By Parmjit Singh
Published: January 8, 2013
http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/2013/01/08/why-indian-media-outcries-at-akal-takhat-honoring-national-sikh-martyrs/
On January 06, 2013 Bhai Kehar Singh and
Bhai Satwant Singh were remembered by the Sikh nation on their
martyrdom day. Akal Takhat Sahib, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak
Committee (SGPC) and Sikh sangat observed their martyrdom day by
organizing a function at Gurudwara Jhanda-Bunga Sahib near Sri Akal
Takhat for three days.
Akhand Path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was recited
for three days, January 04 to January 06; and the bhog ceremony was held
on January 06, 2013. The bhog was attended by Jathedar of Sri Akal
Takhat Sahib, Manager of Sri Darbar Sahib besides representatives of
various Sikh organizations and member of the Sikh sangat.
Still from a News Channel’s footage regarding Akal Takhat honoring kins of Sikh martyrs on January 06, 2013
Various sections of Indian media is
out-crying at this ceremony. Some are blaming SGPC and ruling Badal Dal
for playing politics on “sensitive” issues, while others are blaming
Sikh “community” for their “sad silence” over “worrying assertion among
Sikhs of the politics of violence and extremism”.
As per Deccan Herald:
“The Akal Takht’s honouring of the assassins of former prime minister
Indira Gandhi on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of their hanging
marks an unambiguous endorsement of an act of terrorism”.
It is notable that Bhai Satwant Singh
and Bhai Kehar Singh were sentenced to death by an Indian court in
Indira Gandhi “murder” case. They were hanged to death on 6 January
1989.
It is further notable here that in order
to suppress peaceful political agitation named “Dharam Youth Morcha”
initiated by Sikhs to secure their political rights, Indira Gandhi had
launched an armed attack on various Sikh Gurudwaras in the northern
states of Punjab and Haryana. Nearly 36 Sikh Gurudwaras were attacked by
Indian army during this armed attack that was code-named as “Operation
Blue Star”.
Shaheed Beant Singh
Shaheed Kehar Singh
The attack had begun on June 4, 1984 – a
day when Sikhs were observing martyrdom day of their Fifth Guru, Sri
Guru Arjun Sahib and Sikh pilgrims in large numbers had gathered in
Gurudwaras.
During this attack thousands of Sikh
pilgrims were killed by Indian Army. Sikh leader Sant Jarnail Singh
Bhindranwale along with about two hundred Sikh fighters attained
martyrdom while defending Sri Darbar Sahib and Akal Takhat Sahib at
Amritsar.
Indian army used tanks to destroy the
structure of Akal Takhat Sahib, eternal seat of Sikh Sovereignty.
National Sikh Library, situated with in the precincts of Sri Darbar
Sahib (the Golden Temple of Amritsar) was set on fire by the Indian army
after removing some valuable historic manuscripts that were preserved
there.
Shaheed Satwant Singh
After this attack Indian army had
initiated another activity that was code-named as “Operation Wood Rose”
aimed at finishing away political dissent of Sikhs by physical
elimination of Sikh youth from Punjab, the only Sikh majority state in
India.
The attack of June 1984 brought
“zero-period” for the contemporary Sikhs and this attack changed the
relation of Sikhs with India in entirety. Sikhs were facing existential
crisis.
Incidents of Sikh history guided the
Sikhs during this period when the entire Sikh nation was under attack by
the Indian state and Indira Gandhi was symbolising this dangerously
hostile phenomena.
On October 31, 1984 Bhai Beant Singh and
Bhai Satwant Singh, two Sikh bodyguards of Indira Gandhi shot her dead.
Their act was stood as avowal to the fact that anyone who dared to
attack Sri Darbar Sahib was brought to justice as per Sikh traditions.
Both Bhai Beant Singh and Bhai Satwant
Singh were later shot at by other bodyguards of Indira Gandhi. There
were reports that after shooting at Indira Gandhi Bhai Beant Singh and
Satwant Singh had laid their weapons and they were shot at by other
bodyguards of Indira Gandhi after being taken into custody.
Bhai Beant Singh attained martyrdom as a
result of those gun shots; where as Bhai Satwant Singh survived the
injuries. Bhai Kehar Singh was also charged along with Bhai Satwant
Singh and both were sentenced to death by an Indian court.
Soon after their execution on January
06, 1989 Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh were declared as
“Martyrs of the faith” by the Akal Takhat Sahib, whereas Bhai Beant
Singh was already endowed with that title ever since his martyrdom on
October 31, 1984.
It is further notable that the Sikh
nation is observing their martyrdom day annually at Akal Takhat Sahib
since the day of their martyrdom.
In this background one thing should be
clearly understood that Bhai Beant Singh, Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai
Kehar Singh are martyrs for the Sikh nation and the Sikh nation is
observing their martyrdom day annually.
Indian media’s “worries” have specific
reasons. Media in India has been working as an extension of the Indian
State. The “single-nation building” process initiated by the Indian
State soon after partition of 1947 was adopted as “aim project” for
Indian media.
The problem is that this peninsula named
India is “multi-national” and “multi-cultural” country that has been
turned in “boiling pot” of nations. Sikh nation’s political assertions
successfully challenged this process, especially in 1980s-90s.
Armed attack of June 1984; murder of
Indira Gandhi in October 1984 and martyrdoms of Bhai Beant Singh, Bhai
Satwant Singh and Bhai Kihar Singh are closely related to the events
symbolizing challenge posed by the Sikh nation to the illusionary
concept of single-Indian nation. Therefore, Indian media is so much
hostile to the annual functions held by the Sikhs to remember these
martyrs.
Outcry of Indian media against June 1984
memorial that is being build near Akal Takhat Sahib and annual
functions held in the memory of Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda and Bhai
Sukhdev Singh Sukha, who punished the chief of Indian Army under whose
command army had attacked Sri Darbar Sahib and other Sikh Gurudwaras in
June 1984, may also be viewed under the light of above argument.
Indian State’s ominous desire to crush
identities of distinct nations residing in this peninsula to form single
Indian identity is the root cause of conflicts – be it the case of
struggle of Sikhs, Kashmiris, Nagas, Bodos, Mizos or the Tamils. Indian
media’s alignment with the Indian state as front guards in this conflict
has added dangerous attributes that serve the State and works against
the rightful struggle of the people.
Therefore, anyone accessing recent
write-ups published by Indian media out-crying at Akal Takhat’s
honouring of Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh’s kins should give
due weight-age to the fact of bias of India Media against the Sikh
nation. These write-ups need to be read in rightful context that could
be termed as “media war” initiated by the Indian state against the
Sikhs.