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Gurbani (14-53)
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Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
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ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
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Ashtpadi (129-130)
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Bara Maha (133-136)
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Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
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ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
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ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
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Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
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Sikh History & Heritage
Most Influential Sikhs In History And Why? Suggest Your Pick
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<blockquote data-quote="Randip Singh" data-source="post: 94746" data-attributes="member: 1323"><p><strong>Re: Most Influential Sikhs in History and Why? Plz Add to List</strong></p><p></p><p>We Must include HS Phoolka.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka" target="_blank">H. S. Phoolka - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Harvinder Singh Phoolka</strong> (commonly known as <strong>H. S. Phoolka</strong>) is a senior advocate of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Court" target="_blank">Delhi High Court</a>, Human Rights activist, and author. He is known for spearheading one of the longest and most tortuous legal<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-name-0" target="_blank">[1]</a> "crusades"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-1-1" target="_blank">[2]</a> to gain justice for the victims of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Anti-Sikh_massacre" target="_blank">1984 Anti-Sikh massacre</a> and fighting individual cases on the involvement of Congress-I leaders <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._K._L._Bhagat" target="_blank">H. K. L. Bhagat</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sajjan_Kumar" target="_blank">Sajjan Kumar</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdish_Tytler" target="_blank">Jagdish Tytler</a> despite the government cover-up<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-coverup-1-2" target="_blank">[3]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-agal-3" target="_blank">[4]</a>. He received threatening letters<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-threatened-4" target="_blank">[5]</a> for unearthing involvements of ruling political party leaders in what the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Age" target="_blank">Asian Age</a> called "<em>the Mother of all Cover-ups</em>" in a front page story<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-coverup-1-2" target="_blank">[3]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-agal-3" target="_blank">[4]</a> . The special anniversary edition of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlook_%28magazine%29" target="_blank">Outlook (magazine)</a> included Phoolka in its list of 50 people that make a difference in India, along side <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amartya_Sen" target="_blank">Amartya Sen</a> and Abhinav Ghosh<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-50list-5" target="_blank">[6]</a>.</p><p></p><p><strong>Early life and education</strong></p><p></p><p> Phoolka's formative years were spent in a small village called Bhadaur in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangrur" target="_blank">Sangrur</a> district of Punjab, India<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Bio-6" target="_blank">[7]</a>. His education began in a small school in his village. He graduated from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludhiana" target="_blank">Ludhiana</a>, and went to Law School in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandigarh" target="_blank">Chandigarh</a>.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit&section=2" target="_blank">edit</a>] Family</strong></p><p></p><p> Phoolka married Maninder Kaur in 1983. She is a food technologist and was a 1990 "outstanding graduate" of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Institute_of_Baking" target="_blank">American Institute of Baking</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas" target="_blank">Kansas</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Bio-6" target="_blank">[7]</a>. She is said to have declined job offers in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" target="_blank">United States</a> and returned to India to support her husband's struggle for justice<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Bio-6" target="_blank">[7]</a></p><p> </p><p> <strong>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit&section=3" target="_blank">edit</a>] Career</strong></p><p></p><p> After completing his law degree in Chandigarh, Phoolka landed in Delhi to practice law. He served as member-secretary of the Justice <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Anti-Sikh_massacre#Narula_Committee" target="_blank">Narula Committee</a> formed in 1993 to probe the carnage<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-KhuranaNarula-7" target="_blank">[8]</a>. He was later appointed the counsel for Central Government in January 2001<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-quits-1-8" target="_blank">[9]</a>. He is known as a lawyer who won't take up a case if he finds that the client is in the wrong<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-4-9" target="_blank">[10]</a>.