Shabad Kirtan: Sada Namaskar in salutation to Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, Shabad Sung By Bhai Dalbir Singh Hazoori Ragi Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. (Source: AkaalSevaEL at YouTube). Thank you for the enchanting kirtan.
Thank you Premraj Ji for the article. Minor changes and additions have been made to the article.
by Premraj Singh
ਸਚੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਚਲਦਿਆ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਜਹਾਨੁ ॥
Sachay Marg Chaldiyan Ustat Karay Jahan
Those who walk at the path of Truth, shall be praised by the world forever
SALUTATION TO THE MARTYRED
First and foremost, Parnaam Shaheedan Nu (Salutation to the martyred)
- Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh,
- Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh and
- Shaheed Bhai Kehar Singh,
Jinnaney Jhindagi Dharam Lei Vaari (Who sacrificed their life for Sikh Dharam)
THE EVENT
What happened: 31st October 1984, the personal bodyguards of Indera Gandhi, Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh and Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh shot her dead.
Why: The reason was for the Biadbhi (damage caused sacrilege) of Sri Akal Takth Sahib & Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib during June 1984.
BACKGROUND
June 1984, It was Guru Arjan Dev Ji Shaheedi Dihara and there was a big crowd at Harmandir Sahib.
Indera Gandhi was unhappy with the demands (Anandpur Resolution) asked by Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale for a better Punjab.
She was afraid of losing her powers in Punjab as Punjab was considered the richest state in India. She didn’t accept the Anandpur Resolution as that would affect her monthy earning margin and she didn’t want Sikhs in Punjab to do well. She had planned with K.S Brar, the Indian Army general several months before for the attack.
Before the attack, she offered Sant Bhindranwale USD 100 million, citizenship of any country, leadership of Punjab under her political party. Everything offered was rejected by Sant Bhindranwale.
Her ego was hurt. She believed she had no choice left but to launch an attack on Akal Takth and Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji. Fifty two other historical Gurdwaras were attacked as well. Akal Takth was ruined.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE EVENT
31st October to 4th November 1984, after the death of Indera Gandhi, anti Sikhs riots burst out in whole of India. Sikhs were brutally killed.
The investor for the weapons to kill Sikhs was Rajiv Gandhi. Thousands of Sikhs were killed in whole of India. Earlier numerous Sikhs were killed in June. Now, young girls were brutally raped. Kids were hanged upside down. Men were tortured to death. There were many others ways used to torture and kill Sikhs.
Indera Gandhi never wanted Sikhs to get their “Hak” rights in Punjab and whole of India.
QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Many people have commented on this matter. Such as;
Question
Why kill an unarmed lady? That isn’t a duty of a Sikh.
Answer
First of all, we call Akal Takhat as headquarters of Sikhs and we call Darbar Sahib as Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib. Then how can we spare someone who damaged our Headquarters and Sacred Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib. Secondly, we respect everyone regardless of gender but what if a lady attempts to do biadbhi of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, shall we just let her do because she is a women. Of course No. Anyone who disrespects Guru Sahiban shouldn’t be spared.
Question
Why Sant Bhindranwale carried weapon at Sacred place, Sri Harmandir Sahib Complex and Sri Akal Takhat Complex? Was this a wrong act?
Answer
Guru Hargobind Sahib who built Akal Takhat and was at Akal Takhat for sometime is the first Shastardhari Guru. Guru Hargobind Sahib had riffles as well. Mai Bhago, the renowned Shaheed of Panth had few riffles which are placed at Sri Hazur Sahib currently. The longest riffle is 12ft long. There are riffles of Guru Gobind Singh Ji placed at few of our Takths and Historical Gurdwaras. The Sikhs use to test riffles in Guru Gobind Singh Ji Darbar before presenting it to Guruji. During martial art practise, Sikhs use to learn Nishanay Baazi, shoot on point with riffle. It was always enouraged by Guru Sahib.
Question
Why demand for Anandpur Resolution? Why Khalistan Movement? Separatist.
