position as well as the factual. Mr. in print? Chandra Shekhar offered to return to the Sikhs the contents carried away by the army. The remark quoted The people of the Punjab are paying through their nose by your referee is to be read in that context]. to sustain the University you teach at. They are also paying for the Journal that you publish. They do so in 3B). There is little doubt that the portion of the Sikh the hope that you will promote their culture and not Reference Library that was burnt by the invading army. undermine it at the behest of long dead perverted poets It was burnt much after neutralizing resistance from the and political leaders completely disoriented from Darbar Complex. There was an army man in every reality. The people’s interest and that of the truth is square inch of the Darbar Complex when it was burnt. best served if many differing thoughts interact allowing The library was in the ground occupied by the Indian the student to examine the worth of each and to support army and anyone who has been to a field of battle either one or more of them. That interest is paramount. knows how the occupying forces behave in such a I therefore request you to publish the article as it is situation. That the invader’s desire to destroy the and let others, who wish to do so, contest its culture of the (temporarily) disadvantaged people, is formulations. I will defend my thesis on the basis of also well known. You know what Shankracharya did the truth as I perceive it. It is not a matter of using to Buddhist universities, libraries and shrines. You this or that word here or of replacing a sentence also know what Aurangzeb and his kind do to Hindu with another more palatable to the referee cultural monuments when their turn came. The lies that appointed by you. Much more is involved. such people later invent to cover up their brutality and barbarity are also well known. In the case of attack on I must also remind you that I wrote the article for the Darbar, such behaviour has been well documented you on your very graciously worded invitation. I and analysed. Many lies have been nailed by other would not have sent it for publication in the Journal of departments of the government itself. What I have Sikh Studies but for you asking me to do so. My views written in this context is based on facts as I best know are well known in the small circle of my friends. No them. one has ever asked me to change them to suit the designs of a rival culture and the political needs of a Lastly, for many weighty doctrinal stances of universal ruthless group of neo-imperialists. validity connected with the Sikh faith and for many

25 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 26-27 2011©

With kindest regards and all good wishes detailed exposition of Sikh War Code and its spiritual inspiration and its impact on History. I sincerely wish Yours sincerely, to include it in the Journal but with due apology, again request you to allow a minor modification in the article (Gurtej Singh) as we cannot ignore the suggestions of the refree. Copy to the Vice chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University with a request to intervene and to see that Hope to get a positive reply from your side. the professor does not intimidate scholars in future in the manner she is doing now. With profound regards,

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:23:12 +0100 (BST) Yours Sincerely,

Respected Sir, Shashi

The copy of the Journal of Sikh Studies Prof. & Head Vol.xxxi,2007 is ready for publication in the press. As I mentioned earlier, your article needs a little Deptt of Guru Nanak Studies modification as suggested by the external referee who G.N.D.U, Amritsar. himself is a Sikh historian and retired Prof of Sikh History. Your article is really appreciative being a *****

*****

Terrorism In Perspective In Relation To South word 'progressing democracy' is an invention of the Asia western news media and their administration; merely to convey to the world that what was at one time the Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon poverty-ridden country in the western twins is now a progressive country, despite that 75% of its population I have to congratulate the Executive Committee of the goes to sleep hungry every night. The voice of the London Institute of South Asia, London (LISA), U K, nations of the artificial entity, alleged Indian for picking up the topic of 'Terrorism in Retrospect democracy, is suppressed nationally and and Perspective'. The issue, which warrants much internationally. For example, the voice of the Sikhs of attention since the inhumane disaster of 9/11 of the Punjab, the Muslims of the Internationally Disputed World Trade Centre, New York, USA. Every right- Areas of Jammu and Kashmir (IDA:JK), citizens of minded person has condemned and will condemn the Assam and 8-sister of Assam, heavily suffering Dalits, crime committed against humanity in our peaceful and other non-Brahmins-Hindus are being suppressed world. It is highly appreciated that the administration deliberately, irrespective of heavy forces used with the of the United States of America played a leading role to special powers of immunity given to them by the establish an international committee to fight against the 'Brahmins-Hindus' democracy. Additionally, the evil of 'terrorism' that has been going on in our western administrations have been turning their 'blind peaceful world to disturb and destroy the peace eye and deaf ear' to the sufferings of the nations internationally. seeking their sovereignty, as stated above. So much so, the resolution of the Security Council of the United Since the LISA, by and large, deals with the interests of Nations Organization of 1948, to find out the will of the South Asian people and their problems, I would the IDA:JK citizens and to speak them to decide their like to contribute a few lines for the meeting that will future has not been implemented. The western be taking place on the July 12th, 2011. I am sure the administrations and their news media are, LISA meeting represents the communities or their unfortunately, silent on the genocide, pogroms, staged- representative at the international level. The author encounter killings, chemical warfare, gross human being one of the founding members of LISA and rights violations, rapes, etc., carried out by the 'Union deeply interested in what has been happening in the of Nations alias the alleged Indian democracy'. nations of an artificial entity, alias the alleged Indian democracy. Internationally, it is being termed as Further, the 'barbarous acts and terror carried out by the the 'progressing democracy of our world, India'. The alleged Indian democracy since August 15th, 1947 in

26 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 27- 2011© particular, and against the people of the Islamic ‘terrorists’ must be expelled from the International Republic of Pakistan and its institution in general, in Community of Nations formed by the United States' the past two years are highly deplorable. administration to fight the 'International Terrorism'.

Killing of the Sikhs, citizens of the IDA:JK, Muslims In summation, the South Asian nations (sovereign and in general, Christians, Dalits, and non-Brahmins- struggling for their sovereignty, as far back as March Hindus has been documented scientifically. The 14th, 1849 and more so since August 15th, 1947) be Brahmins' terrorism, since the times of Ashoka the protected from the 'ulterior' motives (The Akhand great, is well documented. It points only to one Bharat) of the artificial 'Union of Nations alias the direction: 'the Brahmins (elite) and Hindus (followers alleged Indian democracy, with immediate effect. The of the Brahmins)' are nothing but a community of Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s role must not be 'Terrorists' to our peaceful world. This community of restricted in Afghanistan only; rather it be allowed to play its rightful role to preserve peace in South Asia.

*****

Terrorism in Retrospect

Afghanistan-Pakistan is the main battleground of the American as well as the Muslim quest to defeat terror though their objectives and methods differ.

Brig. (R) Usman Khalid at LISA Seminar – 12 July 2011

We all know of terrorism as a criminal activity. And is ideology. The name of their cult Al takfir val Hija an essential feature of war. Occupation of the territory describes what it is about. The takfiri believe that the of another people is the worst kind of terrorism. The people submit to a state that does not act in accordance biggest victims of terrorism are the people of Kashmir with sharia, are apostates or kaafir against whom (the and Palestine. As long as we forgive or forget state people and the state) jihad becomes a necessity. They terrorism by India, Israel and now America, the world prescribe exodus (hijra) to places of safety to prepare cannot be free of non-state terrorism. All state deals for war and return to impose true sharia on the state with all types of criminals including terrorists all the they choose as safe haven or as a target. They come out time. However, organized terrorism that challenges the in the open when they see an opportunity to make a authority the state from within is new. As long as the country a safe haven. The takfiri have existed on the state can and does deal with terrorists by due process of margins of the society in most countries. They were law, there is no threat to the state. But when the called the khawarji during the early days of Islam. institutions of the state become the target of the They were crushed ruthlessly but it is in their new terrorists the state is threatened and its response can be reincarnation in Egypt that is of relevance and interest called war. The present ‘war on terror’ led by the USA today. What is this takfiri cult? is indeed a war. Al Takfir val-Hijra There is a lot of confusion about the ‘war on terror’ in which many countries are engaged, including Pakistan. The takfiri have their origins in the late 1960s in the The debate in Pakistan is: whether it is our war or only Abu Za'bal concentration camp set up by President of America. Clearly it is the war both of America as Nasser. They believed that most Egyptians were no well as Pakistan but their rationale and objectives are longer truly Muslims and that Sayyed Qutb (who had different. Since there is no public debate over what is been executed by Nasser regime) had called for hijra or common and what is different in the approach of the exodus from Egypt. After the new leader of Ikhwan ul two countries, there is suspicion between them that Muslimeen (Muslim Brotherhood) Hassan al-Hudaybi's creates operational difficulties that undermines refuted Qutb's ideas in 1969, the sect soon fell apart, efficient conduct of the war. The terrorist groups that leaving an agricultural engineer called Shukri Mustafa attack the USA and the West say that it is a response to as its only member. He was released from prison in their support to Israeli occupation of Palestine. But the 1971 as part of the new president Anwar Sadat's terrorists who attack military and other targets inside rapprochement. On his release, Shukri returned to Muslim countries particularly Pakistan challenge the Asyut where he finished his studies and began legitimacy of the state itself. These groups can be recruiting followers. In 1973, following the arrest of called ‘takfiri’ because they are driven by that some of his followers, he took the group to live in

27 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© caves in the nearby mountains, fully implementing his Afghanistan should have supported the line of belief in hijra. By 1976 Shukri's followers numbered Abdullah Salem Azzam. They did not. They saw in the two thousand, mostly living in poor neighborhoods of emerging force of the Taliban an instrument of politics Cairo. They were known to the authorities but not in Pakistan. They did win the election in KPK in 2002 considered a serious threat. The greatest controversy and ruled the province for five years. During that was caused when its members were forced to cut off period the takfiri extended their influence and contact with their families, bringing about several established military bases to control much of the tribal lawsuits from family members of women who joined. area and the District of Swat. In 2008, the allies of the They felt Shukri was in essence seducing their takfiri lost the elections and the people voted for their daughters, or in some cases wives, and thus negating nemesis – secular Awami National Party (ANP) – into Egyptian views of family. power. The takfri came out in the open and it became obvious that they had control over all of FATA and In 1976 a few members left for other groups. Shukri parts of KPK. They unleashed a reign of terror in areas reacted angrily. He declared them apostate and, in in their control blowing up girls’ schools, video and November, led two raids to kill them. The police barber shops and even mazars. It became clear what intervened, detaining fourteen of his followers and kind of sharia the takfiri wanted to impose. The issuing a warrant for Shukri's arrest. It was at this point Taliban supporters among the people of Pakistan were that his group was given the label ‘Takfir val-Hijra’. shocked. But their political allies – Jamiat e Ulema e Shukri did not like the label but it was more descriptive Islam (JUI). Imran Khan’s TI and Jamaat e Islami (JI) and became fixed in the popular consciousness. Shukri continue to support them insisting that the takfiri attack was frustrated by his inability to promote his views and Pakistan and Pakistanis because Pakistan is his leadership within the group was under question. His collaborating with America – the occupying power in response was to kidnap a former Egyptian government Afghanistan. minister and mainstream Muslim cleric, Muhammad al-Dhahabi, on July 3 1977. Al-Dhahabi had previously They religious political parties in Pakistan could have a produced an official pamphlet against the group, in point if the takfiri agreed with them. But they do not. which he linked them to Kharijism. Shukri demanded The takfiri revile the JUI and JI as collaborators of the release of his followers. When the demand was Pakistani regime and have even attempted to murder ignored, the hostage was killed. The government's the JUI leader Maulana Fazal ur Rehman. The takfiri response was swift and decisive. Hundreds were believe that there is a broad constituency of support for arrested and dozens imprisoned. A military tribunal them in Pakistan and the country is ready for a being sentenced Shukri and four other leaders to death; they taken over by them by force. They cite the example of were executed on March 19, 1978. Afghanistan where they are in control in the face of another super power – the USA. It is quite clear that the The Right Response takfiri are enemies of Pakistan and every other Muslim state. But they are also the enemies of the USA because of its support to Israel and occupation of The takfiri had come to Afghanistan in large numbers Afghanistan. The enemy may well be the same but the to join the jihad as they saw an opportunity to find a rationale of Pakistan is existential threat while the safe haven. But they were a small proportion of the rationale of the US is the need to preclude another Mujahideen. Upon the exit of Soviet forces, it was attack on the USA and its allies in the West. That possible to isolate the takfiri groups from the difference is meaningful as it affects strategy as well as Mujahideen. The ideologue of Afghan Jihad was tactics. Both countries should recognise and advertise Abdullah Salem Azzam – a Palestinian scholar who that difference. It would be to the advantage of both. urged and organised Arab fighters to come to Afghanistan. He was the mentor of Osama bin Laden. Link with Kashmiri Struggle for Self-Determination But they parted company when the Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan. Abdullah Salem Azzam stressed that Jihad had come to successful end and the Pakistan has another important difference with the foreign fighters should return to their countries. Most USA. Since Pakistan has been unable to liberate of them did but Osama bin Laden and his new Egyptian Jammu and Kashmir even after fighting three wars with mentor Amin ul Zawahiri, could not go back to their India, the takfiri argument carries weight even with countries. Alarmed by the stand of Adullah Azzam, he those who are neither takfiri nor their supporters and was gunned down in front of a mosque in Peshawar – allies. The takfiri cults whenever they raised their head the first murder attributed to the Takfiri cult in were liquidated by force. But it would not be that easy Pakistan, which has been embraced by Al-Qaeda and in Pakistan or Afghanistan for two reasons. First, the some of the Taliban. takfiri groups are so embedded in the resistance in Afghanistan that it is well-nigh impossible to isolate them. Second, America, India and Israel in their The Ulema in Pakistan who had supported the jihad in

28 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© campaign of disinformation and propaganda do not which have created the most stable order ever. make a differentiation between the takfiri and the Regardless of our beliefs and faith we all gain by resistance. They revile the resistance in Kashmir, adhering to the principles of ‘national self- Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq as terrorists. Resistance determination’, respect for human rights and sovereign to occupation is legitimate. If the USA and the West do equality of all states. Our separate beliefs or faiths do not recognise the Palestinian and Kashmiri resistance not give us a right to impose our views and beliefs on to be legitimate they cannot win their ‘war on terror’. others. The ‘War on Terror’ in its generally accepted However, the takfiri groups operating in Pakistan under definition is everybody’s war because it is against those the title of TTP are not resistance; they justify their who do not believe in the legitimacy of ‘nation state’. murders and mayhem on the basis of the takfiri But very few people support the American view of the ideology – their hope to take over Pakistan. It is right war on terror which demonises and targets genuine and proper that the TTP and other takfiri groups should movements for national self-determination or be called by just one name – the takfiri. The Ulema resistance movements against foreign occupation. The including takfiri supporting political parties in Pakistan people of Pakistan generally support the movements should be made aware of the ideology they support and for national self-determination like in Kashmir and asked to take a stand. If they continue to support or Palestine, as well as resistance movements like in justify the takfiri these parties should be banned and Afghanistan and Iraq. But there is little support in membership made a criminal offence. Besides, foreign Pakistan and elsewhere in the Muslim World for those funded subversion is rife in Pakistan with the objective who consider the ‘nation state’ as evil. The mantra of of promoting ethnic strife and separatism. Pakistan the takfiri is khilafa and sharia. The two institutions are should confront its ‘allies’ in the war on terror and well supported among all Muslims. On close insist they cannot secure our support for their war on examination of the takfiri view of these institutions it terror if they continue to support the MQM, Baloch and becomes apparent that they revile the institution of Sindhi nationalists and other terrorist groups operating nation state and prescribe disloyalty to the state – any inside Pakistan. state Muslim or non-Muslim. That is point the takfiri do not like to emphasise and Muslims court great peril The Illuminati Connection if they ignore it.