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit&section=4" target="_blank">edit</a>] 1984 Anti-Sikh massacre</strong></p><p></p><p> Phoolka is well known for spearheading the crusade to seek justice in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1984_Sikh_massacre&action=edit&redlink=1" target="_blank">1984 Sikh massacre</a> in New Delhi that followed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Indira_Gandhi" target="_blank">assassination of Indira Gandhi</a> and resulted in killing of 2,733 Sikhs within 2 days.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-xfiles-10" target="_blank">[11]</a> He was then just 28 years old and new to practicing law and the city of Delhi.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-obsessed-11" target="_blank">[12]</a> He has put the cause of justice for 1984 Sikh massacre victims before his career<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-5-12" target="_blank">[13]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-quits-1-8" target="_blank">[9]</a> and family life<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-5-12" target="_blank">[13]</a>.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit&section=5" target="_blank">edit</a>] First encounter and escaping the massacre</strong></p><p></p><p> Phoolka was caught in the massacre while driving pregnant wife Maninder Kaur home on his motorbike. When informed by a friend of the attacks on Sikhs, he avoided the main roads to reach his home in South Delhi via the slums of Kotla Mubarakpur.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-firstencounter-13" target="_blank">[14]</a> Phoolka's landlord drove the mob away by telling them that the Phoolka family had left Delhi and hid them in his store room. There the Phoolkas spent 2 days, and came out under escort. They then flew to Chandigarh in the {censored}pit of an overcrowded plane.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-escape-14" target="_blank">[15]</a></p><p> </p><p> <strong>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit&section=6" target="_blank">edit</a>] Resolution to fight</strong></p><p></p><p> Phoolka planned to move his residence to Chandigarh after the riots, but he learned that lawyers were needed to draft affidavits on behalf of the victims, and went to the Farsh Vihar relief camp<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-15" target="_blank">[16]</a> to help. The sight of orphans, bereaved mothers and wives in the relief camp prompted the Phoolkas to change their plans. Instead of relocating to Chandigarh, they chose to stay and help the victims of the massacre<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-50list-5" target="_blank">[6]</a>. Since then, Phoolka has fought cases relentlessly<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-50list-5" target="_blank">[6]</a> for the victims despite government cover-up.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-50list-5" target="_blank">[6]</a></p><p> </p><p> <strong>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit&section=7" target="_blank">edit</a>] Formation of Citizens Justice Committee</strong></p><p></p><p> Phoolka conceived and pursued the formation of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen%27s_Justice_Committee" target="_blank">Citizen's Justice Committee</a> (CJC). The CJC served as an umbrella organization for several human rights activists and legal luminaries. Floated in May 1985,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Tribune-1-16" target="_blank">[17]</a> the CJC has been pivotal in representing the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre victims before the various judicial commissions that have been formed for inquiry into the massacres. Membership included Justice Ranjit Singh Narula, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soli_Sorabjee" target="_blank">Soli Sorabjee</a>, General <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagjit_Singh_Aurora" target="_blank">Jagjit Singh Aurora</a>, Justice <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarkunde" target="_blank">V. M. Tarkunde</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khushwant_Singh" target="_blank">Khushwant Singh</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Tribune-1-16" target="_blank">[17]</a>. As a counselor for the CJC, Phoolka represented the victims before the first formal sitting of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mishra_Commission" target="_blank">Mishra Commission</a> on 29th July 1985. The proceedings of the sitting were not made public and were closed to the press.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-firstsitting-17" target="_blank">[18]</a> In March 1986, the CJC withdrew its cooperation from the Mishra Commission because it disagreed with the commissions decision to hold secret proceedings, and started filing individual court cases.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-18" target="_blank">[19]</a></p><p> </p><p> <strong>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit&section=8" target="_blank">edit</a>] Mooting of Carnage84 website</strong></p><p></p><p> To make the many documents and findings of Citizens Justice Committee on 1984 Sikh massacre available to the general public, Phoolka mooted the idea of the "Carnage84.com" website, which was launched 10 July 2001 and claimed 1,50,000 visits from people of 30 different countries within 10 days of it going online<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-site-1-19" target="_blank">[20]</a></p><p> </p><p> <strong>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit&section=9" target="_blank">edit</a>] Notable quotes</strong></p><p></p><p> “ <em>The fight for justice by the riot victims sent a message that the powerful and the mighty could be challenged and demolished. They were like a rock and riot victims were like ants trying to push the rock. Over the years, with our efforts, we have been able to force the rock to roll and now it rolls like a football the moment we come near it. If we stop in our efforts, it would again become