Bhindranwale's Pursuit of Khalistan.

Recently I have been reading a book titled ''Operation Blue Star The True Story'' by Kuldip Singh Brar. Upon reading this, you get a third person perspective of what must've been going through the minds of the troops in the Indian army as they were marching into the Golden Temple. Now my true question is this: What were Bhindranwale's true aspirations? And is he the control freak the author seems to portray him as or in other words who was more just in what they were doing and how they planned to achieve what they were doing?...Right now I'm very confused. After reading into this quite a fair bit I have reached no conclusion as to whether the Indian government were right to launch an attack inside the Golden temple or whether Bhindranwale was right to house firearms in the Akal Takht. I realise this post seems a bit all over the place but currently a whole lot is going through my mind so I apologise . I hope I have not offended anyone by any of my questions, I am simply curious and confused and hope that from the replies this generates (I hope:L) my mind will be put to rest on this matter.

 
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Harvir 007 ji thanks for your question. I have not read the book that you mention but I will share my personal thoughts based on my experiences.

I divide your query into two parts.

1. Khalistan Movement
2. Attack on Golden Temple Amritsar and many other Gurdwaras across India

1. Khalistan Movement
Let us first review quickly Khalistan Movement and linkages. Ever since independence the Sikhs found that they were being marginalized, reduced and manipulated by the majority politically (Congress) and religiously by Jan Sangh that later became BJP. After India's independence in 1947 there were peaceful movements in the name of "Punjabi Subha" (State based on the Language of Punjabi). Sikhs and politicians so messed it up so much that when the time came to accommodate this, most Punjabi speaking Hindus registered themselves as Hindi speaking and hence Punjab of 1947 that remained part of India was destroyed. Philosophically the sub-division was linguistics based but really it became more or less Sikhs for Punjabi and everyone in spite of speaking Punjabi against them. This greatly polarized the community and there was never any recovery and Punjabi/Sikhs started to just go down the tube.

The pent up anger may have lead some to look for alternatives to peaceful subjugation and hence the Khalistan movement started originally perhaps as a political motive but later as a militant formation.

What one needs to recognize is that this perhaps was too little too late with hardly any chance of success. However, when people are willing to die they have strong feelings and beliefs. Whether it had pragmatism necessary, is hard to say. Originally Sikh leadership in politics and SGPC kind of kept to the middle ground. When the felt self threatened they provided tacit support to the Congress party to get their glory back.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/37744-bhindranwales-pursuit-of-khalistan.html

Hence the Khalistan movement had a pretty nasty, terribly human rights ignored, and teaching Sikhs a lesson kind of ending.

Whether the people who died for a place for Sikhs to call own were power hungry, control freaks, etc., is for the living to define. Many have and many will. Hard to say if they are exploiting the situation, doing so to please their masters, really presenting truth, or other motives. I will always read such with a grain of salt. As such people sprouted after the death of the movement and previously were like wet cat on a blanket.

I did not participate or sympathize as I could not contribute for or against being out of the country.

2. Attack on Golden Temple Amritsar and many other Gurdwaras across India

This is a straight forward situation. Let us look at the following layout of Harmandir Sahib.

It is an area perhaps no bigger than 1km x 1km or 1 Sq. Km at its outer skirts. It is disgusting and implausible argument that India with multi-million strong army just could not keep it encircled for a length of time to get the people out.

In the clarity of the day one sees only one reason to attack Harmandir Sahib. To teach Sikhs once and for all that there is nothing sacred in Sikhism within India. This considerably raised the Psyche of non-Sikhs and demeaned the Sikhs. This was fundamental in terms of its motive. There were no other practical reasons given the size and strength of the Indian Army.

Unfortunately when a minority lets or the majority so encroaches on the psyche of a religious minority, Sikhs, there is only one outcome. Minority suffers, so do Sikhs. Is this typical of majorities against minorities? Unfortunately it is.

Did Sikhs make mistakes, of course they did. The biggest mistake was to trust the majority in India at the time of partition. A separate Khalistan, Punjab, and different variations may have made sense then. Later on it is just an implosion.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37744

I am sharing my observations as I understand them. I feel for Sikhs in Punjab but have no interest to sermonize as they are quite capable and perhaps closer to knowing themselves what is good for them and Sikhism in Punjab.

Hope this provides some clarity to what you asked.

If you have further questions feel free to ask.

Future is you.

Sat Sri Akal.

Hey Ambarsaria! Thanks for taking the time to shed some light on this query of mine. It's cleared up quite a bit on the actual reasons for this movement. But another thing that was also pondering my mind was that, like do you think, or does anyone else think that Bhindranwale was more a protagonist or an antagonist? Also the same question for the Indian government...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37744
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37744

Thank you ji

Harvir007 just two comments.

Bhindranwale was not a protagonist or an antagonist, he just was. He was a true Sikh in spirit not fearing death. Rest is propaganda. Remember lot of his support or encouragement came from the young from upper high school years onwards.

Indian government (I believe it is wrong to call it Government, but the majority manipulators working for the majority in India) choose the role that fits them. They had wherewithal to shape the movement through unlimited resources available to them. Did they manipulate Sikhs at the times, of course they did, they always will. Can a minority protect itself from manipulation. Yes they can but they need a great bench strength of leadership and organization which basically does not exist for Sikhs in India. Actions of the Sikh leadership at times appear more damaging than the majority as these demean the character of Sikhs as a community further.

Sat Sri Akal.

Ah thank you for your insight, it's much appreciated! But all this talk of militants using Gurdwaras as refuge to house their guns and what not also gets me thinking, were Bhindranwale's supporters just? And why was the Akal Takht used as a treasure trove for firearms?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37744

Thanks.

Harvir007 you have been bitten by the bug of mis-information. Let us make sure we keep relatives in perspectives.

Indian Army

• multi-million strong army,
• dozens of Air Force Squadrons,
• Dozens of warships,
• Dozens of perhaps submarines,
• thousands of tanks,
• thousands of of artillery pieces
• 10s of Nuclear bombs,
• Millions of AK-47 like
• Vehicles in 100's of thousands
• ...............
• above mostly gross underestimates

Akal Takhat Sahib

• multi-million strong army, ... 100s of sikhs
• dozens of Air Force Squadrons, ... None
• Dozens of warships, ... None
• Dozens of perhaps submarines, ... None
• thousands of tanks, ... None
  
• thousands of of artillery pieces ... None
• 10s of Nuclear bombs, ... None
• Millions of AK-47 like ... Dozens perhaps or less
• Vehicles in 100's of thousands ... None
• ...............
• above mostly gross underestimates for Indian Army

If you get the treasure trove as information from a book, or article, there is your litmus test of believability and bias. Sikhs are too gullible and easily manipulated given tentacles and powers of the powerful.

Sat Sri Akal.

My apologies in that case. Thank you for this as well, has cleared up a lot and I guess I can say this matter has been resolved...also, thanks for casting out any doubts from my head.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37744

Thank you ji.

Harvir007 you are the future take care
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37744
Don't hesitate to ask other questions. It may help not just you but others who are too shy to ask
Sat Sri Akal.

Ambarsaria veer ji

You are a gem of this forum. Always ready to help and cast away doubts. Thank you for your valuable posts, not only in this thread but in many many other threads as well.