Terrorist groups often justify themselves in the public The nation state is a new idea, it was recognized as a eyes on the basis of a profound objective like principle to determine state boundaries in Europe in the democracy, secularism, socialism, even Islam. Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. Until then the According to conspiracy theorists, it is the Illuminati boundaries were decided by conquest. Everybody was whose genius it is to use all these great movements for a subject, the concept of citizen’s rights and their own end of Jewish control over the world. The obligations, and rule of law emerged slowly over time Illuminati are a small group of bankers and it is clearly and became the hallmark of the western civilisation. beyond their power to control the world. They Equipped with the concept of nationalism, democracy, allegedly obtain results by creating or exploiting secularism and rule of law, the Europeans colonised financial crisis or war. It is hard to find the presence of almost the entire world. The Muslims were slow to their hand but they do obtain the results they seek. It is respond to the challenge of the West and met with useful not to disregard the interest of the Illuminati in defeat on the military as well as the intellectual front. It th analysing the causes of present day terrorism. It is was in British India that the challenges of the 20 noteworthy that the Illuminati, the Takfiri and the Century were squarely met. At first the intellectual Communists – all challenge the authority of the Nation leadership was in the hands of clerics who rejected State which is the basis of the present world order. That everything Western. Rejectionism yielded even more the legitimacy of the ‘nation state’ is attacked by the defeats until Western educated Muslims came to the Takfiri as well as the Communist has given rise to fore. They knew who their real enemy was. It was the suspicion that the architecture of both is the work of Hindu, who they could not fight unless the British Jews. That may or may not be true but the threat from rulers were at least neutral. They accepted that militant Communism and now militant Islam is the democracy, nationalism and secularism had emerged as instruments used by the Illuminati to create fear and sound principles of statecraft in the West in instability which helps them maintain control over the consequence of centuries of efforts and experience. The sole super power – the USA – and thus the world. Hindus had accepted the Western ideas but put their own interpretation on them. They embraced World Order of Nation States Nationalism and asserted that India is a nation. They accepted secularism and asserted it was their invention as they believed in millions of gods. But it was The world order of today is based on ‘nation states’. democracy that they were most enthusiastic about. Respect for national sovereignty, and non-interference Democracy, they said, is majority rule; since the in internal affairs of other states are the principles Hindus are in majority in India the British should hand

29 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 27-30, 2011© over power to them and leave. york and the Pentagon, USA had been preparing for a war to gain control over the oil of the Middle East and It was in this environment that the Muslim leadership over the resources of Central Asia. Afghanistan was had to find a space. Muslim clerics under the leadership not invaded on a whim. of Jamiat i Ulema Hind (an outgrowth of the Deobandi school of thought) joined hands with the Congress At this point it would be useful to reiterate that the root Party. The Muslim League leadership decided that they cause of the terrorism by Muslims is the failure of the had to argue their case in the current (i.e. Western) Arabs to liberate Palestine and of Pakistan to liberate language of political discourse. They embraced Jammu and Kashmir. The Arabs were defeated by tiny nationalism and asserted that the ‘Muslims are a Israeli in 1949, 1956 and 1967. In 1973 Yom Kippur Nation’. They said that since theatre is no clergy in War, Egypt secured a partial victory to the extent that Islam the question of division between the state and the Americans were prepared to tolerate. Egypt got church did not arise. If democracy is majority rule, this back the Sinai Peninsula after agreeing to demilitarize rule could not apply to India as a whole which was an the Peninsula and recognize Israel. After the 1973 Arab empire established over 150 years. Majority rule, they Israeli war, the USA became a party in the War; the insisted, should apply to every province: Muslim USA has imposed or sustained its puppets as rulers and majority provinces in the East and the West (in British dictated policies in almost every country of the Middle India) should be separate from the rest and be East. Public anger with the puppet rulers was intense sovereign. That is how the Muslim League argued its but the people were helpless; they could neither change case. The argument was better supported by facts and the rulers nor their policies. That led to two important made by persons of character and calibre like of Quaid developments in the Middle East, One was the e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Then the Second evolution of Jihad as a methodology for successful World War started. The Hindu leadership decided that pursuit of ‘asymmetrical war’, and the other was the it was an opportune moment to force the British to resurrection of the ideology of ‘ leave India and transfer power to them. The Muslim leader – saw a different opportunity. Quaid e Azam Al-Takfir val Hijra’. asked for the Hindu dominated provincial governments to be dismissed, assured the British of support to their The evolution of Jihad as an instrument for war effort if they gave Muslim majority provinces their successfully waging asymmetrical war is the result of separate state. That is how the largest Muslim state the synthesis of the experience of Pakistan Army and emerged without formal jihad or organised military Afghan tradition of fighting war as a sort of ‘hunting’ struggle activity. The Pakistan Army has always been faced with an enemy – India – which is eight times bigger Way Forward with a larger resource base. Pakistan’s armed forces have always understood that it cannot compete with I have given the background in detail because the cleric India over the entire spectrum of weapons; it is better led groups consider it hallmark of their success is a call to equip the forces with capability to destroy or for jihad. That is not true. Calling for Jihad is neutralise the enemy strength and achieve superior irresponsible until there is a clear and ethical objective capability elsewhere along the spectrum. Pakistan also which is well supported by the people, and a clear stressed the importance of logistics to sustain a fast strategy. The creation of the biggest Muslim State in pace of operation in a ‘long war’. The Afghans are the world against combined opposition of the super natural fighters – brave, confident and self-reliant - power of the day – Great Britain – and the Hindus, who who are happy to operate in remote countryside with claimed to be 75% of the population in British India, poor infrastructure. The Afghan Jihad was based on was no easy matter. Nearly a million Muslims lost their these solid foundations. Al-Qaeda has introduced a life in 1947 but that was more an indication of the new weapon - the suicide bomber- which has since impossibility of Muslims and non-Muslims living come to Afghanistan and Pakistan with deadly results. together in harmony in the militant and turbulent Punjab. Today, the Muslims are faced with a similar Conclusion situation. After the dismemberment of the Soviet Empire, the West decided it needed another enemy. The Muslim World is in a quandary. The people blame They opted for Islam and the Muslims to be the new their governments for the failure to liberate Palestine enemy. They also bought the Indo-Zionist argument and Jammu & Kashmir. Extending from Indonesia to that the new enemy made India and Israel ‘natural Morocco, the Muslims have the location, the allies’ of the West. India had always resented Muslim population, the riches and resources, and military rule over the Indian sub-continent which lasted 800 power far in excess of India or Israel. Yet, they are years. Even though the raison d’etre of the American unable to use their clout to achieve their rightful ‘war on terror’ is the 9/11attack on twin towers in New objectives. The truth is that even when America, India

30 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2,27-31, 2011© and Israel do not invade their intelligence agencies There are two scenarios that may change the situation continue to subvert; if neither is pursuing an aggressive for the better. One is that the American public realizes strategy, the Illuminati still continues to undermine the that they have no conflict of interests with the Muslim financial health of the target economies. That has given world and they are wasting their power and treasure in space to non-state entities like Al-Qaeda to make a case pursuit of Indo-Israeli objectives which they are failing that without Khilafa and Sharia the Muslims have no to achieve. Two, the fiscal constraints force the USA to future except persistent ignominy. Unwilling to accept change its policy of ‘invade first, think about the results humiliation, more and more Muslims are turning to later’. The Muslim World has to wait and observe - those who see jihad as a way out. Calling them observe what India, Israel and America are planning. terrorists and killing them does not solve the problem. They have to observe enemy agents within and People of Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir have not frustrate their designs. They have to get an insight into reconciled to occupation like their forefathers did the methods and objectives of the Illuminati and make during the last century. People of Iraq and Afghanistan friends with countries with money to defeat their plans. have developed the tactics for asymmetrical war to In the ultimate analysis what would matter the most is defeat occupation. The policies of the West have the aid and attention given to captive nations undermined freedom of action of all the Muslim states. particularly Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir. It is Now their legitimacy is under attack from the takfiri. only by credible and concentrated efforts to liberate They are unable to face the military might of NATO in occupied territories that we could defeat the takfiri who a conventional war and have to court massive losses are the biggest existential challenge to the state – all and destruction before they can defeat their attackers in Muslim states.++ asymmetrical war. What are they to do? The author is Secretary General of Rifah Party of Pakistan *****

SIKHS AND KASHMIRIS REGARD INDIA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY AS THE BLACKEST/BARBADI/DESTRUCTION DAY IN THEIR HISTORY

HABIB YOUSAFZAI, SPOKESPERSON, KASHMIR DIASPORA ALLIANCE and BALKAR SINGH HEIR, Spokesperson, UNITED FRONT OF SIKHS

The United Front of Sikhs and the Kashmir Diaspora 'swallowed' by the 'Brahmins-Hindus' administration a Alliance protested against the India's illegal occupation couple of hours later after receiving political power of Khalistan, Punjab, the Sikhs Holy and Historic and 7-weeks following the independence, homeland and the Internationally Disputed Areas of the 'Brahmins-Hindus' declared the Sikhs as "lawless Jammu and Kashmir (IDA:JK) since August 15th, people and dangerous people to the law-abiding 1947. This was the day when the British India Empire 'Brahmins-Hindus of India and be dealt with firmly'. (formerly known as East India Company), Subsequently, in June 1984, the Punjab of Sikhs was demonstrated in the heart of Downtown Toronto, in attacked in a brutal military "Operation Bluestar" of front of Eaton Square on the eve of June, 1984. The Sikh Diaspora has considered this India's Independence Day, for the illegal occupation of brutal military operation as 'Undeclared' war on the the Sikhs' Punjab which rem ained Sikh Nation, PUNJAB, in which every Gurdwara was as "annexed"* territory to the British Empire. Both the attacked and the Punjab was made a Sikh Nation, Punjab and the IDA:JK were handed over 'CONCENTRATION CAMP' in the days of post- by the British India Empire to the 'unelected'* "Operation Bluestar". The reasons for this leadership of the 'Brahmins-Hindus-Baniyas'. At 'undeclared' war of June, 1984 was that (i) the Sikhs the same time, the Indian embassy had been organizing have repeatedly ‘rejected' the Indian Constitution 1950, a parade for the 'Independence day' of the alleged in its draft and final forms, in 1948, November 26th, Indian democracy to celebrate the so-called 1949, 1950 and more recently in September 1965, (ii) 'independence' of the 'Brahmins-Hindus'. the 'Brahmins-Hindus' administrations have been frustrated with, because none of their (Sikhs') elected The day of August 15th, is considered as the representatives has accepted/endorses/signed the India's 'Blackest/Barbadi/Destruction Day in the History of the Constitution 1950, (iii) the 'Brahmins-Hindus' alleged Sikhs of Punjab and by the citizens of the IDA:JK. It Indian democracy has been ruling the Sikhs of the Sikh should be noted that the Sikhs of Punjab were Nation PUNJAB 'without' any Constitutional power,

31 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

(iv) the 'Brahmins-Hindus' rulers of India have been occasion saying that they want to convey a clear desecrating the Holy and Historic places of the Sikhs, message to the world why they have observing the Muslims and non-Brahmin-Hindus minorities, to *Blackest/Barbadi/Destruction day* on Indian humiliate the Sikh, Muslim and non-Hindu-Brahmin Independence Day. “We want to show the world that communities (Nations), and (vi) the 'undeclared' war Khalistan,PUNJAB/Sikh Nation and Kashmir were not was waged to 'exterminate' and to get rid of the Sikhs any part of India but in reality the New Delhi in a democratic India, so to speak. administration is holding the territory by force and The citizens of the IDA:JK have been living, like the intimidation”. The protestors chanted *anti- Sikhs of PUNJAB, under the slavery of the Indian Indian slogans and called on to the international (Brahmins-Hindus) Government. The Sikhs and the community to stop the atrocities being committed citizens of the IDA:JK have been mourning the against the people of Khalistan and Kashmir (IDA:JK). 'Brahmins-Hindus' independence day as the Blackest/Barbadi and Destruction Day in their They further stressed, “The immediate withdrawal of history*. Both the Sikhs and the citizens of the IDA:JK all Indian forces from illegally occupied Khalistan and have been deliberately killed in numerous holocausts, Kashmir, and also to leave the Sikhs and Kashmiris to pogroms, genocides, fake encounter killings by the decide freely through a plebiscite under the auspices of 'Brahmins-Hindus' armed personnel, since August 15th, the United Nations.” 1947, i. e., soon after receiving freedom on the platter in the late morning hours on August 15, 1947 from Britain. Additionally, the 'Brahmins-Hindus' Explaining the current situation in Khalistan and administration has been suppressing and oppressing Kashmir, the statement condemned the extra judicial the State Juna Garah, Hyderabad (now Andhra and custodial killings of innocent Sikhs and Kashmiris Pradesh), Assam and its 8-sister, Dalits, etc., all against in the occupied territories. the wishes of the people. In order to its illegal occupation and suppression, the *WILL* of the The statement called the international community to incumbents of the areas is suppressed by the Indian come forward and ask India affirmatively to let the Government, using deceptive tactics. Sikhs and Kashmiris decide their future freely and themselves; with the right of self-determination by the Until this day of August 15th, 2011, the Brahmins- people of Khalistan and Kashmir. An anonymous Hindus' democracy alias alleged Indian democracy has protester yelled the following quotes from Malcolm X: killed non-Brahmins-Hindus minorities as follows: Sikhs: more than 3.4 million; Muslims in “You can't separate peace from freedom because no general, more than 500,000; Muslims of the IDA:JK, one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” more than 500,000; Christians, more than 312,500; Dalits, tens of thousands; Assamese and 8- "I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no sister, more than 15,000; Tamils, more than 12,000. matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and In view of the abhorrent atrocities taking place in whatever benefits humanity as a whole." Kashmir and Khalistan, PUNJAB, the people from all walks of life, including women, children, and the "Truth is on the side of the oppressed." elderly gathered to participate in the protest called as the 'Blackest/Barbadi/Destruction' day. The protest continued for two hours and the protestors carrying big "How can you thank a man for giving you what's banners displaying the message “Indian army out already yours? How then can you thank him for giving of Kashmir (IDA:JK) and Khalistan”. Both the Sikhs you only part of what is yours? You get your freedom and Kashmiris issued a joint communiqué on the by letting your enemy know that you'll do anything to get it.