stationary and grow into a mountain</em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-obsessed-11" target="_blank">[12]</a> ” “ <em>Before the 1984 riots, there were no criminals in politics. Criminals just followed the politicians. But 1984 made them realise people leading mobs and killing others could get elected and become leaders......So a way was opened for criminals to make politics a profession</em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-agal-3" target="_blank">[4]</a> ” </p><p> <strong>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit&section=10" target="_blank">edit</a>] Book</strong></p><p></p><p> Phoolka, along with human rights activist and journalist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Manoj_Mitta&action=edit&redlink=1" target="_blank">Manoj Mitta</a>, has written the first account of the 1984 Anti-Sikh massacre in the form of a book titled <em>When a Tree Shook Delhi</em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-20" target="_blank">[21]</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Randip Singh, post: 94746, member: 1323"] [b]Re: Most Influential Sikhs in History and Why? Plz Add to List[/b] We Must include HS Phoolka. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka]H. S. Phoolka - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/url] [B]Harvinder Singh Phoolka[/B] (commonly known as [B]H. S. Phoolka[/B]) is a senior advocate of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_High_Court"]Delhi High Court[/url], Human Rights activist, and author. He is known for spearheading one of the longest and most tortuous legal[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-name-0"][1][/URL] "crusades"[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-1-1"][2][/URL] to gain justice for the victims of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Anti-Sikh_massacre"]1984 Anti-Sikh massacre[/URL] and fighting individual cases on the involvement of Congress-I leaders [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._K._L._Bhagat"]H. K. L. Bhagat[/URL], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sajjan_Kumar"]Sajjan Kumar[/url] and [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdish_Tytler"]Jagdish Tytler[/url] despite the government cover-up[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-coverup-1-2"][3][/URL][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-agal-3"][4][/URL]. He received threatening letters[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-threatened-4"][5][/URL] for unearthing involvements of ruling political party leaders in what the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Age"]Asian Age[/url] called "[I]the Mother of all Cover-ups[/I]" in a front page story[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-coverup-1-2"][3][/URL][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-agal-3"][4][/URL] . The special anniversary edition of the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlook_%28magazine%29"]Outlook (magazine)[/URL] included Phoolka in its list of 50 people that make a difference in India, along side [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amartya_Sen"]Amartya Sen[/url] and Abhinav Ghosh[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-50list-5"][6][/URL]. [B]Early life and education[/B] Phoolka's formative years were spent in a small village called Bhadaur in the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangrur"]Sangrur[/url] district of Punjab, India[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Bio-6"][7][/URL]. His education began in a small school in his village. He graduated from [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludhiana"]Ludhiana[/url], and went to Law School in [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandigarh"]Chandigarh[/url]. [B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit§ion=2"]edit[/URL]] Family[/B] Phoolka married Maninder Kaur in 1983. She is a food technologist and was a 1990 "outstanding graduate" of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Institute_of_Baking"]American Institute of Baking[/url], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas"]Kansas[/url][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Bio-6"][7][/URL]. She is said to have declined job offers in the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States"]United States[/url] and returned to India to support her husband's struggle for justice[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Bio-6"][7][/URL] [B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit§ion=3"]edit[/URL]] Career[/B] After completing his law degree in Chandigarh, Phoolka landed in Delhi to practice law. He served as member-secretary of the Justice [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Anti-Sikh_massacre#Narula_Committee"]Narula Committee[/URL] formed in 1993 to probe the carnage[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-KhuranaNarula-7"][8][/URL]. He was later appointed the counsel for Central Government in January 2001[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-quits-1-8"][9][/URL]. He is known as a lawyer who won't take up a case if he finds that the client is in the wrong[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-4-9"][10][/URL]. [B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit§ion=4"]edit[/URL]] 1984 Anti-Sikh massacre[/B] Phoolka is well known for spearheading the crusade to seek justice in the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1984_Sikh_massacre&action=edit&redlink=1"]1984 Sikh massacre[/URL] in New Delhi that followed the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Indira_Gandhi"]assassination of Indira Gandhi[/url] and resulted in killing of 2,733 Sikhs within 2 days.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-xfiles-10"][11][/URL] He was then just 28 years old and new to practicing law and the city of Delhi.