Historiography of the Literature
About ‘Blue Star’ Operation
Dr. Alka Mishra
“Blue Star Operation” (June 4, 1984) is a turning point of the history of the Indian sub-continent. The attack by the Indian army on the holiest of the Sikh shrines as well as Akal Takh(the Throne of the Almighty which exposed the congress designs with regards to the non-Hindus, the frail prowess of the so called might since capturng of power by Mco tse Tung in china in 1949. Though Twenty years have gone and there is no territorial chanfe in the Soviet empire the Indian union may be cut to its origional Hindustan size i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Part of Haryana, Part of Himanchal etc. The rest of the Land i.e. the Punjab Kashmir, Assam, Bengal, Rajputana, Dravid Land and may be Maratha Land may become sovereign lands. Prior 1989, none would have believed the fail of rhe Berlin wall, the freedom of Poland, Hungry, Slovakia, Czec republic, romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and the rest of the territory occupied by rusia and even Eritrea.
My subject is however not the future of the sub-continent. Iam dealing with the literature produce after the attack of the Indian army on Darbar Sahib on june 4, 1984. The following are the books to be considered in this article:
English Books
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White Paper of the Indian Goverment
opperation in punjab
who ar guilty
siege of the Sikhs
Tragedy of Punjab:Blue Star Operationand After
The Fatal Miscalculation
The Punjab Story
Amritsar: Indira Gandhi’s last Battle
Punjab:The Fatal Miscalculation
Internal and External Threats to Sikhism
Sikh’s Struggle for Sovereignty
Soft Target
unholy Terror
The sikh Question
Blue star Operation
Operation Black Thunder
Punjab Under Siege
India commits Suicide
India: Siege Within
India: Million Mutinies
Punjabi books
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Diary De Panne
khalistan Di Twarikh
Shiromani Akali Dal
Vihvin Sadi Di Sikh Rajniti
Kion Kita Visah
Ki Khalistan Banega
Dooja Zafarnama
khalistan Di Loar Kion
Dahishatgardi Dian Jarhan Kithe Han
Akhin Dittha haal
The first ever document about the Blue Star Operation was White Paper. It was published by the Indian regime to justify its invasion of the Darbar Sahib (wrongly called Golden Temple). This book is me Propaganda. Except the dates and the names of the persons and the places every thing else is blatant lie. The book details the events prior to the invasion. It reveals that the dialogue with the Sikh leaders continued till the nd of May 1984 and still the attack was launched within hours of so called failure of talks.The truth is the Indian army had planned this attack several months before it was translated into action. the assistance be the Russian K.G.B. and even some British officials proves that the Indira Gandhi had some thing different her mind (to quote Dr. Dilgeer “insane mind”). Further, the book says that the attack took place on June whereas it began on June 4 at 4.44 A.M. In fact the Sikh land was sealed on june 3 and the army too positions on the same day. The casualities of the army and the Sikhs have been wrongly stated. The documentatios less that one hudred soldiers killed whereas the number was more than 5000. The book says 300 sikhs were killed whereas the number was more than 1000. Not even slight reference has been made heinous crimes against innocent Sikhs, butchery and inhuman torture and killings and the burning of the shrines, records, archives and the museums of the Sikhs, whereas the whole of the world press recorded it their papers.
Opperation in Punjab, with a forward by Chander Shekhar, is a brief but meaningful account of the scene as well of the period immediately following the invasion. it is an impartial following the invasion. It is an impartial account of the carnage an Mc =Carthy style persecution of the innocent Sikhs. The book exposes the claims of the Indianregime and proves the hollowness of the fascist goverment and its crimes against humanity in contravention og the holy international conventions relating to such events. It is however noteworthy that, later, the same Chand Shekhar threatened to eliminate thousands of the Sikhs unless the Sikhs did not abondon their claim sovereignty.
Who are The Guilty is a touching story of the holocaust of the Black November 1984. It identifies the criminals responsible for the carnage of the Sikhs. It is shocking that the Hindu regime of Delhi called it “riots” whereas it was massacre/genocide of the Sikhs. This book is based on the documentry evidence as well as the statements by the eye-witness. It esxposed the Nazi-type acts of the terrorist rulers. The book mentions the Chief of the police, the ministers like Narsimha Rao, H.K.l>Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler, Arjan das Lalit Makan (son in law of Shankar dyal sharma, later, the President of India), Bhajan Lal, Sajjan Kumar as among those who led, collobareted and guided the operations of the inhuman carriage of the Sikhs. Now it well known that the whole operations had the blessing of Rajiv gandhi himself. Rajiv, later, justified the carnage. Who Are the Guilty remains the best document about the genocide of the Sikhs. Its paralle is Holocaust, the book which explains the carnage of the jews by the Nazis during the Second World war.