32 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 31-2011©

18th SESSION HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCI UNITED NATIONS, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, SEPTEMBER 5-29th, 2011

DALITS AND MINORITIES Date: 28th September, 2011

Time: 13:00 - 15:00 Hrs

Room: XXVII, Palais de Nations, Human Rights Council (UN:HRC), Geneva, SWITZERLAND

Sponsor: LIBERATION

MODERATOR: Altaf Hussain Wani

Speakers: Ms Indra (Norway), Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon, and Madam

Ms Indra spoke about three minutes on the Dalits periods, a Sikh General named Banda Singh Bahadar problems and concluded her presentation within 3-min. established the 'first' Sikh Raj, the Sikh State, which lasted for about eight years. Following this, a sovereign Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon's presentations related to the and secular Sikh Nation existed for 50-years as Racial Discrimination of the Sikhs in India alias the described above under monarch Ranjit Singh. Under 'Brahmins-Hindus' democracy. the rule of Ranjit Singh, a sovereign Sikh nation was established, which had been the 'Secular and Sovereign State of the Sikhs' in which the Sikhs, Dr Sekhon began, according to the teachings of the Muslims, Christians and Hindus were equal partners of 10th Master (Guru) of Sikhs, Sahib Guru Gobind Singh the political power. However, the Hindus-Brahmins- ji, this all human race is one regardless of its colour, Dogra sect started conspiring against the Sikh state of religion, continents they live in, etc. "Ye all Human Monarch Ranjit Singh, with the agents of the British being is One". Empire. No one must confuse that this conspiracy was with the agents of the British Empire directly, and not The Sikh religion was founded by Guru Baba Nanak with the British East India Company (a company Sahib in the 15th century. The humans in that part of entered the Eastern princely states what is now called the world, PUNJAB now divided in two parts as India or its predecessor the British East India Punjab under the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Company. Later, it was known as the 'British India the "annexed" Punjab Nation or Sikh Raj of monarch Empire', until the former handed over the political Ranjit Singh, 1799 to March 14th, 1849. Punjab was power to the 'Brahmins and Hindus of the Indian the "First Sovereign and Secular Nation" of South National Congress. The players of which were a 'naked Asia, what at the moment is called the 'Brahmins- faqir' as called by Sir Winston Churchill, to MK Hindus' democracy's one of states, since August 15th, Gandhi (a Baniya of Gujarat), JL Nehru, GB Pant (the 1947. Ladies and gentlemen, Punjab of the Sikhs Brahmins), VB Patel of Gujarat, and so on. were 'robbed' right after the British India Empire gave freedom to the ‘Brahmins-Hindus-Baniyas (Traders) I must say here that the three princely head of leadership by the agent of the British Empire in Delhi States: Faridkot in Punjab, in in the morning hours of the August 15th, 1947. and Nawab of Hyderabad had not signed any document of accession to India. These states had been Since the subject of this seminar is on the forced to join India at gunpoint. Included in these three discrimination, I will not go much into the historical was the of Patiala of Punjab. This cannot side of the 'First Sovereign and Secular' nation of be called accession to India in any case. This is South Asia, i. e., the Sikh Raj or Punjab. the 'discrimination and racial discrimination' as being discussed under the racial discrimination. Between 1710 and 1799, the rule in Punjab was a period of 'hide and seek' between the Mughals and the Further, ladies and gentlemen, India is being referred Sikhs. The former ruled based on their might and the by President Obama of the United States, CNN and latter, the Sikhs ruled on the hearts of its people, BBC networks as incredible India, progressing power because they belonged to the people. Between these of South Asia, a peace-loving Indian democracy, hour

33 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© after hour in their international newscasts in Europe in states were given the name of a sovereign Pakistan particular and internationally in general India has under the leadership of Janab M A Jinnah and his been on the killing spree of the Muslims of the Indian- staunch supporters. The second sovereign nation that occupied Jammu and Kashmir area, also called the emerged was the ‘Brahmins-Hindus’ India, under Internationally Disputed Areas of Jammu and Kashmir Indian National Congress. The author has no (IDA:JK) since August 15th, 1947. The Sikhs of alternative but to say that a Brahmin by birth, raised in PUNJAB, since 1978 when 13 Sikhs were massacred a Khatri family and happened to be the Akali Party of by the Punjab and Indian law-enforcing forces, have Sikhs’ leader, a traitor of Sikhs ‘betrayed the Sikhs and been victims of the Indian terrorist administration. The they (Sikhs) lost on August 15th, 1947’ their 'Brahmins-Hindus administrations' have been engaged sovereignty of the Sikh nation. It was highly in the racial discrimination, massacres and genocides unfortunate for the ‘Sikh Nation, PUNJAB; because the in the IDA:JK and the Sikhs of Punjab, the Sikh nation “Sikhs’ struggle for Sovereignty, Independence and In fact, this discrimination is the 'order of the day' of political power has been progressing, by peaceful the 'Brahmins-Hindus' administrations, since August means, since March 14th, 1849.” This was the day 15th, 1947. when the ‘First Sovereign and Secular’ Sikh nation, Punjab, was lost to the British Empire’s forces. The In June 1984, all states were unaware as to what was struggle of the Sikhs for sovereignty and independence going on inhumanly in the Sikhs of Punjab, their is going on since March 14th, 1849 and will continue religious and political institutions. They were all until the Sikhs reclaim their sovereignty. unaware. Even the international community was virtually unaware with the peace-loving 'Brahmins- The figures of the minorities killed in India by the Hindus' administration's deeds. All means of 'Brahmins-Hindus' administrations, since August 15th, communications, road, rail, and air had been suspended 1947 are: in Punjab, round the clock curfew had been imposed, and an 'undeclared war' against the Sikh Nation, PUNJAB, had been waged in a brutal military MUSLIMS in general 500,000 "Operation Bluestar" of June (3-6), 1984. In three days the toll of war had been more than 150,000 innocent I DA:JK 5 00,000 Sikhs (infants, children, youth, male and female folks, elderly, etc.) killed indiscriminately. According to the SIKHS 3.4 million or 34-lakh information available from the public 'domain', more than 260,000 innocent people had deliberately been Chri stians 312,500 killed by the 'Brahmins-Hindus' armed, law-imposing, Tamils 15,000 and intelligence personnel at the order of the Chief, Assamese 12,000 Council of Ministers, New Delhi, since June 1st, 1984 8-sister of Assam hundreds of thousands to the day of this writing. This is the state's discrimination against the Sikhs and Muslims of D alits Tens of thousands Kashmir in particular, and other minorities in general. The Sikh cabinet ministers of the Punjab and New Based on the above statistics of massacres, fake- Delhi administrations kept their mouth sealed, simply encounter killings and genocide, the world is a silent to protect their cabinet births. spectator of the 'indiscrimination killings' of the minorities of the 'Brahmins-Hindus' Indian democracy. The question arises has such a 'discrimination' taken The Sikh Nation, PUNJAB, of the Sikhs has been made place in any other country practicing either the a 'landless nation', since the very day of August 15th, parliamentary or the presidential democracy in the 1947. Although the Sikh Nation, Punjab under history of our world? The answer to this question monarch Ranjit Singh, the British Empire’s time of would probably be ‘no’. “annexation” and until it was “robbed” by the ‘Brahmins-Hindus-Baniya leadership, had nothing to do with the ‘British India Empire’. Rather, the Ladies and gentlemen, Guru Baba Nanak Sahib had “annexed” Sikh Nation, Punjab, the First Sovereign given the definition of 'Brahmin' in his teachings and Secular Sikh nation had been “annexed” to the inscribed in the Sikhs' Holy Scripture Guru Granth British Empire. Its “annexation” was announced by Sahib ji: "Mathe Tikka Terrh Dhotti Kakhaii Hath Lord Dalhousie on March 29th, 1849 through a radio Chhurri Jagat Kasaii." What it means in the simple announcement from Rawalpindi, PUNJAB, now a twin English is the "Brahmin has painted his forehead, has city of Rawalpindi and Islamabad of the Islamic a white cloth around his waste and he is the 'Butcher Republic of Pakistan. Consequently, the “annexed” of our peaceful world'. In other words, ladies and Sikh Nation was the part of the British Empire on gentlemen, what was true in the 15th century is also August 15th, 1947; the time when nearly 600 princely true in our 21st century. Now the Brahmins and his

34 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Hindu followers have a 'Nuclear Bomb/arsenal' under Sabha/parliament, appointment of a Sikh as the Chief, his possession. For what? To destroy this world, or to Indian army, progress of Dalits as Madam Mayawati is destroy the minorities in the 'Brahmins-Hindus' the Chief Minister of the largest state of India, Uttar democracy. Pradesh, and personal meetings of the curious person asking to Sekhon that the present prime minister is The Brahmins-Hindus’ democracy alias alleged Indian widely respected in South India. This person, as democracy does not practice the very means of identified by the curious person was Ajit Singh, living democracy. It is falsifying democracy or a police in U K for the last 25-years and makes at least 3 or 4 state where more than 700,000 military personnel are visits to India in a year. He categorically said that kept in the IDA:JK and more than 400,000 in the Sikh Manmohan Sinh is virtually worshipped like God in Raj, Punjab. The latter was an “annexed” by the South India. Another person Madam Charanjit Kaur, British Empire. Except for the Mughals and British wife of Ajit Singh, said I am a retired Historian by Empire, no other but the Sikhs ruled in Punjab. Since profession. In her opinion, India is doing fine and it is a August 15th 1947, the Punjab is under Indian great democratic country as the BBC of the U K, and occupation, with some Sikh-looking or turbaned CNN and the President of the United States have been Brahmins-Hindus in ‘The Sikh Identity’ has/have been glorifying India daily. the head of the state or the Hindus as the Indian president’s agents as the Governor of the Punjab Listening attentively, Dr Sekhon answered the State. The Sikhs have no Constitutional rights since gentleman’s questions as follows: The gentleman the Sikh Raj, Punjab, was ‘robbed’ on August 15th, should know that whether it is parliamentary or 1947. This is a deliberate discrimination and gross presidential democracy like the United State, he must human rights violations of the Sikhs of Punjab by the know whether in the history of democratic countries, ‘Brahmins-Hindus’ and the turbaned ‘Brahmins- irrespective of the prime minister or president, they Hindus in ‘The Sikh Identity’, to exterminate them have to be elected by the electorates or be elected by using an ‘undeclared’ war in 1984. their ‘representatives’ as a ‘member of parliament’. Dr Sekhon further answered all questions point by point. In fact, India is sitting on the ‘tip of a volcano’, which Relating to Manmohan Sinh, who is never elected to could erupt at any time. Movements going on for India’s Lok Sabha/parliament, as a ‘Member of sovereignty in the IDA:JK, Punjab, Assam and its 8- Parliament’, from any electoral constituency of India, sister, Tamils, Christians, forcible conversion and as far as I would consider it, Mammohan Sinh is additional violations like torture, fake encounter, rapes, misleading the Indian and international community humiliation, dehumanization, political, religious rights, deliberately knowing that he has been sent to the Rajya and heavy handedness by the law-enforcing forces Sabha by the Andhra Pradesh’s college of legislative could destroy the so-called incredible democracy of our assembly, and what I would regard is that he is not world, called India. India which unable to feed its own working in accordance with the Indian Constitution. people, that is, more than 76% of its population (more Rather, he has been raping the country’s constitution as than 1.2 billion) goes to sleep hungry every night, well as its institution of democracy. The ‘Brahmins- seven days a week, 365 days a year since Hindus’ of the Indian parliament did not pass a resolution to offer their ‘apology.’ To do this formality, they had to use the services of a turbaned ‘Brahmin- August 15th, 1947. The field rats consumption is one Hindu’, Chief, Council of Ministers, for offering to the meal of the farm laborers working in sugarcane fields Sikhs of the Sikh Nation, PUNJAB, for in South India. India must stop its discrimination an ‘undeclared’ war in the name of a brutal military against the minorities, i. e., the Sikhs, Muslims, “Operation Bluestar” of June, 1984. The apology of Christians, Dalits, Tamils, Assamese and others. Manmohan Sinh was “rejected” out rightly by the Sikhs, the Sikhs of PUNJAB and the Sikh Diaspora. The third speaker spoke on the discrimination by India to her people on the problems of housing, education, Answering another question to Madam Charanjit Kaur, lack of sanitation where they live, and unemployment, a historian in the U K, asked that the Sikhs’ marriage is she finished her presentation within 10-minutes. solemnized by the ‘Sikh Marriage Act or Lavan in a Sikh religious institution. However, the ‘Brahmins- The Chair declared the session open for discussion, Hindus’ democracy issues a certificate that the questions and answers. There were several hands raised “Marriage has been solemnized by the Hindu rites.” to question Dr Sekhon. They were related mainly on What a lie! This is a direct reflection that the “Sikhs the progress of India in the last 64 plus years, have no Constitutional Rights in India.” constitutional rights, Chief, Council of Ministers, Manmohan Sinh’ remarkable guidance to India, without being an unelected Member of Lok

35 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

From the audience, a comment was made that it seems Chairman Wani clarified the situation with his remark some government person (s) is sitting and participating that any citizen could become the prime minister by in the discussion to distract the problems of the dalits being a member of parliament. However, the person and minorities. Laughter took place. has to be elected to the parliament, from an electoral constituency, within six months of his appointment to the office at the rank of cabinet minister or prime

minister.

*****

Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon’ Participation in a Seminar at the United Nations: Human Rights Council

Date: September 26th , 2011 sitting on the tip of volcano which may erupt at any time. The reason being the gross Human Rights Time: 13:00 – 15:00 Violations, particularly in the IDA:JK, followed by the Punjab of Sikhs, the ‘First Sovereign and th Room: XXII Secular’ nation of South Asia (1799 to March 14 , 1849). In fact, India did not exist on the world map and Palais des Nations, Geneva any dictionary and encyclopedia of the English language until March 29th, 1849. The word India was invented in England by the British Empire following Attendee: 58 the occupation of Punjab of Sikhs, between March 14th and 29th, 1849. To elaborate on the subject, I would Moderator: Sardar Amjad Yousaf, Executive Director, agree with the Chair that gross violation of human Kashmir Institute of International Relations rights takes place in order to humiliate and dehumanize women and children specifically, followed by their WOMEN AND CHILDREN RIGHTS male folk. In fact, the rights are vigorous violated by VIOLATIONS IN CONFLICT ZONE the Indian armed personnel, which in my own terminology is “The Brahmins-Hindus’ democracy SPEAKERS: Princess Micheline Makaou Sjouma, or alleged Indian democracy.” The high-caste The U N Office, Vienna, AUSTRIA Brahmins are notorious for the violations of human rights for centuries. Since August 15th, 1947, the 2. Jurist Altaf Hussain Wani, Kashmir Institute of Brahmins-Hindus armed forces have been doing this International Relations job on states' order of the imperial and colonist ‘Brahmins-Hindus’ democracy/democracy. 3. Professor Alfred Zayas, Human Rights Council and University of Geneva School of Diplomacy, In view of the highly limited time, I would like to draw SWITZERLAND the attention of the audience and the panelists that following the IDJK, the violations of human rights are 4. Ms Sadani Malainine, CORCAS NGO, MOROCCO at second highest in the Punjab, the Sikhs' holy and historic homeland, since 1978. This all is happening 5. Ms Luna D Orikat, Professor, University of Palestine under the vicious policies of the Brahmins-Hindus' fundamentalists administrations, which practice the policy of Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan alias 6. Ouattara Malvin Aboubakare, President of the NGO, the 'Hindutava', which means conversion of the non- (UVDTAB), Cote d’Ivoire Brahmins-Hindus to Hindus or exterminate and subjugate them at any cost. 7. Lawyer Syed Faiz Naqashbandi, Rep. WMC I am giving three examples of a family where a child, Human Rights violations in the Indian-occupied her mother and father had been victims of the Jammu and Kashmir, Internationally Disputed Areas genocidal policy of the Brahmins-Hindus in a brutal of Jammu and Kashmir (IDA:JK) since 1947; in military "Operation Bluestar" of June 1984 era, Morocco, Africa and all over the world were the generally known as an "undeclared" war and subject of this seminar. thereafter. An 8-month old female child of this family was dipped in the country (shaker) sugar syrup and Participating in the question period, Dr Awatar Singh made to sit on a colony of ants, in the burning heat of Sekhon of CHR&PA said that the South Asian the month of July. Her mother had been made to watch continent, including the Indian sub-continent al, is

36 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© this cruelty to her child. Fortunately, this child is well on the children and women's rights violations in now and is in her late teens. Her mother was asked to conflict zones in particular as well as the world remove her cloths. So did the mother's father, i. e., throughout. maternal grandfather. Both mother (daughter) and father were given the batons to beat each other, ***** otherwise, the law-enforcing personnel will do this job for them. What a cruelty of the Brahmins-Hindus' of A DVD of the mother's interview has been delivered to the Punjab and Indian police! the UN: Human Rights Commission in a briefing about 2006 or 2007 by myself. The girl's father, who has taken political asylum in the United States, was caught by the police before he fled These gross violations of the Human Rights of to the United States. During police custody, he was children, women, and their male folk of non-Brahmins- given electric shocks repeatedly, in particular to his Hindus are the order of the day in India alias the private parts. Brahmins-Hindus' democracy.

