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