The Siege of the Sikhs by Justice Ajit singh Bains is a rare document with regard to the violation human rights i the country of the Punjab.It explains the utlerior motives behind the Black Laws promulgate by the Indian regime. The book explains the where these Laws violated the undamental principles of the various Treaties and Conventions of the United Nations. The book is an impartial account of the legal side. The book however, does not mention that the practice is much different even from the Black Laws. The disappearance of the innocent Sikhs, merciless killings, inhuman torture,
unspeakable atrocities perpetrated by the Indiaforces against the Sikhs, including women and children, have not been explained in the document; otherwise this would have become the most historic account of inhuman acts. sane human beings won’t believe the savagery and brutality commited by the ferocious forces of India. The History had never known such heinous crimes against humanity. Still, within the scope of its subject, this book ramains the best account of the best account of the Black Laws prevalent still in the Sikh Homeland.
Tragedy of Punjab: Operation Blue Star And After written by tahe Kuldip Nayyar and Khushwant Singh, a book written with a double mind. The authors know the crime against the Sikhs but they still do not wantdisplease the rulers. With a low voice they mention some of the crimes and that even with a mild tone. it seems that they want the Sikhs to abandon their claims to sovereignty and self-determination. The reason is the mind of the senior author Kuldip Nayyar, who was born in a Sikh family but later, joined Hinduism people beleive that he embraced hinduism to marry the daughter of Bhim Sen Sachar, a Hindu Chief Minister. Kuldip nayyar’s psyche makes the book as an incomplete and partial account of the situation. Some scholars consider it as a shrewd propaganda or a work signiflying nothing.
The Punjab story is a collection of essays wtitten by khushwant Singh, Amarjit Kaur, talveen Sing Shekhar Gupta, Subhash Kirpekar, Jagjit Arora, M.V.Kamath,sunil Sethi, and Arun Shourie (who is know as an established anti-Sikh writer).All these writers are either anti-Sikh writers or are the supporters of the policies of the Indian regime. The reasons for their pro-regime approach are different but one thing is common that they have disliking for the sikhs in general. With this intention in mind these articles were written in 198 and were later published in the form of a book. The authors of these articles give confusing material at various accounts and on several occasions of the quotations are mischievously misquoted. It ia not because of ignorance it is just because of the ill will with the propagandist writers. Since the indian regims White Paper, this was the most partial acccount of the Sikhs versus India and vice versa. It ia worth recording that Amarjit Kaur, a author of this book, appeared at Akal Takht sahib in 1998 and apologized for her writings and acceptad tha punishment granted from the takht.
Amritsar: The last battle if Indira Gandhi by Mark Tully and Satish Jacob of the B.B.C. is an account by two journalists. The account is full of then fallacious and incorrect information. One can smell the rat. mark Tully is known as an “inside man” of the nthen rulling party hence he was supposed to play the tunes of regime. This account is one sided and prejudiced account of the Blue Star Operation as well as the carnage the Sikhs during Black November 1984. The authors don’t hide their anti-Sikh attitude and on occasions they can not conceal their anger the Sikhs. It is remarkable to know that mark Tully, a British Citizen were awarded the Indian award Padam Shri in April 1992, an award given for the first time and for the last time to foreign journalist. What was the reason for giving this award, the Indian goverment has never declared by scholars consider rthe above mentioned book as well as anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim role of such like ‘employees’ of the B.B.C agency’ in New Delhi as the only criteria for the award.
Punjab: the fatal mniscalculation edited by hajri Mlik and consists of articles by Hajri Malik, Patwant Singh, R.S.Narula, Rajni Kothari, Hukam Singh, I.K.gujral, Khushwant Singh, Jag Aurora, A.G.Noorani, Dharam Kumar, Madhu Kishwar, Romesh Thapar, M.Ghazali, John Fraser, Dipank Gupta, and Pran Chopra etc. These writers belong to three categories: the Yes–man of the indian regime (Khushwant Singh, Jagjit S. Arora, I.K>Gujral etc.), the Hindus , who are not aggresive still they write staunch Hindus 9Dharam Kumar, Dipanker Gupta, Madhu Kishwar, Romsh Thapar) and the third
group miscellaneous writers, who can not be classed in any category. Thus the role of the book become clearfromthe approach of the writer. the sycophants like khushwant and Jagjit Arora have tried to please the fasci regime by justifying the invasion of the Darbar Sahib. They have used some confusing words to disagree wi some of the acts done by the regime but on the whole both of them have tried to pay the price of the nomination to the Upper House of India. Patwant Singh, a shrewd journalist usually plays double role. He has done the name in the above case too. Similar is the pattern of I.K.Gujral. Dharme kumar has not been able to hide his disdain for the sikhs’ struggle for regaining of their lost sovereignty. Nevertheless, the articles Harji Malik, Rajni Kothari, Dipanker Gupta, Romesh Thapar, John Fraser are genuine and non-prajudice hence a useful volume.
Internal And External Threads To Sikhism by Dr. Dharm Singh (Canada) is a collection of essays of differnt topics written from time to time. Some part of this material relates to the Operation Blue Star. The writer gives a good account of some of the events with causation of the issues. Though the writer has not come up with any analytical evaluation of the Blue Star Operation, yet he has succesfully presented the Sikh cas He nowhere hides that he is writting as a Sikh.