These three are out of those hundreds of thousands of Mr. Chairman, panelists and audience, I strongly human beings whose rights have had been violated and request that all these gross violations of human rights, the process continues. ir-regardless of 'Conflict zones or the democratic country, must stop immediately. My recommendations in this seminar to the panel and audience is to let us play our strong role to curb excess I thank you Sir, and ladies and gentlemen of this s

*****

UN HRC 18th Session (September 12-30, 2011)

General Debate

Agenda Item 4

Presented by: Awatar Singh Sekhon ensure the dominance of Brahmins (10%) over non- Brahmins (90%). Mr. President, The targets of the Hindutava are the Sikhs, Muslims, I have taken the floor to draw the attention of the Christians, Dalits and other non-Hindu groups. In the Council and International community for the growing view of Hindutava, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and extremism and militancy in India. Though an attempt foreigners, either leave the country or remain in India was made to separate politics from religion while without fundamental rights. The Dalits are out side the drafting the Indian Constitution. The constitution Vedic and cannot operate as Hindus. enshrined secularism has failed to improve situation of minorities. Mr. President

Periodic exploitation of religious and cultural The Indian civil society has been raising its concerns prejudices both by politicians and news media not only on the growing activities of extremist political groups. strengthen the erosion of secularism, but also facilitate A leaked diplomatic cable from New Delhi revealed the recurrences of periodic communal riots and that Rahul Gandhi feared the emergence of Hindu genocide. The situation has become more difficult for extremist groups to be a greater threat to India. minorities in the ever-growing Hindu extremism. The Government of India must play its due role to curb Mr. President, violent activities of the far-right political groups that continue to violate human rights of minorities in the The growing extremism is the brainchild of the country. The Government of India should outlaw all Hindutava, the factor of dissatisfaction. It is a those political parties, which use the agenda of hatred calculated scheme developed over the years along the and violence, in order to turn India into a theocratic lines of Nazism and Fascism of 1920s. The mission of state. I thank you, Mr. Chairmam. the Hindutava is to re-establish the supremacy of one segment of the society, i. e., the Brahmin caste. The ***** result would be to turn India into a theocracy and

37 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

AGENDA ITEM 9 (Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy)

General Debate

Presented by: Awatar Singh Sekhon 7th October, 2010, to RK Taghvan, Chair, Special Investigative Team, expressing her concern regarding My organization is concerned with the intimidation, the lack of protection to the Team of witnesses and apartheid, heavy-handedness and reprisals against victims. Setalvad also sent copies of her letters to the individuals and groups intend to cooperate or have OHCHR. been cooperating with the United Nations (UN), in the areas relating to Human Rights violations. On 20th January, 2011, Justices DK Jain, P Sathasivam and Aften Alam of the Supreme Court of A large number of cases against those cooperate with India, repraminded Setalvad for sending copies the UN have also been quoted in reports in India. Some OHCHR. On 17th February, 2011 Setalvad was again cases have also been reported to the Secretary General, allegedly issues with a verbal warning against writing Cooperation of the UN, its representatives and to OHCHR by the judges. The judiciary of India is mechanisms in human rights, presented by the Deputy highly politicized, Mr Chairman. High Commissioner on September 15th, 2011. Mr President The report, among others, also discusses the case Ms Teesta Sitalvad, Secretary, Organization of Citizens for My organization requests to the Council (UN:HRC) to Justice and Peace, a Bombay-based NGO, working for investigate all acts of intimidation, heavy-handedness, the rights of victims and survivors of the Gujarat apartheid, reprisal, etc., against the Government of genocide 2002-03.Ms Setalvad had failed in cases India and State governments and non-state actors relating to these genocide-related cases, pressing for against the victims. prosecution of the perpetrators. I thank you, Sir. Upon receiving threats from anoymous resources on the following case. Setalvad sent two letters on 5th and *****

38 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 39-43, 2011©

Dal Khalsa Alliance Suite 303 1700 Schttuck Avenue Berkeley, CA 94709 USA

Parmjit Singh Sekhon

President

E-mail: [email protected]

MEMORANDUM

The Hon N. Pillay

High Commissioner

United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, UN Human Rights Council

Palais des Nations, CH 1211 Geneva 10

SWITZERLAND

September 20th, 2011

Your Excellency Mrs. Pillay,

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND GENOCIDE IN PARTICULAR OF SIKHS IN THEIR HOLY AND HISTORICAL LAND, PUNJAB, AND THE NON-HINDU MINORITIES I IN GENERAL IN PREDOMINANTLY HINDU INDIA

We, the Sikhs of Switzerland, European countries and Sikh Affairs 15(2), 28, 2005 (Chief Guest Editor: AT North America, would like to apprise you, your Kerr) ISSN 1481-5435; Sekhon AS 2010 The Sikhs: Excellency, of human rights abuses of the Sikhs and Sovereignty To Slavery ISBN 978-0-9811360-8-0). other non-Hindu minorities in India which have taken Since the brutal military “Operation Bluestar” of June, place since August 15th, 1947. This was the day when 1984, more than 260,000 innocent Sikh infants, the British India authorities transferred political power children, youth, male and female folks have been to the ‘unelected’ Hindu leadership and left the non- slaughtered [Int J Sikh Affairs 10(2): 27-29, 2000 ISSN Hindu minorities, especially the Sikhs, at the mercy of 1481-5435; Sekhon AS 2000 Proc 8th Sikh Edu Conf, the majority, the Hindus. Since receiving political Toronto, ON, Sept 23; Walia AS Sudan TS 2001 power from the British Empire, despite the protest of Genesis of State Terrorism in Punjab. Released by the Sikhs at large and their leadership for not returning Justice A S Bains, [email protected]; July 14, their ‘First Sovereign and Secular’ Sikh nation of South 2001; Kumar RN et al.2003 Reduced To Ashes: The Asia, of a Sikh monarch, Ranjit Singh (1799-1849). Insurgency and Human Rights in Punjab ISBN 99933- The predominantly Hindu India has exterminated more 53-57-4 than 3.4 million Sikhs since August 15th, 1947; more ; Sekhon AS 2005 in Authentic Voices of 1995 The Sikhs in History ISBN 0-96475555-0-5; South Asia India’s Broken Promises & Suppression of Dilgeer HS and Sekhon AS 1992 The Sikhs’ Struggle Dalits (ed) U Khalid ISBN 0-9548929-0-9]. Likewise, for Sovereignty A Historical Perspective (ed) A T Kerr Hindu India has systematically killed other non-Hindu ISBN 0-9695964-1-3 University of Alberta P O, minorities (more than 500,000 Muslims; over 500,000 Edmonton, AB T6G 2S5, Canada; Sekhon AS Dilgeer Kashmiri Muslims of the Internationally Disputed HS 1999 A White Paper On Khalistan (A True Story) Areas of Jammu and Kashmir since occupation; more The Sikh Nation (ed) AT Kerr ISBN 0-9695964-8-0; than 312,500 Christians; hundreds of thousands of Sekhon AS Dilgeer HS 2002 India Kills the Sikhs, 3rd Dalits, adivaasis (aboriginals or Moolnivasi of India), Ed, ISBN 0-9695964-9-9; Sekhon AS 2005 India’s in numerous genocides, pogroms, massacres and staged Genocides of Sikhs, 1981-1991: History Revisited Int J encounters (25 Years After 1984 Assault on Durbar

39 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Sahib Laying Foundation of Khalistan (ed) Dr Awatar on behalf of their people or constituents of Punjab, Singh Sekhon, June 2009, ISBN 0-9548929-4-1, a were Sardar Hukam Singh, Sardar Bhupinder Singh publication of London Institute of South Asia). The Maan and Sirdar Kapur Singh, ICS, MP, MLA and the most recent examples of the state-sponsored programs National Professor of Sikhism. Since their 'rejection of are the killings of Sikhs in Chitisinghpora in Kashmir the Indian Constitution 1950', none of the Sikhs' in February, 2000; killings of 6 Sikhs in Kashmir in elected representatives has accepted/endorsed/signed February, 2001; beheading of a Sikh in Kashmir in the Indian Constitution implemented by the deceitful, March, 2001; destruction of 6 Mosques in Kanpur, U P, divisive, devious and apartheid practicing alleged and Bhilwara (Asind), Rajasthan Indian democracy of the 'Brahmins-Hindus'. It must be (http://www.indianexpress.com; 2001; The Hon Edolphus Towns, Member rights, the apartheid practicing alleged Indian of Congress (MC). Indian Government Found democracy has been ruling the 'Sikhs of Punjab Responsible for Burning Sikh Homes and Temple in (including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjabi- Kashmir. The US House of Representatives, June 27, speaking areas of Punjab/Sikh Nation/the Sikh Raj of 2001; The Hon Dan Burton, MC and Chairman, US Ranjit Singh) since August 15th, 1947? The Sikhs of House Government Committee. Indian Duplicity and Punjab's story does not end here. Rather it has been Hypocrisy Exposed, House of Representatives, 31st continuing, since the Sikh Nation has been under the July, 2001; The Hon Edolphus Towns, MC Indian 'slavery and Tight Control' of the oppressive and Minorities Seeking Their Own States. The US House suppressive alleged Indian democracy of the of Representatives, 107th Congress, July 11, 2001; The 'Brahmins-Hindus', who had been 'subservient' to the Hon Cynthia A McKinney, MC Self-Determination For Afghans, Mughals, Sikhs, British, Portuguese, etc., for Sikh Homeland Discussed on Capitol Hill, The US more than 3,500 years. House of Representatives, June 28, 2001); slaughtering of 16 Muslims by the police; burning of the Muslim Additionally, the excesses of the Indian forces can be holy scripture, The Quran Shariff, in New Delhi, summarized as follows: Patiala, and Amritsar, Punjab (March 24, 2000 . Delhi fired at a Sikh procession and killed four Sikhs, Addressing the House of Representatives, Congress of including the president of the Delhi Akali Party the United States, the Hon Edolphus Towns, Member [Sekhon AS and Dilgeer HS 1999, 2006 A White Paper of Congress, said on 28th March, 2006 “Sikh activists On Khalistan (A True Story) The Sikh Nation (ed) A T Kanwarpal Singh Dhami and Dr. Jagjit Singh Chohan Kerr ISBN 0-9695964-8-0]. Acting Mukh-Sewadar, or (now deceased) were arrested by the Indian Chief of Sahib, the Supreme Seat of the Government on charges of sedition. Their crime was to Sikh Polity, Amritsar, Singh Sahib Bhai Gurdev Singh th speak in support of a sovereign Sikh Nation, Khalistan. Kaunke, was abducted on December 20 , 1993 Dr. Chohan also flurried the Khalistan’s flag from his tortured, killed and his body dumped in a canal on rd residence. When did free speech become a crime in a January 3 , 1994. democracy? The Sikh homeland of Khalistan declared itself independent from India on October 7, 1987.” On On October 27, 1995 the Human Rights activist of the March 21st, 2006 in a press release, Dr Gurmit Singh Akali Dal (Badal), Sardar Jaswant Singh Khalra, was Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, killed at the Chhabal police station, Amritsar. His body Washington DC, said, “What kind of democracy was thrown into the Harike Canal. A police officer, A. watches people as they are demanding freedom? Why S. Sandhu (supposedly committed suicide), abducted a don't they watch the Black Cats who have killed Sikh religious leader, Charan Singh, tortured him and thousands of Sikhs under the protection of the Indian was made to dispose of his body. Earlier, the same government?'' police officer had abducted Charan Singh’s brother and his driver. The latter was killed by tying his legs to two We would like to bring to your attention that the Sikh jeeps, which were driven off in opposite directions. Nation, Punjab, the 'First Sovereign and Secular' nation of South Asia of monarch Ranjit Singh, 1799 to March A former Punjab administration headed by a corrupt 14th, 1849 was 'robbed' by the alleged Indian Sikh, Prakash Sinh Badal, attacked the Darbar Sahib democracy on August 15th, 1947. The Sikhs' Complex (mistakenly known as the constitutional rights, Sikh religion and Sikh traditions Complex) on February 7th, 1998 they desecrated its were 'swallowed' in the Indian Constitution 1950, sanctity and deposed, using his state powers. Badal Article 25. The very Constitution 1950 was 'rejected', forcibly removed the Senior Minister or Custodian of in the Indian parliament (Lok Sabha), in its draft and Akal Takht Sahib, the Supreme Seat of the Sikh Polity, final forms, in 1948, November 26th, 1949, 1950 and Bhai Ranjit Singh. The administration of Prakash Sinh more recently on September 6th, 1966. The Sikhs' Badal, has spent more than 20 million rupees for legal elected representatives who 'rejected' the Constitution, fees to protect the police officers who participated in the genocide of the Sikhs. Voted, under the

40 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Constitution of India, which has been ‘rejected by the Edolphus Towns, MC (Extensions of Remarks - Sikhs repeatedly’, out of the Punjab’s administration, February 27, 2001). Miscreants stormed a church and for his maneuvering, his collision (Badal and ransacked the premises while a spiritual meeting and associates’) with a party of the Hindu militants and prayers were in progress in Hyderabad, A P fundamentalists, the Brahtiya Janata Party (BJP), is (www.burningpunjab.com; March 24th, 2001). back as the Chief of the Punjab. Prakash Sinh Badal, is an agent of India’s Research and Analysis Wing A group of men killed their rape victim, a mother of (RAW; Gurtej Singh 2000 Chakarvyuh: Web of Indian seven, in the village of Singana. Then they gouged out Secularism ISBN 81-85815-14-3) and a staunch the eyes of two witnesses in India's lawless eastern turbaned Hindu in ‘The Sikh Identity’. Prakash Badal state of Bihar, the Press Trust of India reported has kept his lips ‘sealed’ when the Punjab Legislative Thursday (February 8, 2001; AFP). The rapists then Assembly debated the ‘Freedom of Press, news media used the woman's sickle to hack her to death. They then and the free speech recently attacked four laborers who witnessed the crime. (www.rozanaspokesman.com, March 8th-13th, 2008). The freedom of speech and expression are the Since 1998, Christian missionaries including one from fundamental human rights in any democracy. This is Australia (Father Graham Stains), his 8- & 10-yr-old the clear reflection of the democratic or ‘autocratic’ sons, and Roman Catholic nuns, have been killed, burnt nature of Mr. Badal. alive or raped by the Hindu fundamentalists. The burning, destruction and demolishing of the Houses of His administration and police personnel have been God of the non-Hindu minorities, the Sikh Gurdwaras, abusing the Indian Penal Code Article 188, against Dr Churches and Mosques, looting and desecrating of the Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke of Amritsar. These are a few holy and historical places of the non-Hindu minorities examples of the democracy of the New Delhi are the modus operandi of successive Indian administration’s (NDA) blessed administration of administrations and state-sponsored hoodlums (Hon Prakash Badal and his Akalis alliance with the BJP, in John T Doolittle, MC India Coalition Partner Threaten the Sikhs’ holy and historic Homeland of Sikhs, To Engulf Country In Violence, House of Punjab. Representatives, July 27, 2000, The US Congress; Hon Edolphus Towns, MC July 27, 2000. Christian On February 6, 2000, the death of a Dalit youth in Persecution in India, House of Representatives, The US police custody in Morinda, Ludhiana, was horrifying. Congress). He was killed in cold blood because he objected to the police’s drinking session at a public place. This Militant Hindu hoodlums in Uttarpara, West Bengal, incidence revived memories of the dark period in the attacked a train carrying Sikh pilgrims and the Sikh history of Punjab when countless innocent young men Holy scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib, in June, 2001. The were killed in false encounters, but police records Hindu hoodlums stoned the Sikh pilgrims, burned the turned them into ruthless terrorists. Holy Scriptures, and tried to set fire to the train (Press Release: Council of Khalistan. Train Attack Is Wake- A mother of six sons, Bibi Jaswant Kaur, lost her Up Call for Sikh Nation, June 27, husband in 1987. Three of her six sons succumbed to 2001< [email protected]>). In an affidavit filed on tuberculosis. The other three were abducted and killed August 28th, 2000, by Mr. Sartaj Singh, resident of by Punjab police. One of the three sons, Pragat Singh, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir (under the occupation of 23-yrs-old, was arrested in 1987 and kept in captivity Indian administration), Internationally Disputed areas for 14 months. After his release police raided his home by the United Nations, stated that he was tortured and on September 9th, 1988 and shot him dead. The eldest received painful psychological harassment by the son, Jagir Singh, 25-yrs-old, working as a volunteer in Indian police. The police personnel wanted him to a Taran Taran Gurdwara, was taken by the police and confess for things, which he never did. The police did not return. The youngest son, Mohinder Singh (20- personnel also wanted him to tell the whereabouts of yrs-old) was with the religious man, Baba Charan Neeta alias Ranjit Singh, a freedom fighter, Harbhajan Singh (see above). He was abducted by the police on Singh, Gian Singh and Joginder Singh, who are at June 14th, 1991 and died in police custody. Jaswant large. The police personnel wanted him to make a false Kaur has tried all possible avenues to get justice, but confession that ‘we all know one another’. has had no luck ([email protected]; March 20, 2001; post #4181; Miss Manorama of Manipur was gang raped by the men of the Assam Rifles and was thrown out of the http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/sikhyouth;). 2004. More recently (February 9th, 2005), a 12-year- old girl was allegedly raped by a constable of the force Even outside India, Sikhs are being harassed by the in central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, triggering Indian government and its allies, according to the Hon protests from women’s organizations. In a blatant violation of human rights, the district police today

