40 Years After the Sikh Massacre, Three New Books That Address Key Concerns Around the Community

The year 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the 1984 massacre, during which Sikhs in Punjab and various regions of India encountered significant turmoil.

The events surrounding the Golden Temple and the Sikh massacre following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi raised significant concerns about the status of this micro-community living across India. It is perhaps fitting that on the 40th anniversary of the Sikh massacre, these concerns are reflected in new literature – both fiction and non-fiction.

In addition to my book, Main Kyun Jaun Apne Shahar: 1984 Kuchh Sawal Kuchh Jawab, both Bupinder Singh Bali’s Those Who Stayed: The Sikhs of Kashmir and Sanam Sutirath Wazir’s The Kaurs of 1984: The Untold, Unheard Stories of Sikh Women have posed significant questions on the character of our society and state. These thought-provoking writings have shed light on the complex dynamics that exist within our diverse nation.

Unlike my book, which raises macro concerns through deeply personal experiences of the ‘84 Sikh massacre and the displacement thereafter, Bali and Wazir, with meticulous research and insightful analysis, have delved deep into the heart of the matter, unravelling the intricate layers of our societal fabric through particular moments in history.

In contrast to my book, which focuses on the migration of almost an entire community to Punjab from Daltonganj, a small town in Bihar, Bali’s narrative delves into the story of the Sikhs of Kashmir, a smaller community that has chosen to remain in Kashmir despite enormous challenges.

The Sikhs here have made a conscious decision to stay on in Kashmir due to their deep-rooted connections and affinity with the land, its people and the concept of Kashmiriat.

The historical context of the Sikhs of Kashmir is significantly different from that of the Sikh community in Punjab, as Bali’s analysis, which takes a broad, historical perspective, shows. This narrative explores the idea that religion and nationality are separate entities and that minority groups like the Sikhs in Kashmir coexist well with the majority community based on social, economic, linguistic and cultural ties.

However, the geopolitical landscape and the manipulation of religion by certain groups, such as the RSS in Jammu region and Islamists in the Kashmir valley, have created an artificial division, with the state being complicit. This division, sadly but predictably, is further exploited by political organisations for their own gain.

Bali’s book also emphasises the significant role played by Sikhs during the 1947 Kabaili invasion in defending the Kashmir airport before the arrival of the Indian army in Srinagar. Even during the tumultuous period of 1989-90, when many Kashmiri Pandits fled, and also after the killings in Chitisinghpura and Mehjoor Nagar, the Sikhs remained steadfast in the Kashmir valley.

The Muslim community in Kashmir has consistently provided support to the Sikh community and has even raised questions about the state’s involvement in these targeted attacks.

Bali’s writing also highlights the need for an environment where all communities, particularly the younger generation, can coexist and thrive.

Wazir’s profound and thought-provoking book The Kaurs of 1984 delves into the intricate and complex dynamics between the Indian state and minorities. While extensive literature exists on the 1984 Sikh massacre, the ensuing violence and the subsequent migration, it is disheartening to acknowledge the limited attention given to the immense suffering endured by women associated with the Khalistan movement and those who fell victim to the tragic aftermath of the 1984 massacre in Delhi.

With utmost compassion and sensitivity, Wazir’s book meticulously uncovers the poignant narratives of select Sikh women, whose stories collectively unveil a distressing pattern of relentless police brutality in the state of Punjab. 

Simultaneously, his courageous accounts also document the harrowing experiences of Sikh women who, tragically bereaved of all male kin, became victims of sexual violence after the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

By documenting these untold stories, the author not only gives voice to the silent struggles of these resilient women, but also brings to the forefront the urgent need for the comprehensive recognition and redressal of their indescribable trauma.

Through this compelling narrative, Wazir compels readers to confront uncomfortable truths and acknowledge the interconnectedness of gender-based violence, political repression and societal upheaval. In traversing uncharted territory, Wazir pierces through the silence and forces us to confront the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of these haunting stories.

The book delves into various complex issues such as the nature of the Indian state, the roles of different institutions, caste and class issues, and the concept of justice from the perspectives of the state, the community and the victims.

Despite 40 years passing, many female survivors are still seeking justice. Every month, they diligently attend court in the hopes that those responsible for the unimaginable violence they endured will be punished and their pleas for justice will not go unheard.

This is the only semblance of justice they ardently hope for from the “mother of democracy” and its criminal justice system, desperately praying that their voices will be heard amidst the vast echoes of indifference and apathy.

Some of these heart-wrenching stories, etched deeply in the collective memory of their souls, resonate with an intensity that is both distressing and illuminating. Yet, as if the scars on their bodies were not enough to bear, the judicial process itself, touted as a beacon of hope, is proving to be an excruciating journey of perpetual pain for these tormented victims.

After losing their family’s sole provider, they grapple with the excruciating challenge of supporting and raising their children while shouldering the burden of earning a meagre livelihood through arduous and menial work.

And yet, despite all these hardships that would have shattered the spirit of many, they summon an inexpressible strength, a flicker of resilience, to embark on the arduous path towards justice. They very well know that this path will be rife with countless obstacles, yet they are fuelled by an unwavering determination that pushes the boundaries of human endurance.

Now, there is a third generation, a new custodian of sorrow, witnessing the unspeakable suffering of these resilient women. Their innocent eyes behold the immeasurable pain carved deep within the souls of their matriarchs, forever etching within them a profound understanding of the collective burden borne by their predecessors.

Wazir’s book focuses on the plight of these courageous women, who have long been silenced and marginalised. It raises serious concerns about the treatment of minorities in a country that prides itself on its ideals of justice and equality.

It is evident from the narrative in the book that the entire system meant to safeguard rights and protect against injustices to minorities – including the police, investigations, commissions, committees and social and religious institutions – has been manipulated by the state and other institutions for their political or other ulterior motives, ultimately resulting in the perpetuation of injustice.

Even the judiciary, widely regarded as the last bastion of hope, can at times be rendered powerless when the scales of law enforcement and investigations are tragically tipped in favour of the powerful.

When those meant to protect become the agents of persecution, it is then that the true nature of the state and society reveals itself.

The objective of these books, including others written on the plight of marginal communities and castes, is to awaken these communities to the unapologetic stark realities that plague their existence till date. Their only prayer is that the past should never revisit them.

Paramjeet Singh is the author of Main Kyun Jaun Apne Shahar: 1984 Kuchh Sawal Kuchh Jawab, published in Hindi and Punjabi.