SIKH STRUGGLE DOCUMENTS 1920-2022

Description

The history of the Sikhs is a compelling chronicle of resilience and aspiration, characterized by their pursuit of dignity and honor, which at times has manifested in the demand for a sovereign state. Over a span of just over 500 years, the Sikhs once governed a vast territory stretching from the Satluj River to the Khyber Pass, with boundaries touching Tibet on the other side. They were also a crucial player in the colonial negotiations for India’s freedom.

The Sikh religio-political narrative has significantly influenced India’s political dynamics for over a century, notably with the revival of the Sikh struggle marked by the establishment of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on November 15, 1920, at Akal Takht the supreme seat of Sikh sovereignty located in front of the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

This narrative evolved further after the partition of India in 1947, a division that resulted in one of the most tragic massacres in history. Since then, the Sikh religio-political dynamics have continued to impact India’s political landscape and are now shaping its geopolitical relations, especially in the context of the Sikh Diaspora.

This volume aims to document these struggles, beginning with the pivotal year of 1940, when the demand for Khalistan was first articulated in response to the Muslim League’s Resolution for Pakistan. Central to this narrative are the issues of autonomy for Punjab and the quest for a separate Sikh state.

The book includes a comprehensive collection of original documents related to these issues, both during and after the partition. The SGPC had formally advocated for a separate Sikh state before 1947. This volume is unique in its attempt to present a cohesive narrative up to contemporary times, reflecting changes in the religio-political landscape. It includes manifestos of the Shiromani Akali Dal and various party constitutions, as well as important documents related to the militant struggle.

The documents are accompanied by an insightful analysis of the Sikh religio-political narrative up to 1966, providing essential context for understanding the turbulence in Sikh political dynamics in the post-1966 era.

Jagtar Singh is a journalist and columnist with career spanning more than four decades. He has worked with Chandigarh centre of The Indian Express for about two and a half decades covering religio-political dynamics and economy of Punjab. He joined this profession after doing post-graduation in Economics from the Punjabi University, Patiala. The professional career of the author as a journalist and the rise of radical politics and militancy in Punjab are co-terminus. The author joined The Indian Express in Chandigarh in 1978 and was transferred to Amritsar in early 1979. That was the period when the radical political discourse was getting shaped up. The author has the distinction of being the eyewitness from the very beginning of this fight for the Sikh homeland. Even after return to Chandigarh, the author covered almost every major event in Amritsar including Operation Bluestar. He is also the author of Khalistan Struggle: A Non-movement.