41 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© tortured a Dalit youth to death after he refused to the Sikhs, Kashmiri Muslims, and other minorities accept his involvement in a theft case (Jalandhar, “India might as well be Nazi Germany” (Press Release: February 6’ tibruneindia.com). Council of Khalistan, Washington DC; June 27, 2001 < [email protected]>). Another Sikh, Devinder The World Kashmir Diaspora Alliance reports that Pal Singh Bhullar, is about to be put to death in India "since the Indian forces occupation, more than 195,000 for a crime even India admitted he didn't commit (Hon innocent Kashmiris have been killed; more than Edolphus Towns, MC. Proc House of Representatives, 500,000 have disappeared, and the latter have been Washington DC, March 18th, 2003). killed by the invader's troops or they have been languishing in Indian jails with no information to their Manmohan Sinh, the present Chief, Council of families. In the last three months, the death toll of the Ministers, a non-elected ‘Member of Parliament’ of ongoing Kashmiri unrest is 96. Another youth Yasir India, supposed to be an honest and clean person Rafiq Sheikh, a cousin of Jammu and Kashmir delivered his state address before the “World Liberation Front chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Conference on Human Rights Delegates in Vienna, succumbed to his injuries on late Wednesday night Austria, on June 24th (14 to 25th June), 1993. Then inflicted by the Indian personnel and kept in a New the Finance Minister of the PV Rao’s administration, Delhi hospital. Additionally, at least 10 persons were said that “ he being Sikh finds no abuses of Human injured by the alleged CRPF firing on protesters in Rights of Sikhs much less any minorities in India.” Sopur. For the last six days Kashmir is under curfew Another person, Shahabuddin, Manmohan Singh’s round the clock ([email protected], colleague of the Islamic faith, said the same of September 18th, 2010)." Muslims of India. Abuse of Human Rights in the Sikhs’ holy and historic Homeland, Punjab, Khalistan The above are only a few of the hundreds of thousands (under the Brahmins-Hindus autocracy’s occupation, of cases we would like to bring to your kind attention, has been taking place, since August 15th, 1947). your Excellency. We hereby request you to dispatch a Manmohan Singh’s statement was ‘refuted’ in the fact finding mission to India to assess in depth the strongest possible words by the human rights and crimes committed against humanity by armed and law- peace-loving citizens (delegates) of North America and enforcing agencies in ‘uniforms’. Bring the criminals elsewhere. before the International Court of Justice in the same way the U N has done to punish the criminals of the Your Excellency, following the execution of Rwanda and Serbia massacres in 2000; S. Milosevic of “Operation Bluestar” of June, 1984, an ‘undeclared’ Serbia in July 2001; the former Serb police chief, war on the Sikh Nation, Punjab, by the Indian armed Steven Todorovic, who pleaded guilty for torturing, forces, according to Sekhon (2009 ISBN 0-9548929-4- murdering and sexually assaulting Muslims and Croats 1). During “Operation Bluestar, June 1984”, every (National Post, August 1st, 2001 p A11); and Radislav village of the Sikhs’ holy and historic homeland, Krstic for the Srebrenica genocide of Muslims in 1995 Punjab, was turned into a “Concentration Camp;” (National Post, August 3, 2001, p A3). The UN tribunal ’Open air’ jails were established outside every village has taken a landmark decision recently to include “sex of Punjab. These jails were covered by barbed wires, in torture as a war crime” (National Post, February, 23, the heat of June – August months, when the usual 2001). Also, the UN Secretary-General (former), His temperatures in Punjab are 47 C or more. Under the Excellency Kofi Annan’s interview (Time, September supervision of the Indian armed personnel, these were 4th, 2000) will be welcomed by the justice-loving no less than the concentration camps of Adolf Hitler’s peoples of our civilized world that “those who commit times in the Nazi Germany. These ‘open air’ barbed crimes and those who watch as bystanders are equally wire concentration camps/jails were used to prison the responsible for the crime taking place.” What we have Sikhs indiscriminately regardless of gender and age. brought to your attention, your Excellency, is just the Sanitary facilities were virtually non-existent. This ‘tip of the iceberg’ of human rights abuses, religious reflects the treatment of Indira Gandhi and her persecution(s), rapes, humiliation, dehumanization and administration of the Brahmins autocracy to the Sikhs.” crimes committed by the state-sanctioned armed personnel of what our civilized world terms as the Bibi Manjit Kaur Dakha (1992): Manjit Kaur Dakha “largest democracy” in the world, India. A leading and her husband sought political asylum in the United magazine has pointed out “India is ruled by rascals.” States after being tortured by the Indian armed “Many Indians silently witness their country’s unlawful personnel. Mrs. Dakha, her father, and her 6-mo-old events. Several members of the ruling party’s youth daughter (Bhaghel Kaur) were tortured mercilessly, wing have in the past been charged with rapes and given repeated death threats, and her child was made to kidnapping. Officials respond that all parties have their sit on a colony of ants by the Central Reserve Police thugs. Politicians use thugs to capture polling booths Force (CRPF). The daughter and father were made to and stuff ballot boxes (The Economist, July 15th, 1995 beat each other with clubs. p. 26).” According to the Hon Dana Rohrabacher, for

42 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Sardar Surinder Singh Fauji (a retired army personnel), discovered (www.punjabspectrum.com, February 17th, of Fatehabad, Tehsil: Khadur Sahib of Amritsar district 2011). of Punjab, has been physically, mentally and psychologically tortured by Punjab police since May It is understood from highly reliable sources that the 27, 1986. Valuable household articles were stolen by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been the police personnel from his residence and never operating at least four deep pans of boiled oil to kill the returned. Despite his writing to the Prime Minister (PV Sikh youth in Amritsar in the post-undeclared war on Rao), Home Minister of India (SB Chawan), Chief the occupied Sikh Nation, under the consent of the then Justice, Supreme Court of India, Chief Justice, Punjab administration of India. and Haryana High court, and the Senior Session Judge, Amritsar, there was no relief from the police excesses. Recently, in the second week of February 2010, More than 35 Sikh youth, including Kanwarpal Singh the Punjab police killed 13 youth in Ludhina district of Bittu and Sarbjit Singh Ghuman of the Dal Khalsa, Punjab, while they were participating in the Birthday were in police custody. Similarly, Jagtaar Singh celebrations of Shaheed-Bilas Saint-soldier Jarnail Hawara, his wife and other family members are Singh Khalsa, Punjab’s political and religious leader humiliated (by putting cigarettes and tobacco in his (www.punjabspectrum.com, February 21, 2011). mouth), tortured and harassed by the Punjab and Delhi police (www.panthic.org July 17th, 2005). Another Sikh leader, Daljit Singh Bittu, President, Panch According to the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), the summons Pradhani, and thousands of Sikh youth are in jails, against Congress have been issued pursuant to a class action lawsuit filed (SFJ v. Congress (I) SDNY (10 CV without trials and crimes. 2940)) under Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) and A human rights lawyer and prominent Sikh nationalist Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA). The plaintiffs Harpal Singh Cheema, after spending eight years in a in the case against Congress (I) are "Sikhs For Justice" California jail, whom Judge Dana Keener determined (SFJ) a US based human rights group along with several Sikhs from different states and cities of India Singh did not pose a threat to national security. The rd Hon judge stopped short of granting him full asylum who survived attacks in November 1984 (March 3 , but forbade the then-INS from deporting the couple. 2011 posted by SFJ on many websites). Indeed, she noted that Singh “is widely perceived as a moderate and a voice for reason (Camille T Tairara, Reported recently (www.facebook.com, March 14th, Editor, New America Media, News Feature, Aug 07, 2011), a large number of Sikhs gathered in Gurudwara 2006). To escape atrocities and persecution during at Pandri Kattaiyyan 10 kms from Nanakmatt, Pilibhit custody of the Indian law-enforcing personnel until road and 15 kms from Sitarganj. The gurudwara was 1992, Mr. Cheema and his wife sought asylum in the locked but ransacked and the Holy Scripture of Sikhs, United States in1993 Guru Granth Sahib, was set on fire; whereas, two more (www.news.ncmonline.com/news/views_article.htmal? copies were torn off by sharp weapons. The majority of Mr. Cheema is separated from his wife and son. Both farmers in this area is the Sikhs, Musilms and Biharis mother and son are too scared to return to India. labourer.. A Muslim named Mehadi Hassan (MH) was caught stealing the motor from Gurudawara a couple of Recently, in the second week of February 2010, the days ago. He was handed over to Police. It is reported Punjab police killed 13 youth in Ludhina district of his involvement along with his some other Muslims, Punjab, while they were participating in the Birthday who attacked Gurudwara Sahib, burnt the Holy celebrations of Shaheed-Bilas Saint-soldier Jarnail Scripture and the cut the pages with sharp edged Singh Khalsa, Punjab’s political and religious leader of weapons. Temporary Granthi/custodian Narinder Singh the 20th century (www.rozananaspokesman.com). also hides the truth as he seems under pressure. It is understood that some Hindu fundamentalists and A mass Grave of Sikhs killed in November 1984 has miscreants are involved to incite MH and his associates been discovered after 26 years in village Hondh- to create animosity between the Sikh and Muslim Chillar, District Rewari, Haryana. communities of UP and Utrakhand. It has been done before by the Brahmins-Hindus personnel of the Indian The village was inhabited by several Sikh families. On Government in the occupied-Jammu and Kashmir November 2nd, 1984 in an organized and well planned during President William J Clinton’s state visit to attack the entire village was burnt along with the Sikh India. A few weeks earlier in August 2011 desecration population and Gurudwara. of Sikhs’ Holy Scripture took place in a town in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. The village consisting of torched houses, a burnt Gurudwara and scattered human bones have now been

43 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

We request you to bring to justice the deceased or Managing Editor and Editor in Chief living politicians of Indian administrations (Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Chandershekhar, P Chidambaram (now Home Minister of India; one of the International Journal of Sikh Affairs ISSN 1481-5435 members of a 3-men Team in the 'War Room' during an 'undeclared' war on the 'Landless Sikh Nation, EDMONTON, AB T5T 2B8 Punjab' in June, 1984). V P Sinh, Dev Gowda, P V Rao, A B Vajpayee and their cabinet colleagues, CANADA < [email protected]> including Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues responsible for the Gujarat Massacre of Muslims Advisor (Foreign Affairs), Dal Khalsa Alliance (February to November 2002), and/or appointees like HKL Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler, Arun Nehru, SD Sharma, Sikh Federation Swiss SS Ray, Boota Singh, LK Advani, GL Nanda, Surjit Barnala, Balwant Singh, Beant Singh, PD Singh, JS Signed by: Amarjit Singh Khalsa* Chohan (deceased), Surender Nath, Prakash Sinh Badal, GS Tohra, HS Longowal, Lalit Makan, to cite < [email protected]> but a few; police officers JF Rebeiro, KPS Gill (the Alla Singh Bhogal Butcher of Punjab), Sarbjit Singh, Sumedh Saini (Senior Superintendent Police), DR Bhatti for the Chairman, International Sikh Sabhiachar Society killings of Professor (Dr) Rajinder Pal Singh Gill (Bulara), Dr Gurnam Singh Buttar, Bhai Gurbhej Singh [email protected] of the Jalandhar district and others, Swarn Ghotna, Gobind Ram, AS Sandhu (declared deceased by the M. S. Randhawa Indian administration and associates. However, he is living under fake identity in Halifax, NS, Canada, as Senior Advisor, Council of Khalistan reported by ; published from Chandigarh, Punjab in May 2007), RS Washington, DC, USA Bhullar, Joginder Singh, Raghbir Singh, SS Virk; armed forces personnel like K Sunderji, AS Vaidya, Signed by: Gaganjit Singh* KS Brar, RS Dayal, JS Bhullar, Arjan Singh, JS Dal Khalsa of America [email protected] Jamwal, Tarlok Singh, Shamsher Singh, Gurdial Singh, and their subordinates (Report To The Nation: Ram Singh* Oppression in Punjab. Library of Congress Card No. 86-60058, January, 1986; Gurtej Singh 2000 President, American Gurdwara Council Ph: 1.408.667- Chakarvyuh: Web of Indian Secularism ISBN81- 3116 85815-14-3; Int J Sikh Affairs Vol 9, No. 1, 1999 ISSN 1481-5435; Sikh Shahadat, June 2005, p. 12-17). Karnail Singh Khalsa*

President, Gurmat Chetna Lahar of the United States of We look forward to hearing from you and hope for America Phone 1.510.557-9168 your prompt action on all crimes committed against humanity. Harmindar Singh*

With warmest regards and best wishes. President, Khalsa Jagriti Lahar of the United States of America

Respectfully submitted, Sukhwinder Singh, President, Sikh Sahit Sabha 510.277-7560 Parmjit Singh Sekhon,* President, Dal Khalsa Alliance Baljinder Singh, President, Sikh Sabhiachar Committee 510.774-5909 Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon * Denotes signed with the permission *****

44 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 45- 55, 2011©

NEWS, VIEWS, SHORT ARTICLES, ETC.