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-obsessed-11"][12][/URL] He has put the cause of justice for 1984 Sikh massacre victims before his career[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-5-12"][13][/URL][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-quits-1-8"][9][/URL] and family life[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-5-12"][13][/URL]. [B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit§ion=5"]edit[/URL]] First encounter and escaping the massacre[/B] Phoolka was caught in the massacre while driving pregnant wife Maninder Kaur home on his motorbike. When informed by a friend of the attacks on Sikhs, he avoided the main roads to reach his home in South Delhi via the slums of Kotla Mubarakpur.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-firstencounter-13"][14][/URL] Phoolka's landlord drove the mob away by telling them that the Phoolka family had left Delhi and hid them in his store room. There the Phoolkas spent 2 days, and came out under escort. They then flew to Chandigarh in the {censored}pit of an overcrowded plane.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-warrier-escape-14"][15][/URL] [B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit§ion=6"]edit[/URL]] Resolution to fight[/B] Phoolka planned to move his residence to Chandigarh after the riots, but he learned that lawyers were needed to draft affidavits on behalf of the victims, and went to the Farsh Vihar relief camp[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-15"][16][/URL] to help. The sight of orphans, bereaved mothers and wives in the relief camp prompted the Phoolkas to change their plans. Instead of relocating to Chandigarh, they chose to stay and help the victims of the massacre[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-50list-5"][6][/URL]. Since then, Phoolka has fought cases relentlessly[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-50list-5"][6][/URL] for the victims despite government cover-up.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-50list-5"][6][/URL] [B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit§ion=7"]edit[/URL]] Formation of Citizens Justice Committee[/B] Phoolka conceived and pursued the formation of the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen%27s_Justice_Committee"]Citizen's Justice Committee[/URL] (CJC). The CJC served as an umbrella organization for several human rights activists and legal luminaries. Floated in May 1985,[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Tribune-1-16"][17][/URL] the CJC has been pivotal in representing the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre victims before the various judicial commissions that have been formed for inquiry into the massacres. Membership included Justice Ranjit Singh Narula, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soli_Sorabjee"]Soli Sorabjee[/url], General [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagjit_Singh_Aurora"]Jagjit Singh Aurora[/url], Justice [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarkunde"]V. M. Tarkunde[/url] and [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khushwant_Singh"]Khushwant Singh[/url][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-Tribune-1-16"][17][/URL]. As a counselor for the CJC, Phoolka represented the victims before the first formal sitting of the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mishra_Commission"]Mishra Commission[/url] on 29th July 1985. The proceedings of the sitting were not made public and were closed to the press.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-firstsitting-17"][18][/URL] In March 1986, the CJC withdrew its cooperation from the Mishra Commission because it disagreed with the commissions decision to hold secret proceedings, and started filing individual court cases.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-18"][19][/URL] [B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit§ion=8"]edit[/URL]] Mooting of Carnage84 website[/B] To make the many documents and findings of Citizens Justice Committee on 1984 Sikh massacre available to the general public, Phoolka mooted the idea of the "Carnage84.com" website, which was launched 10 July 2001 and claimed 1,50,000 visits from people of 30 different countries within 10 days of it going online[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-site-1-19"][20][/URL] [B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit§ion=9"]edit[/URL]] Notable quotes[/B] “ [I]The fight for justice by the riot victims sent a message that the powerful and the mighty could be challenged and demolished. They were like a rock and riot victims were like ants trying to push the rock. Over the years, with our efforts, we have been able to force the rock to roll and now it rolls like a football the moment we come near it. If we stop in our efforts, it would again become stationary and grow into a mountain[/I][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-obsessed-11"][12][/URL] ” “ [I]Before the 1984 riots, there were no criminals in politics. Criminals just followed the politicians. But 1984 made them realise people leading mobs and killing others could get elected and become leaders......So a way was opened for criminals to make politics a profession[/I][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-agal-3"][4][/URL] ” [B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=H._S._Phoolka&action=edit§ion=10"]edit[/URL]] Book[/B] Phoolka, along with human rights activist and journalist [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Manoj_Mitta&action=edit&redlink=1"]Manoj Mitta[/URL], has written the first account of the 1984 Anti-Sikh massacre in the form of a book titled [I]When a Tree Shook Delhi[/I][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._S._Phoolka#cite_note-20"][21][/URL] [/QUOTE]
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Sikh History & Heritage
Most Influential Sikhs In History And Why? Suggest Your Pick
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