Answer
Do you remember Udta Punjab? This is why Sant Bhindranwale demanded for Anandpur Resolution, which Indera Gandhi was totally against, to be passed as it was for the benefit of Sikhs. “Khalis” means pure and Khalistan means Land of Purity. It was needed. Punjab is in bad shape and Sant Bhindranwale vision was to make it Khalistan. To give the “Hak” right which Sikhs deserve in India.
Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh and few more were martyrs for Hindustan; but who received all the credit, the Gandhi’s.
Question
Was Sant Bhindranwale a terrorist?
Answer
He was not.
Indera Gandhi herself acted without any evidence declaring Sant Bhindranwale a terrorist. (This claim has today been shown to be incorrect)
She and her family conspired to execute the whole terror.
Sant Bhindranwale and Sikhs never killed any innocent Hindu or conspired to attack the sacred worshipping places of Hindus
BUT Indera Gandhi attacked sacred worshipping places of Sikhs and killed thousands of innocent Sikhs.
Now tell me who is the actual terrorist?
Question
Was everything going on well? Did Bhindranwala spoil and disgraced Sikh community?
Answer
No it was not. Nothing was going on right. In fact things were worse. No one highlighted the wrong ongoings therefore we thought everything seemed fine.
Sant Bhindranwale sorted many issues.
He didn’t disgrace the Sikh community, but it was those Sikhs who “licked the shoe” of Indera Gandhi, who disgraced the community.
The Indian Army General K S Brar, a so-called Sikh, supported and launched the attack on Akal Takhat and Sri Harmandir Sahib. He disgraced the community. Giani Zail Singh president of India, supported Indera Gandhi. These are the so-called Sikhs who disgraced the Sikhs.
SANT JARNAIL SINGH BHINDRANWALE
The charismatic leader, Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale made three religious demands in 1981. These were accepted by Indera Gandhi on 27th February 1983. These were
- Amritsar to be given holy city title. No alcohol, No meat, No cigarettes. Haridwar and Kurushetra was given the title of holy city without any problem much earlier. However Sikhs had to voice out for 2 years in order to get Holy City title for Amritsar. Isn’t this unfair?
- Direct transmission of kirtan from Sri Darbar Sahib by Jalandhar station of All India Radio to foreign lands. The cost will be borne by Khalsa Panth. This took 2 years for Indera Gandhi to give permission despite of cost borne by Khalsa Panth. There is live Aarti from Haridwar and Kurushetra without any problem but Sikhs had to wait for 2 years to get approval. Isn’t this unfair?
- Permission for Sikhs to carry 9-inch kirpan with 6-inch blade on the Indian Airlines flights. Sikhs have been carrying Shastars since the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib. Yet it took 2 years for Indera Gandhi to digest these facts.
Indera Gandhi wouldn’t have accepted these three religious demands but had no choice to accept them since she wanted to make her position stronger in Punjab. She wanted the support of Sant Bindrawale who had the support of the majority of Punjab. Indera Gandhi wanted to show good reputation to Punjabis in Punjab.
Today most of us watch Darbar Sahib live on PTC Punjab. All the credit should go to Sant Bhindranwale for his effort for 2 years demanding the rights. Today Amritsar declared a Holy City within a 25 km square area. All the credit goes to Sant Bhindranwale. Sant Bhindranwale also helped numerous people in numerous ways (Refer to Jeevan Sakhi Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale).
THE ATTACK ON AKAAL TAKHAT AND HARMANDIR SAHIB
Indera Gandhi planned to launch attack on Sri Akal Takth and Sri Darbar Sahib several months earlier. She was worried that in the presence of Sant Bhindranwale, she could not make a position for herself in Punjab. The Anandpur Resolution would affect her monthly earnings and her position.
Indera Gandhi was always anti-Sikh and therefore she never wanted Sikhs and Punjab to develop.