Sirdar Gurmit Singh Khalsa writes to the Rozana against such persons/ organizations. Like Ram Raheem Spokesman Gurmeet Sinh of Jhootha Sauda, this Ramdev has now expressed his wish to raise his own Armed Force like other Hindu Armies controlled by RSS, Shiv-Sena, I have gone through your Editorial at page 6 of Rozana Bajrang Dal, etc. It will be much appreciated if before Spokesman Friday, June 10th, 2011 regarding August 15th, 2011 all Tax exemptions and other various disproportionate properties acquired by Yogi Ramdev, concessions are withdrawn in respect of Yogi Ramdev, Radhasoamis and other sant-babas. Radha-soamies, Ram Raheem Gurmeet Sinh Dera, If Dr. Manmohan Singh, the current Prime Minister of Nirankaries, Naam Dharies, Sant-babas and various India is said to be very honest, then it is not clear why other cults/sects/ religious organizations. Also the he has not taken any initiative to curb the black/dirty Govt. should forfeit their properties. At most, such money, corruption, illegally Trusts and Organizations should only be given Tax acquired vast properties and disproportionate assets concessions up to the sum of Rs.12 Lakhs per annum under the guise of various Charitable i.e. one lakh per month. Similarly, they should not have Trusts/Schools/Hospitals, etc? more than One Acre of land and if more, it should be subject to normal Taxes as borne by other persons or industries. Once again I am thankful to you Look at the result of such nuisance. Central and State for raising such issues. Governments have miserably failed to take any action *****

SIKH RAJ, PUNJAB, OF A SIKH MONARCH RANJIT SINGH, 1799 – March 14th, 1849 WAS THE WORLD'S LARGEST FIRE POWER

By

Brig. Shamshul Haq QAZI

This is with regard to Head Granthi Harnam Singh The Sikh Raj of a Sikh monarch Ranjit Singh was ji, of Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Delhi, while brought to its end, because of the stupidity of the Hindu addressing to the Sikh Nation and the International Dogras. Even Lord Dalhousie, the British Empire's Sikhs (Monitored in Canada 08:00 to 09:10 hrs MST, agent, had instructed his confidential person, his own June 29th, 2011), on the Sikh Monarch (Maharaja) son, that the British Empire is bound to lose its battle in Ranjit Singh, who ruled over PUNJAB, established it a next few hours against the Sikh Raj's forces, and all as the Sikh Raj, was the world's largest 'fire power' in the confidential papers of the British Empire be the world. Even the 'British Generals acknowledged destroyed. Unfortunately, the Hindu Dogras made Sikh that the British Empire did not have superior fire power Raj's forces to a 'defeat' in two hours' time (see the than what the Sikh Raj of Maharaja Ranjit Singh had article published in one of the issue of Panth Prakash (Gun and Political Developments in the Sub Continent in PUNJABI, Gurmukhi, published in the late 1980s From Medieval Times To End of Native States And or early 1990s. Panth Prakash is the publication of Establishment of British Rule 1849 by Brig Shamshul the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee, Haq Qazi 2004 Press Pakistan ISBN 969-8563-14-8; Amritsar). later quoted in the International Journal of Sikh Affairs ISSN 1481-5435 thereafter by the Editor in It must be noted, as the Editor in Chief, of Chief of the journal). Giani Harnaam Singh ji gave a the International Journal of Sikh Affairs ISSN 1481- historical quotation of the Sikh History, which had 5435 views it, that a 'Sovereign and Secular Sikh Raj been an examples in itself. The example which cannot of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's be found in the history of any empire. The 'First state/nation/empire will never be found in Secular and Sovereign' nation of South Asia had been the History of Mankind. The Sikh monarch was not an example in itself. The Sikhs, Muslims, Christians only the ruler of a Sovereign and Secular Sikh State, and non-Sikhs had been equal partners of the 'First but he was a sewak/servantof the 'House of Guru Sovereign and Secular Nation' of South Asia. Baba Nanak Sahib' and a perfect example of a human, poor or rich. It is because of the "Sovereignty and Secular" nationhood of the Sikhs, that the Sikhs

45 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© have been "Struggling To Regain Their Lost have nots, irrespective of creed, colour, religion, etc." Sovereignty, Independence and Political power by It must be noted that the Sikhs are the world's 6th following the teachings of Sikh Guru Sahibaans, largest religion; whereas, the Hindus and their -ism inscribed in Guru Granth Sahib ji, the Sikh Way of are 'neither a religion nor a culture. Life, The Sikh Traditions and Sarbat da Bhala or Wellness of all humanbeing; poor, rich, haves and Posted by: Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon, Ph D, FIBA, RM (CCM)

June 29th, 2011 *****

Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon Responds To Janab Sohail Siddiqi

Piare Sohail Sahib ji,

Aslaam O Alaikum!

Your question is very valid, especially in view of the responsibility of the Indian Constitution Article 14, the following: life of every citizen has to be protected, but the Gujarat administration headed by N. Modi and the President of 1. There were not only 2,000 Muslims of the Gujarat India, rendered the Article 14 ineffective." This was state that were mercilessly killed by the blessings of the not the first time when the Article 14 of Indian Modi administration in Gujarat. But Constitution was rendered ineffective deliberately by Narender Modi has the blessings of a criminal prime the administration(s). Pre-2002-2003 examples are minister of the 'Brahmins-Hindus-Baniya' Bhopal, Sikhs' PUNJAB (Sikh Nation), Delhi, etc., in democracy/demoncracy of what the international news 1950s and 1980s. media term it the 'progressing democracy of India'. I had questioned several times the international news 3. The Muslims killed mercilessly in the pre-planned media, “that how would you call in the progressive Pogrom/genocide were as high as 15,000 innocents. when about 7-8 years ago, you people (the news media) used to call India a 'Poverty ridden' democracy?” Has 4. Shushma Swaraj went to the All India Radio, Delhi, anything changed in your position when August 15th, to "Block the news of the Muslim genocide/pogroms 1947 - to this day of writing, more than 70% of a total in Gujarat; unfortunately, the Newscast took place of 1.2 billion population go to sleep hungry? "No almost one-half hour before her arrival at the AIR news reply to my question" desk.

2. According to the Honorable Mr. Justice Qadri of the Best wishes and warm regards. Gujarat High Court, Justice Qadri said: "It is the *****

Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon Responds to Sirdar Gurmit Singh Khalsa, Australia

Piare Vade Bhai Sahib ji, Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Analysis Wing and one of the characters involved in an 'undeclared' war on the Sikh Nation, PUNJAB in Waheguru ji ki Fateh! the form of a brutal military "Operation Bluestar" of June, 1984 (under the occupation of the Brahmins- Bhai Sahib Panthpreet Singh ji described the matter Hindus' democracy/democracy since August 15th, in 'Two words", which we would say in a paragraph or 1947). The 'undeclared' war took a toll of more than two. Our profound thanks to Bhai Sahib ji, because the 260,000 innocent Sikhs. big pracharaks, so to speak, of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhal Committee (SGPC) and/or the We offer our CONGRATULATIONS to Bhai Sahib Akali Dal-Badal Private Limited Incorporation will not Panthpreet Singh ji. May Waheguru ji bless him dare to open their mouths, because they are afraid of and do his duties for the 'House of Guru Baba their master, Hanera (Darkness/Prakash) Sinh Badal Nanak Sahib ji alias Guru Khalsa Panth' and the and gang. The latter is an agent of the Research and

46 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Sikh Nation, PUNJAB; the Holy and Historic Please convey our best wishes and warmest regards to Homeland of Sikhs. Bhai Sahib Panthpreet Singh ji and like minded brothers and sisters of the Guru Khalsa Panth. Best wishes and warmest regards. *****

India Using Rape As A Weapon of Occupation: George Galloway

UN:HRC. June 9, 2011. British parliamentarian George involved in some of the situations where the will of the Galloway a veteran campaigner on Kashmir spoke to people has prevailed, as well as persons involved in the seminar at the UN in Geneva, entitled, “Defending situations where the will of the people has been the Democratic Processes.” The seminar was a parallel frustrated. activity, organized by International Educational Galloway sketched the role of "Perfidious Albion" the Development and co-sponsored by IIFSO, IHRAAM British Empire in the creation of the Kashmiri suffering and WMC. The seminar presented the views of persons and compared it to the situation in Palestine, another British crime. ***** Indian army involved in extra-judicial killings in Kashmir: WikiLeaks

Karachi—The latest leaked cables by the WikiLeaks of Abdur Rahman Padder, a Kashmiri carpenter. Press reveals that Indian army tried to link Kashmiris with reports say the carpenter was arrested on December 8th Pakistan after killing them in 2007. and killed in a fake encounter staged by the Special Operations Group of the J&K Police. The police A WikiLeaks cable reveals that Kashmiris were in a officers then announced to the press that he was a state of anguish and grief over extra-judicial killings Lashkar-i-Taiba terrorist from Multan, Pakistan, during 2007. The Indian army labeled the victims as claiming they had recovered an AK-47 rifle, three Pakistanis after killing them. magazines, 36 rounds of ammunition, and a grenade In a recently leaked cable, the website said that a from his body. Kashmiri carpenter, who was killed in 2007, was Police investigators later uncovered the killing because labeled as a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba and a resident an officer involved in the incident gave the victim’s of Multan. cell phone to a “surrendered” former terrorist as a reward for information. Investigators say the police The cable (ID 95785) issued on 2/8/2007 issued from were motivated by a desire for the recognition and the US embassy in New Delhi stated that Srinagar was rewards doled out to officers who arrest or kill a once again gripped with protests on February 7th, as suspected terrorist and that the weapons were likely police officials announced that they had dug up five planted on the victim. The Police have now widened unmarked graves in an ongoing investigation of the investigation, digging up four more unmarked custodial killings. graves of terrorist suspects killed in similar encounters Our interlocutors say Prime Minister Singh is to see if their DNA matches those of other Kashmiri influencing the investigations as a confidence building civilians who recently went missing. Press reports say measure with Islamabad by urging security forces and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal Hans the judiciary to address longstanding accusations that Raj — who has a particularly brutal reputation for Indian police and security officials have tortured, encounter killings — as well as his Deputy and the two killed, and disappeared thousands of Kashmiri civilians junior officers directly implicated in the case are being in the course of the 17 year long insurgency. While held in police custody during the pending investigation. staged encounters and extrajudicial killings are by no means uncommon in India, the case has also prompted Ravi Nair explained further that the Prime Minister had clashes in the J&K General Assembly between ruling launched a policy to end the “scorched earth” method coalition leaders Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, of of putting down the insurgency in Kashmir, and that the Congress Party, and former Chief Minister Mufti this was a key confidence building measure India was Muhammad Said’s daughter, Mehbooba, of the putting in place in talks with Pakistan. He said there People’s Democratic Party. has been a reexamination of the way India deals with advantage over China, internal army corruption, Widespread protests began in Srinagar on January 28th distrust of Pakistan and a desire to keep hold of after the GOI began an inquiry into the custodial death advantageous territory that thousands of Indian soldiers have died protecting.

47 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

The cable stated that every time India and Pakistan ***** came “very close” to an agreement on the Siachen issue, the prime minister of the day would be forced to K Singh on Professor Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar back out by the Indian defense establishment, the (on death row) Congress Party hard-line and opposition leaders. Jaswinder Singh aka, Brahmin Bacha of the RAW When the 2006 India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary talks agent, aka Banglorey Babu also, claims to be a Sikh of set up a joint mechanism for discussing counter- the ‘House of Guru Baba Nanak Sahib’, is like a dog terrorism issues ended with rumors that Pakistan had who is happy in serving his Brahmins-Hindus masters. made a concession on Siachen, observers had said that He does his job of barking and biting anyone else, as the prime minister will be significantly constrained in his owner is a cruel creature and keeping it barely any part of his agenda with Pakistan in the coming under control. It is indeed a strange world. This dog months, especially in the face of significant opposition was asleep for a while and now has woken up again. from within his own party and an emboldened BJP that He is definitely related to someone named Mandy B. viewed the joint mechanism as an opportunity to Unfortunately his Hindus-Brahmins masters have not portray the Congress Party as soft on terrorism.—AP used a stick to control him; otherwise, he would change his tune completely a well known Manmohan Sinh K. *****

Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon Writes to the Secretary General of the Rifah Party, Janab Usman Khalid

Janab Usman Khalid ji, Director (Former), London Baba Nanak Sahib whom the Awam of the Islamic Institute of South Asia Republic of Pakistan, especially the Punjab of Pakistan respect far more than the Sikhs living under the Secretary-General 'Slavery of the Brahmins-Hindus', since August 15th, 1947. This was the day when the Sikhs of the First The Rifah Party, Islamic Republic of Pakistan Sovereign and Secular Nation, Sikh Raj of Punjab, of a Sikh monarch Ranjit Singh, 1799 to August 14th, 1947, UNITED KINGDOM was 'swallowed', because of the stupidity of Master Tara Sinh and colleagues, deliberately by the Piare Vade Bhai Sahib ji (My dear older brother), Brahmins-Hindus, the 'unelected' Brahmins-Baniyas' Congress Party. On October 10th, 1947 the Sikhs were Aslaam O Alaikum! termed as a community of 'Lawless people and dangerous to the law-abiding Brahmins-Hindus'. The This is in reply to your Open Letter to various Sikhs have been "Struggling To Regain Their websites, brothers, sisters, elderly and youth who have Sovereignty, Independence and Political power, since the interests of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan at March 14th, 1849 and their Struggle to Regain Their his/her heart and recommending the "Dismissal of the Sovereignty will Continue until the Sikhs of Punjab Fifth Column Ambassador (Mr Hussain Haqani) and attain their goal." the Minister of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr Rehman Malik."I fully agree with your My older brother, Janab Usman Khalid, with the order recommendation and decision to take steps by the of the Khudawand Bakhshinda, has formed The Awam of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Sovereignty Rifah Party of Pakistan and to guide the Awam of of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and to preserve the Pakistan, with his visions, against the evil forces who vision of the Father of Pakistan, Janab M A Jinnah. I are anti-Pakistan. These forces broadly are four: am proud of your decisions and recommendations. May Brahmins-Hindus of the Brahmins' the Khudawand Bakhshinda bless you with best of your demoncracy/democracy (2.5% and 7.5%, Brahmins and health, happiness and your vision for the 'Sovereignty Hindus, respectively (Dalit Voice 30, 2011) out of a of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan'. total of over 1.2 billion population of India). India had been licking the boots of the defunct state of the USSR Your younger brother, the writer of this letter, is a Sikh in 1970-1980s), and now the United States and maybe who belongs to the House of Guru Nanak Sahib and Israel have been promoting the 'Brahmins-Hindus' you, my older brother, Janab Usman Khalid ji, to the democracy as a 'progressing state' of South Asia. I Islam. We both have common interests to work on our question those who call India a progressing state, common goals. where more than 76% population of people go to sleep hungry 7 days a week, 365 days in a year. Who My goal, as you know is to inform the Sikh world, to would call India a progressive/progressing save themselves from the 'Brahmins-Hindus, who are democracy? Does the world witness everyday on the the 'Butchers of this peaceful world, according to Guru

48 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

television what kind of democracy or criminal state demoncracy/Democracy/autocracy. The real problem is India is? one only. That is the "Sikhs Struggle for Sovereignty, Independence and Political Power, going on since My dear older brother, the Khudawand Bakhshinda has March 14th, 1849 peacefully by following the teachings brought you out from many situations. For what? of Guru Baba Nanak Sahib To Sahib Guru Gobind Simply to provide alternatives (political) for the ills Singh ji; Guru Granth Sahib ji, The Sikh Way of Life which have been happening in the great country of and the Sikh Traditions.” You cannot hide very long as Pakistan. These ills are anti-Pakistan people appointed to what you are up to! Since June 9th, 2011 your in the foreign service of Pakistan. I am glad you have position has come amply clear. You are all by yourself brought these people in the lime light, i. e., Hussain and self-interests, just like the Sikh Nation traitors like Haqqani, maybe his wife as well, if my reading of the Master Tara Sinh, Gurcharan Tohra, Harchand world affairs is correct; along with the people of the Longowal. You are not like those Sikh Bibis, who said Government of Pakistan. These people are Mr 10-25% to their husband(s), "Come on, you have left Guru Zardari, his colleagues like the Wazir-e-Azam (too Gobind Singh ji in the battlefield and come home. Now weak a character for the office), Rehman sit in the home and look after the Home work, I (we) Malik, Foreign Minister and others, who cannot stand am/are going to join our Guru in the battlefield and the pressure of external nations. If they cannot bear the fight under the direction of Sahib Guru Gobind Singh heat of the kitchen, then they have no right to stay in ji." Second, you, Bibi Harshinder Kaur ji, are like those kitchen even 1/10th of a second. "Khalistanis, who lack the 'Road Map' of Khalistan and tell the Guru-di-Sangat from our Gurdwaras' podium Indeed, the Sikhs have their incompetents and hungry 'Khalsa ji, Tuhaada Daftar Band Ho Giya Hai, Maya 'Brahmins-Hindus' in the garb of The Sikhs, like Mastani Ho Gayi Hai, te Maya Diyo, and raise FIVE Hanera (Prakash/Darkness) Sing Badal, Manmohan slogans of Khalistan Zindabad'. This is their Khalistan, Sinh and many or thousands like them. They are the NOT of the Guru Khalsa Panth. 'Frankestein of the Sikhs', i. e., KP Gill, Mr Virk, S Dhindsa, etc. Yes, we both, in the PUNJABS of August Third, what is the Hindus' BINDI is doing on your 14/15th, 1947 have common problems. We have to get forehead? You must have been standing with rid of our problems. The Sikhs have to be Amritdhari/initiated Sikhs of the Gurdwara 'sovereign', if they want to survive and this is the Committees. Did anyone tell you, you are following the bottom line. 'Hindus' ritual? That's what you are going to teach your children that you share your traditions with the Hindus- The Awam of Pakistan and its protectors of the Brahmins (means Chor, dakku, dacoits, lutere means political boundaries are other institutions. They all have Thieves, Dacoits, Scoundrels, etc.). You cannot fool to realize how to remain as a 'sovereign' country. The the Guru Khalsa Panth. Have you looked at the lives of sovereignty, brought by the Father of Pakistan, Janab Darshan Singh Pheruman, Shaheed-Bilas saint-soldier MA Jinnah. Not only that, they have to give moral Jarnail Singh Khalsa, Bhai Shahbeg Singh, Bhai Amrik support to the Internationally Disputed Areas of Jammu Singh, Baba Thara Singh, Bibi Upkar Kaur and more and Kashmir, where more than 500,000 innocent than 260,000 innocent Sikhs, who were killed by the Kashmiris have lost their life to the 'Frankenstein Brahmins-Hindus colonialism, since June 1st, 1984. Monster of the Brahmins-Hindus'. Fourth, should you think that by raising the issue of Finally, I wish you the very best. May the Khudawand 'Infanticides (females in particular) has done any keep you in best of your health, cheerful, fight against service to the Guru Khalsa Panth, then you are no less the evil forces, and to provide your guidance to the than Sikh Nation's traitors Master Tara Sinh and his great people of Pakistan and your near and dear. joe-boys.

***** May Waheguru ji bless you and show the path of 'Truth'. Do not say of the PUNJAB, as we all know. Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon’s Open Letter to Dr For us, the Sikhs, our Sovereignty is far dearer than the Harshinder Kaur of Patiala 'slavery of Brahmins-Hindus'. Bibiji (Dr Harshinder Kaur ji) ***** Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh! Bhai Panthpreet Singh on Professor Devinder Pal The whole world will read this message. Please Do Not Singh Bhullar’ stand behind infanticide (Bhrunn Hatya). Come out Respected Sikh Cyber Members, clearly, what you are up to? Your program is ‘one’ out of the thousands in the Sikh Nation, PUNJAB (under Although The Sikh Diaspora cannot interfere in such the occupation of the Brahmins-Hindus' matters, after listening to the views of two Hindus, it is

49 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

evident that they are deadly against the Muslims and the Ministry of Information, the New Delhi Sikhs. It shows that different Laws are used depending administration (NDA) to not only malign and carry out on whether a victim belongs to the majority Hindus or anti-Pakistan propaganda in particular, using air and to the minority groups in India. The Sikhs in India have newspaper avenues and state-controlled agencies, but been paying for the betrayal by the Sikh Leaders during to do the same against the non-Brahmins-Hindus 1946-1947. minorities in particular as well. And I have no doubt in my perceptions that the Pakistan's post-Janab MA Gurmit Singh Jinnah administrations knew that what is the official policy against non-Brahmins-Hindus, especially ***** Pakistan as far as the foreign policy of the Brahmins- Hindus demoncracy/democracy was concerned. Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon responds to Sirdar Gurmit Further, there seems to be no shadow of doubt that no Singh Australia: one else has understood the vicious Brahmins-Hindus' Piare Vade Bhai Sahib ji, Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, ulterior motives than Janab MA Jinnah, the Father of Waheguru ji ki Fateh! Pakistan. What I am writing is that it is the 'Brahmins- Hindus' policy of more than 63-years that "there must Bhai Sahib Panthpreet Singh ji described the matter be no concessions as far as the Muslims of Pakistan in in 'Two words", which we would say in a paragraph or particular and the Sikhs and other non-Brahmins- two. Our profound thanks to Bhai Sahib ji, because the Hindus of their demoncracy/democracy is concerned. big pracharaks, so to speak, of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhal Committee (SGPC) and/or the Piare Bhai Sahib Dr Haq ji, when the Brahmins- Akali Dal-Badal Private Limited Incorporation will not Hindus' democracy waged 'three wars' on Pakistan, dare to open their mouths, because they are afraid of using mainly the Sikhs against the Sikhs of PUNJAB, their master, Hanera (Darkness/Prakash) Sinh Badal Muslims and Assamese and its 7-sisters, did they learn and gang. The latter is an agent of the Research and any lesson from the Foreign policy of the Brahmins- Analysis Wing and one of the characters involved in Hindus' democracy? It is highly unfortunate and an 'undeclared' war on the Sikh Nation, PUNJAB in absolutely regrettable that the Sikhs of their Holy and the form of a brutal military "Operation Bluestar" of Historic Homeland, PUNJAB (under the Brahmins- June, 1984 (under the occupation of the Brahmins- Hindus occupation, since 1947) have not learned any Hindus' demoncracy/democracy since August 15th, lesson at all, for their safeguards. I can understand that 1947). The 'undeclared' war took a toll of more than Master Tara Singh (a Brahmin by birth, raised in a 260,000 innocent Sikhs. Hindu family and became parasite on the Sikh Nation, PUNJAB'S Akali Party betrayed the Sikh Nation) We offer our CONGRATULATIONS to Bhai Sahib proved traitor of the Sikhs and his follower Akalis left Panthpreet Singh ji. May Waheguru ji bless him no stone unturned for the "destruction" of the House of and do his duties for the 'House of Guru Baba Guru Baba Nanak Sahib. There is nothing hidden from Nanak Sahib ji alias Guru Khalsa Panth' and the you and the great people of Pakistan on the Sikhs' Sikh Nation, PUNJAB; the Holy and Historic condition since 1978 era and since the era of Homeland of Sikhs. an 'undeclared' war on the Sikhs' Holy and Historic Homeland, PUNJAB, in a brutal military "Operation Please convey our best wishes and warmest regards to Bluestar" of June 1984 and thereafter. The Sikh Bhai Sahib Panthpreet Singh ji and like minded Nation, PUNJAB was a 'Concentration Camp' in brothers and sisters of the Guru Khalsa Panth. 1984. You also know that there have been 'big heads' or politically impotent Sikhs (religious and political, Best wishes and warmest regards. if they are politicians), who have been destroying their PUNJAB, as sycophants, bootlickers and Zee- ***** hazooriyes, jathedars/band leaders of the Brahmins- Hindus of the Congress, BJP and other non-Sikh Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon writes to Professor (Dr) political parties. Anwaar Haq From the above, there was plenty to learn if there Piare Bhai Sahib Professor (Dr) Anwaar Haq ji, have/had been 'Statesman and politicians' like Janab MA Jinnah, Dr (Sir) Mohd Iqbal and likewise. I still Aslaam O Alaikum! think without any doubt in my perceptions and thinking that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan lacks any brain Ever since I was a grade 5 student, when the deceitful power and/or professional power. However, until the (late) JL Nehru and clique had just taken over, it was Islamic State of Pakistan is led (political leader(s), like the 'Brahmins-Hindus' alleged Indian administration's 10- 25%, Rehman Malik, Begum BB (who used to meet official policy and propaganda of the enemies of Pakistan at the Nations of nations along

50 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© her husband, when two cats have to rely on a [political_analysts] Indian right-wing groups 'monkey(ies)' for justice or as a power broker, then making bombs, killing people: Chidambaram what can you expect, Bhai Sahib Janan (Dr) Anwaar (Home Minister of the Brahmins-Hindus Haq and my other brothers? demoncracy/democracy alias alleged Indian democracy) Please tell or issue an 'Appeal' to 'NEVER' criticize the professional personnel, until the derailed NOTE: Chidambaram is one of three members of a 'leadership' is put back on the tracks. team appointed by the Indira Gandhi administration in an 'undeclared' war waged on the Sikh Nation, Assess the Sikh Nation's situation and tighten the PUNJAB of the Sikhs, in the form of a brutal military political borders of the Islamic Republic of "Operation Bluestar" of June 1984. The war against Pakistan. Your professional personnel are far more the Sikhs of PUNJAB took a toll of more than 260,000 capable that the stupid agents of the Brahmins- innocent Sikhs (infants, children, male and female folks Hindus' Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). It is and elderly); comments Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon my suggestion to my brother Dr Haq and the great (Machaki), Spokesperson, Dal Khalsa Alliance of the Awam of Pakistan to look at what has happened in United States. the Lok Sabha in the month of February 2011 and think of the professionals and politicians of the 'Brahmins- ***** Hindus' democracy. Do not forget, there is more than 70% population of the Brahmins-Hindus democracy, which sleep hungry every night for 365 The Brahmins-Hindus' democracy & non-Brahmin- days of the year. This is the 'progress/regression of Hindu minorities are at crossroads - says Dr Awatar the Brahmins-Hindus' demoncracy/democracy. Singh Sekhon of CANADA

The Awam and my brothers of Pakistan have to have a ***** 'STRONG & VISIONFUL' leader to look after his/her people. Saffron Terror behind Mumbai Blasts

Best wishes and warmest regards. Muslims strongly condemn the dastardly[fabricated?] Mumbai blasts. ***** Indian right-wing groups The right wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad organization was formed in 1964 by Swami Chinmayananda as Making bombs, president and former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member S.S. Apte as general secretary, killing people: Chidambaram with Master Tara Singhas one of the co-founders.[2] It was first mooted at a conference in Pawai, Sandipani th [Bismillahnews.in-14-07-11-Updated-25-07-11 New Sadhanalaya, Mumbai on August 29 , 1964. The Delhi-Sohail Siddiqui] The Newspapers run by RSS conference was hosted by RSS sarsanghchalak are pinpointing after the Mumbai triple serial blasts that M.S. Golwalkar. The date coincided with the festival Indian Mujahideen has a stamp on it. The other of Janmashtami. Several representatives from propaganda by them is that Gujarati’s have been the the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain faiths were present target in these blasts. This propaganda has gone to the in the meeting, as well as the Dalai Lama. Golwalkar extent that a former BJP MP and ex- Governor of West explained that "all faiths of Indian origins need to Bengal Viren J Shah was quoted by the RSS unite", saying that the word "Hindu" (i.e. people of propaganda mill to justify this communal propaganda "Hindustan") applied to adherents of all the above directed against Muslims.The Umbical cord of religions.[3] Aptly declared: Hindutava terrorists is linked to Mosad and The world has been divided to Christian, Islam and CIA,i.e.the Zionists.In a brazen support of Anti- Communist. All of them view Hindu society as very Muslim propaganda, Economic Times writes" fine rich food on which to feast and fatten themselves. Hyderabad has a good penetration of home-grown It is necessary in this age of conflict to think of and Islamic terror organize the Hindu world to save it from the evils of all outfits."http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/poli the three…. tics/nation/mumbai-terror-attacks-telangana-inaction- triggered-serial-blasts-claims-e- ***** mail/articleshow/9240616.cms.Times of India the largest circulated Newspaper in India,along with,DNA ,Rediffnews,Indian Express,HT and IBN7 Channel almost the entire English press is

51 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© circulating half truths.[ Mumbai blasts suspect may The VHP in UP has already picked the issue and be in Bangladesh ]The government and press council of given it an anti-Muslim colour in a demonstration India must warn them with punishment to cancel their held on Thursday in Allahabad. [Mumbai blasts: RNI registration. [Indian media and the recent Mumbai Blind rush among probe agencies to nab “Muslims”] attacks ] ['Mumbai blasts suspect stayed in Hyderabad'] [Blasts spell nightmare for former members of [Convenient fall guys or homegrown terrorists? SIMI] [MUSLIMS HARASSED] The BJP needed Who are the Indian Mujahideen?] The Shahi Imam this Anti-Muslim oxygen badly to revive its sulking of SHAHJAHANI JAMA MASJID is no ordinary man cadre in UP before the UP elections. It seems every and certainly he knows what he is pointing towards thing is falling in place, the saffron terrorists have a Home Ministry on many occasions he has pointed clear motive in Mumbai triple blasts, it is for the towards Federal Home Department behind creation federal agencies to unveil the entire conspiracy. The of Indian Mujahideens, run by Home Department to saffron terror network needs to be completely exposed defame Indian Muslims and fulfill the fascist agenda by our federal government, the culprits are only a hand of GOI. [How a bustling Muslim town is carrying away, identified and stand exposed before all. Mumbai the burden of undeserved infamy, head down and blasts are a conspiracy by saffron terror groups to hurt]- revive their hate ideology before the UP elections for better prospects in the elections. Link and motive http://www.bismillahnews.in/?page_id=344 behind mumbai blasts has been established it is up to the federal government to unveil the whole Criminal Conspiracy conspiracy and punish them.

-http://www.bismillahnews.in/?page_id=344 ***** Have you forgotten Diwali of 1984 when thousands Sikhs were killed by the Hindus ? Sirdar Gurmit Singh Khalsa Comments: Please also click Link below and listen thoughtfully. Diwali is not the Sikh Festival. thanks, Please read Shabd at page 624 of Guru Granth Sahib, ***** which you may have received by now. Master. Book Review Definitions if not understood clearly become hazardous to one’s own health and well being. “In Gariban Haon Deon Padshahi, Yeh Yad Karen Meri Gurayee”[I have Reviewer: K Singh bestow ruler ship on these Sikhs, so that they shall

remember my term of apostleship]…[Page38] History of Sikhs’ Struggle (1989) Again the Tenth King has uttered these blessed words Gurmit Singh a practicing attorney from Sirsa, for the advancement of his poor Sikhs. It is up to the Haryana, India with a keen interest in Sikh history, Sikhs themselves as a collective nation to strive to politics and current events got his Ph.D from Punjab achieve that goal. University. This is the first volume in a series of four exceptionally well written volumes. Gurmit Singh has Lord Dalhousie “There never will be peace in taken the pains to add 60 historical documents from Punjab….Sikh people and destroyed its power as an independent nation”…..[Page 47] The current ruling various hard to get sources relating to the years 1946- regime of India have understood this statement 66. The continuous yet frustratingly hard struggles of thoroughly and have and will continue to thwart every the Sikhs is put across with great detail that it is attempt by the Sikhs for sovereignty. Dr.R.Hume wrote unimaginable why Sikhs never learn from their in 1931, “Politically Sikhism is the only religion in the previous mistakes and blunders. history of the world which gave birth to a nation, with Birth of a Nation - Chapter 1: the exception ofJudaism”…..[Page 60] Interestingly Gurmit Singh in a very concise manner has given an enough the Jews learnt the hard way and after 2,000 introduction, and then summarized the background of years got their homeland. I wonder if the Sikhs want to the start and important aspects of the Sikh nation. wait that long to achieve the same! “Raj Bina Na Dharam Chale Hai, Dharam Bina Sab “The application submitted by 273559 CPL Grewal Dale Male Hai” [Without political power no religion H.S. seeking interview with A.O.A. inconnection with has survived. Without religion everythin keeping the beard open on religiousgrounds was mishmash]…[Page36] considered by A.G.Awho is pleased to reject the This litany by the Tenth Sikh Prophet was never said same…..These order are to be complied w.e.f. 13 Sep, lightly but has been the bane of the 1973 Sikhs ever since, because the visionless leadership (A.M.hours).” Sqn.Ldr.Adjutant S.C.Bhatley….[Page never could quite understand to put into action the clear 61]Discrimination in the Indian Armed Forces began in right to sovereignty given to the Sikhs by their Tenth earnest right after Independence anda retrograde policy