Dharam Yudh Morcha received a good support from all over of Punjab. Indera Gandhi was totally shaken. She tried buying Sant Bhindranwale but unfortunagely Sant Bhindranwale was “not for sale”.
Therefore the attack was launched. Several months later, the personal guards of Indera Gandhi did rightful act by killing her for the Biadbhi done by her.
ASSASSINATION OF MAHATAMA GANDHI AS A COMPARISON
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 in the compound of Birla House, a large mansion in central New Delhi. His assassin was Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a right wing advocate of Hindu nationalism, a member of the political party, the Hindu Mahasabha, as well as a former member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Nathuram Vinayak Godse had planned the assassination with others from various backgrounds including a refugee from the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.
In the last 13 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s life, there were five unsuccessful attempts to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi.
Finally the attempt was successful on 30th January 1948. However this assassination didn’t cause any death to any member of Hindusabha or RSS. There were no young girls of Hindusabha or RSS brutally raped, no men were brutally killed. No genocide occured. No member of Hindusabha or RSS died at all.
But when two Sikhs assassinated Indera Gandhi for the Biadbhi done on Akal Takth and Sri Harmandir Sahib, thousands of Sikhs were brutally killed.
Is this fair?
ENDING
Famous “bachan” statement of Sant Bhindranwale.
ਮੈ ਸਰੀਰਕ ਮੌਤ ਮੌਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਗਿਣਦਾ, ਜ਼ਮੀਰ ਦਾ ਮਰਜਾਨਾ ਹੀ ਮੌਤ ਹੈ।
Meh Sareerak Maut, Maut Nahi Ginda, Zameer Dha Marjana Hi Maut Ah.
I don’t consider physical death as death, the death of conscience is the real death.
Let’s pay attribute to
- those who were martyred during June 1984 defending Akal Takth,
- those innocent Sangat who lost their life during the attack,
- those Sikhs who were brutally killed after the death of Indera Gandhi.
Utmost attribute to Sant Giani Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale for all his effort to make Punjab a better state and he stood for all the “Hak” which Sikhs deserve but never get in India and all those who have martyred for Sikhi.
Jinaanh Singhaan Singhniaan Nay Dharam Hayt Sis Dittay,
Band Band Kataaay, Khopriaan Luhaaiaan, Charkhiaan Tay Charhay,
Aarayaan Naal Chiraaay Gaay, Deghaan Vich Ubalaay Gaay,
Bachiyaan Deh Tothe Karvaa Jholiyaan Vich Pavaeh,
Bachey Nejhiaa Teh Tanghvaeh, Jandaan Naal Banh Ke Saray Gaay,
Gaadiyaan Heth Litharey Gaay, Goliyaan Naal Bhuneh Gaay,
Jhootay Pulish Mukhabaliyaan Vich Shaheed Kithay Gaay,
Thaniaan Vich Jinhaan Ashee Atay Akhee Kashth Saharay,
Janbooraan Naal Nahun Teh Maas Nochiaa Gyaa,
Tetiaaan Salakhaaan Atay Garam Perehsaan Naal Jinhaan Deh Sareer Saray Gaay,
Garam Hithraan Teh Betha Atay Bijli Da Karnt Maar Saheeed Kitha Gyaa,
Hath Per Banh Darhaavaan Vich Roray Gaay,
Jeepaan Naal Banh Dufar Kar Dithay Gaay, Puthay Lathkayay Gaay,
Fasiaaan Teh Cherayay Gaay, Gallan Vich Tayar Pakay Saray Gaay,
Tankra Tay Goliyan Deh Nishanay Banne,
Gurdwariaan Gurthamaan Di Seva Laee Kurbaaniaan Kithiaan,
Thekaan Aagay Aapniaa Shatiaan Daah Dithiaan, Dharam Naheen Haariaa,
Sikhi Keshaan Suaasaan Naal Nibaahi,
Tinhaan Guru Dulaariaan Di Kamayi Da Dhiaan Dhar Kay,
Khalsa Ji, Bolo Ji Waheguru.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Gur Vichar 