52 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© to discourage Sikh soldiers from practicing their Faith [556P] Atlantic Publishers and hasconsistently been followed till today.In other countries such as Malaysia, United Kingdom, Canada, form. Furthermore the sanctity of the Holy Darbar Australia, etc the Sikhshave had a greater amount of Sahib holds no value in the eyes of the brute majority’s freedom in reference to their articles of Faith albeit not and it could enter, disrespect,attack, desecrate with without a struggle though! impunity. Constitution Rejected – Chapter 2:Starting from the “We shall not have any Punjabi Suba. It is a communal very first attempt to frame the new (Indian) constitution demand and would be stoutlyresisted.”……[Page 133] in 1916 knownas the Lucknow Pact when Sikhs were J.L.Nehru the PM of India had the audacity to make ignored; if the Sikhs were astute the warning statements such as this when he himself was a signsshould have woken them up to the devious Hindu communal Brahmin whose forefathers (Gangu mind much in advance, but that was anever-recurring Brahmin) were traitors and criminals who sold the story with no end in sight. The fact that the Sikhs were (sons) Chota Sahibzadas of the Tenth Sikh Prophet, to never considered a minority by the Hindu elite is clear Wazir Khan and in return got land grants, eventually by the way Article 25 of the Indian Constitution was getting rich with the blood money to claim a blue blood framed. Verbal statements are meant only for public lineage from Kaul to Nehru (the land was along a Nehr consumption and that is a fact oflife around the globe, – Canal). especially when a lawyer (Gandhi or Nehru) speaks. Akali agitation was going on unabated and more than Since legallyonly written contracts matter, all else is 50,000 Sikhs had been sent to jail under most only hogwash. Sikhs being by and large men ofhonor humiliating conditions….Justice Falshaw’s official consider solemn promises made in public report read, “The prisoncontained almost four times veryseriously, never realized that Hindus have an the authorized number of prisoners……called it a entirely lopsided version of ethics and morality Black Hole of the Punjab”……[Page 135] therefore all normalnorms of human conduct do not Non-Sikhs talk about Sikh violence but Sikhs over the apply to them. The most thankless brute past few centuries have shown time and time again of majoritydeclared moral bankruptcy on a ‘people’ who how Sikhs have endured by the thousands non-violent literally took off the shackles of slaverywhich remained protest under harrowing circumstances. In fact it is over them for nearly a millennia. Crisis of Identity – M.K.Gandhi who saw the Sikhs using Non-violent Chapter 3:“The Punjabi Hindu was more aggressive protest as means of getting their demands met which than the Hindu of other provinces. Their(Hindu) gross Gandhi very cleverly adopted and called this his own unethicality and cynicality, their low perfidious ‘satyagrah’. character, is all too obivious”….when the Act was “Kya main taqat Dushmanon Ke Hath Men De passed, the only two Sikhs Akali Dal representatives Duon?” i.e., How can I entrust the power into the there,stood up and declared….”The Sikhs do not hands of the enemies?.....[Page 143] accept this Constitution. The Sikhs reject It is interesting to see the ‘Napoleonic complex’ in thisConstitution”….They, the Sikhs, were just J.L.Nehru who was a bigot to the core and could not ignored……[Page 113] fathom a Sikh pushing the levers of power since he This simply shows that Hindus were not normal human himself had not really earned the right to do so except beings, because if they were whya 2% minority could slyly usurped it. not be accommodated is beyond comprehension. The According to B.N.Malik, Director of Intelligence only answer is that an extremely racist mindset Bureau, Government of India, “The prevented the majority by not being just but when, in Chinese perpetrated untold cruelties on the brave fact’, the Sikhs who had earned the right many times wounded Sikh. Many of them were tied and then more, than any other religious or ethnicgroup in India dragged and their brains battered.”….. [Page152] should have been given whatever within reason to No matter how bigoted the Hindu majority continues to placate their pprehensions. be against the Sikhs they still “On 4th July, 1955 at night, police entered Golden gave their lives happily for the country and continued Temple, closed the Guru Ka Langar(free kitchen) by to get the short end of the stick as the Hindu elite thinks removing the utensils, etc, and locked the door. All that Sikhs are best meant for ‘cannon fodder’. All the supplies to theGolden Temple were cut off. All pilgrims fantastic attributes and élan of the Sikh Faith are in staying in the rest houses werearrested……Police also direct contradiction with the Brahminical straight- fired a few shots in the air and tear gas shells were jacketed socio-religious order and therein lies the thrown towards Golden Temple some of which fell in problem which scares the wily Hindu-Brahmins since the sacred tank……Hukam Singh….wasalso taken into it upsets their digressive status quo. In fact, but for the custody…..[Page 119] valor of the Sikh General Harbaksh Singh, India would This goes to show that right from Aug 15, 1947 the have suffered humiliation and destruction. To quote ruling Hindu majority had absolutelyno regards for the Lt.Gen.B.M. Kaul: “Government should by now be Sikhs and wanted to make sure Sikhs are severely aware that in the midst of this grim crisis on 10th censured for the minutest of protests in any shape or September Army Chief Chaudhery asked Harbaksh Singh whether our forward positions should not be

53 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011© readjusted and established behind Beas as the enemy government sold the Sikhs a case of rotten eggs. Punjab Armored Division might break through…….Thanks to was further divided into a third of the post partition size the leadership and determination of Harbaksh Singh, and hydroelectric projects, electricity, water and other who resisted the Army Chief’scounsel, India was saved life sustaining elements of the state were unilaterally from disastrous situation…….[Page 169]. It is amazing transferred to the center control in perpetuity. Even a that in the 1965 Indo-Pak War and again in the 1971 bare minimum state capitol was snatched away from Indo-Pak War if it had not been for the courageous the Sikhs. Sikh officers and soldiers, India would have been The book clearly delineates with overwhelming data beaten resoundingly by the Pakistani Armed Forces. how the brute majority refuse to understand, rather The thankless Brahminical regime, other than, giving continue to flout the basic norms of even, allowing a token medals for the Sikh soldiers continue to pay lip just hearing and fair justice. The Hindu ruling majority service to any other legitimate demands till today. has a steel vice like grip with a strategy to completely S.Kapoor Singh speaking on behalf of Akali Dal annihilate by throttling the Sikh spirit through various described…..”On behalf of the Sikh people means at its disposaland time is of no consequence represented by the Shiromni Akali Dal, I reject the except that no entity no matter how benign must be entire schemata of this Bill and oppose it; I reject it on eliminated completely so as to never rear its head in behalf of my parent Party Shiromni Akali Dal”. direct opposition to the Santana Dharma’s long However in spite of Sikh’s opposition the Bill was standing deep rooted (caste) diabolical machinations. passed and it came into force on 1st November, 1966 This book should be read by anyone who needs to …[Page 176] understand the Sikh-Punjab problem versus the Indian After many trials and tribulations the Central (Hindu) regime. For other minorities it will open their eyes and be a wakeup call. ***** Dr Sekhon replies to one Devinder Thakur and its armed personnel waged an 'undeclared' war in Subject: Fw: [political_analysts] Pakistan? What is the form of a brutal military attack Pakistan? It is a question I asked and I still ask called, "Operation Bluestar" of June, 1984, on the Mr Thakur: Sikhs of the Sikh Nation, PUNJAB, Khalistan (under Your response (below), in response to my comments, the occupation of the devious, deceitful and apartheid leaves no doubt that "You are an agent of the practicing 'Brahmins-Hindus' demoncracy/democracy, "Brahmins-Hindus' democracy's Research and since 15th August, 1947). The PUNJAB, The Sikh Analysis Wing (RAW) as well as a member of the Nation, Khalistan had been a 'CONCENTRATION Hindu Mahasabha (mother of all evils)." You are a CAMP' in the "Operation Bluestar" era of June, 1984. plant of the RAW, who failed badly to get any answer Fourth: The 'Brahmins-Hindus' alleged Indian anywhere else, finally landing at my address. Let me democracy/demoncracy' Lok Sabha or Parliament is put you in your right frame as the 'Brahmins-Hindus' filled with politicans who have criminal records over Educational System has failed to give you clarity. First, 25%, rape charges over 33%, bribery charges over 85% being a Hindu (Brahmins as well) which is 'neither a and the list is endless. The best part is no one gets religion nor a culture', according to Sir VT Rajshekar thrown in jail, except the innocent minorities. of Dalit Voice and may other Hindus and non- Five: The Sikhs' elected representatives 'rejected' the Hindus/Brahmins academics. As such, you still have to Indian Constitution on Nov 26th, 1948, 1949, 1950 and find a place where do you really belong? Certainly, you on September 6th, 1965, in its draft and final forms. are a member and follower of the 'Brahmins-Hindus' The Sikh representatives walked out of Indian - Mythology, but do not have any history of your own. 'Brahmins-Hindus' Lok Sabha. The Sikhs Second: You, as a member of the 'Brahmins-Hindus' (representatives), who 'rejected' the Indian Constitution mythology and a violent clique, you have a history of were Sardar Hukam Singh, Sardar Bhupinder Singh more than 3500 years' 'subservient' to the Afghans, Maan and Sirdar Kapur Singh, ICS, MP, MLA and the Mughals, Sikhs, British, Potuguese, etc., up until the National Professor of Sikhism. The latter said that the, morning hours of 15th August, 1947. That is, you have "Document is NOT worth of the paper written on a freedom only of 64+ years. In these 64+ years, the it." 'Brahmins-Hindus' demoncracy/democracy has killed Six: Sikhs are not bound to the Indian more than 3.4 million Sikhs; more than 500,000 Constitution, as they 'Do Not' have any Constitution innocent citizens of the Internationally Disputed Areas Right, since 15th August, 1947. None of the Sikhs' of Jammu and Kashmir (IDA:JK); more than 500,000 representatives dared to accept/sign/endorse Muslims in general; more than 312,500 Christians; the "Document of Fraud alias the Indian more than 15,000 Tamils; more than 12,000 Assamese Constitution 1950." and its 7-sisters; hundred of thousands Seventh: Historically, I am almost (100%) sure about of Dalits; and Moolnivasis or Adivaasis, Biharis, your knowledge about the word 'India', when it was etc., since 15th August, 1947. invented, where was it invented, and for what Third: The 'Brahmins-Hindus' demoncracy/democracy purposes it was invented and by whom?

54 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Eighth: PUNJAB was ruled by a Sikh Monarch, Hindus also. I wish them well. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1799 to March 14th, 1849, was Eleventh: Just because your country is managed by a South Asia's "First Sovereign and Secular Nation." unelected Sikh PM whose reins are in the hands of Whereas, the Hindus beyond Punjab's Eastern borders Russian born Italian woman who heads a violent and were 'subservient' to the white man for over 200 years. racist Hindu party this is a meanginless charade for Ninth: The first "Sovereign and Secular" Sikh Nation public consumption and Sikhs are not fooled by it. This was the world's best and better 'Firepower', as is the same woman who with her husband planned and acknowledged by the senior army Generals of various carried out the extermination of the Sikhs not only in Europeans countries, who visited the first "Sovereign Panjab and the rest of the area. and Secular" nation of South Asia. I am aware that the deceitful and apartheid practicing Tenth: The Sikhs have every right, nay their 'Brahmins-Hindus' demoncracy is busy round the clock birthright, to 'Restore the Sovereignty of their Sikh to 'destroy and desecrate' the history of non-Brahmins- Nation, PUNJAB, Khalistan, which is the prime Hindus Nations of the so-called Indian Union. Let us importance for the Sikhs. Like Sikhs, other see how far you go. nationalities and citizens (IDA:JK, Assam and its 7- Do not attempt to write me any more, Mr Thakur. You sisters, Tamils, Dalits and other) have been trying are follower/agent of RAW, Hindu Mahasabha, to "Break the Chains of Slavery" of the Brahmins- etc. And I have no interests in reading your emails which spread lies and ignorance of history. Dr Sekhon expresses his views and relplied on “Pakistan? ***** What is Pakistan? It is a question I asked and I still ask”. By Abdul Qadir Memon fallen into the trap of the western capitalism, abuse the Jananb Abdul Qadir Memon Islamic Republic of Pakistan, because it is an Islamic country Aslaam O Alaikum! and a leader among the South Central Asia and Middle East I am replying to your write up "Pakistan"? What is Pakistan? countries. What has been happening in the Islamic It is a question I asked and still ask. I am sure you will keep world from the late 1990s till now and 2011 onwards is on asking the question, what is the Islamic Republic of known to everyone, interested in the Arabian and South Pakistan? The answer is very simple and not as complex as Asian countries. Too bad, Sir, you were left no choice but to you might think. Indeed, you are indecisive, because your write an article questioning what is Pakistan? Internationally, education has had taken place where the syllabus for those who publicize the 'Brahmins-Hindus' elementary, junior high, high school, college, graduate, post- democracy/demoncracy would not like to realize that the graduate and further developments was and still is controlled "Brahmins-Hindus' democracy/democracy is a grinding by the 'Brahmins-Hindus Educational System', which laboratory where experiments have been conducted emphasize nothing but the bigoted mindset of Brahmins and uninterruptedly as how to carry out 'gross violation of human Hindu's mythologies to be changed into pseudo-history. All rights, along with rapes, humiliation, minorities like the Sikhs, Muslims, Dalits, Assamese, [8- dehumanization, pogroms, fake-encounter killings, cultural, sister of the East], etc., have fallen the victims to the political, social, educational, economic genocides, etc. 'Brahmins-Hindus System of Education under the umbrella of Briefly, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, despite all odds the University Grant Commission (UGC). This umbrella around its political and geographical borders, has been doing system is heavily dominated by the apartheid practicing 'high very well (even much better than the 'terrorist and violent caste Hindu bigots'. This is the prime reason that you had to Brahmins-Hindus'). There has been no evidence that 74% ask the question, 'what is Pakistan (Islamic Republic of population of the country you are curious about does not go Pakistan) after spending decades in the various learning to sleep hungry every night, 7-day in a week and 365 days in institution?' Indeed, the Brahmins-Hindu's Educational a year, as compared to the incredible India, since 15th System, is controlled by Brahmin-Hindu August, 1947. This is a matter of pride for the Islamic combine, dominating UGC and it appears to the author that Republic of Pakistan, should you not familiar with this the System has intimidated him enough that he a Muslim has situation. Further, there has been no evidence anywhere that been compelled to ask the question, the subject matter of this the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has exterminated its response. minorities in pogroms, genocide, more than 3.4 million Sikhs, For they record, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (formerly 500,000 Muslims of the Internationally Disputed Areas of called Pakistan) is the 'Vision of Janab MA Jinnah', his Jammu and Kashmir, more than 500,000 Muslims in general, staunch supporters and the followers of the nation called more than 15,000 Assamese and the citizens of its 7-sisters, Islamic Republic of Pakistan'. The vision of Janab Jinnah, more than 15,000 Tamils, as it has the order of the day for the only statesman of South Asia, whose life had been a spotless armed personnel. I am leaving the rapes, humiliation and white sheet, is generally abused by the 'Brahmins-Hindus' dehumanization aside. Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a academics and criminal politicians elected by the illiterate peaceful country on the Western borders of the 'Brahmins- electorates having a minimum knowledge and familiarity of Hindus' demoncracy/democracy. Above all, the press, news the domestic and international affairs, since 15th August, media, air media are all 'state-controlled' in the highly 1947. Janab MA Jinnah had been highly respected in the publicized 'incredible, progressing nation of South Asia, western world, but the changing political situation and known as the 'Brahmins-Hindus' democracy, since 15th climate among the western political scientists, academics, August, 1947. Their mouths are only open to sing the glory of diplomats, political masters and pseudo-academics who had the terrorist 'Brahmins-Hindus'. Source:www.bismillahnews.com *****

55 International Journal of Sikh Affairs 21, No. 2, 2011©

Dr. D.W. Pettigrew Periodontist TMJ Dysfunction Diagnosis & Treatment

203 Huntington Galleria 4628 Calgary Trail Edmonton AB T6H 6A1 436-0108

Periodontal Services TMD Services

* Management of Periodontal * Post MVA and Cervical Disease: Whiplash, TMD diagnosis - Mechanical and treatment - Antibiotic Therapy * Medical Legal Reports for * Mucogingival Procedures Solicitors * Bone Grafting * TMD appliance therapy * Regenerative Techniques * Snore guards & Sleep Apnea * Crown Lengthening appliances * Splinting Mobile Teeth * Occlusal Adjustment * Occlusal Adjustment * Bruxing Appliances

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The International Journal of Sikh Affairs ISSN 1481-5435, its publisher, The Sikh Educational Trust, Editor in Chief, and the Editorial Advisors would like to express their gratefulness to our brothers and sisters whose interests and financial assistance made the academic work presented before the readership in the current year. We express our best wishes to them for the years ahead.

PRINTED IN CANADA ISSN 1481-5435