The Sikhs’ struggle For Sovereignty by Dr. harjinder Singh dilgeer 9with one chapter, the last one, dr. Awatar Singh Sekhon) is a detailed account of the Sikhs’ struggle for sovereignty. It deals with the concern of nationhood o the Sikhs as well as the loss of their sovereignty. To quote Dr. darshan Singh, “(this) is small book in volume, but encyclopedic in nture…Almost all the turning points of Sikh history are we located an well presented. this small book has become all enencompassing and thus comprehensive treatment of the subject. Along with history, it distinctively deals with the philosophy, the ideology, the religion, the politics, and above all the psyche of the Sikhs.” Through a comprehensive book, it could not attract the attention of the scholars.
Soft Target by zuher Kashmiri and Mc Andrew (Canada) explaines with detail the disaster of the Air India plane, which the Indian regime blamed on the part of a group of the Sikhs. The authors have succesfully proved that the Indian regime was fully responsible for the samr. It exposes the conspiracy of the Indian regime to defame the Sikhs abroad. Though the work relates to an event of 1985 yet it throws light of the background of the Blue Star operation, its results and conspiracies around the same.
Unholy terror by Lan Mulgrew (Canada) is an anti-Sikh work, believed to be written to collaborate the indian regime. Some even allege that Mulgrew wrote the book at the instance of the Indian Consulate in Canada. Ian Mulgrew’s work is aggresive in tone, is full of incorrect, baised malicious material. exposes his ignorance of Sikh history, philosophy and polity. the author frequently uses derogatory language for the sikhs and even, at some places, gives lectures ‘as if he is an Indian police official’. this is one of the most un-academic works about the Sikhs. Like W>H>McLeod, the leader of the notorious anti-Sikhism School he has added to unethical propaganda literature.
The Sikh Question by sarfraz Hussain Mirza, Syed Farooq Hasmat and Sohail Mohammad (Universial of punjab, Lahore 1985) is a narrative of the background of the events reulting into invasion of the holiest of the Sikh shrine. the authors have consulted several sources available in Pakistan. the authors have done a of labor and have produced an imprtial work about the subject. However, the authors have a drawback non-availbility of several important sources. The authors did not have access to literature published in the Sikh Homeland and moreover they lack knowledge of Punjabi language leading to incapability to consult the sources published in the language of the Sikh Homeland. and moreover they lack knowledge of Punjabi language leading to incapability to cunsult the sources published in the language of the Sikh Homeland. Most of the genuine literature and source material about the sikhs is in panjabi language and Gurmukhi script. hence, this makes the scope of the work limited one. Nevertheless, the authors have produced the best out of the material on their tables.
Blue Star Operation by K.S .Brar who led the attack on the Darbar Sahib and is responsible for the massacre of thousands of inocent Sikh youth, women and children, has produced this malicious book. This is a carbon copy of the Indian goverment’s White paper and Brar has published this book to cover up heinous crime commited during the month long genocide of the Sikhs. Almost all the reviews of the book condemned this work as a blatant lie and some of the scholars went on to say to this excent that the book was written by the Indian officials and was published in the name Brar. A similar book ‘Operation Black Thunder’ was written by Sarbjit Singh (Deputy Commissionor of Amritsar in 1987) with an intention to justice the goverment action.
punjab Under siege by Iqbal Singh is a useful work about the Blua Star Operation. It discusses with detail the issues involved in the situation leading to Sikhs’ plight. The author has sucessfully presented the points relevant to the subject matter of the book. The account is unbaised and his arguments are logical and well built. The author is noehere imbalanced or partial.
India commits Suicide by Dr. Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon is one of the good books written about the Operation Blue Star. To quote Karamjit Singh (Panjabi Tribune), “This book is precious as it contain valuable documents about the present Sikh struggle…. This book will be an eye opener for the Indian politicians because it cautions them of the future of the sub-coninent.” India commits Suicide and The sikh Struggle for Sovereignty: An Historical Perspective by Dr. Harjiner Singh Dilgeer are the two mo remarkable works about the Sikh Situation, its genesis as well as its future and the future of the Indian sub-continent.
India: Million Mutnies by, is a book of hatred. The reviewers of the book exposed this propaganda work as an act of anger against the Sikhs whom the author seems to detest for reasons best known to him V.S Naipal has been given special publicity since this work by by the Indian goverment. Even the Indian reader did not know Naipal before he published this work. The author has presented a lot of information about the events, which never took place including his visit to the Sikh leaders. This makes the work just a malicious piece of propaganda.
India: The siege Within by M.J.Akbar is one the most shocking works about the Sikhs and the Kashmiris. The work seems to be a product of hatred for the Sikhs and the Muslims. Ironically it has been published in the name of a muslim . The author leaves no opportunity to rebuke, assail, and blame the Sikhs and the Muslims for each and every thing. It is strange that such a baised work has been published by Pengu books. The book does not deal with any issue seriously. The issues are discussed on propaganda plan. The author speaks not as a scholar but as a leader of the ruling party. The information is distorted, false and sever accounts are based on rumors. A serious scholar will consider it nothing more than trash.
Among the Punjabi publications about the Blue Star operation Harbir Singh bhanwar’s Diary D Panne was the first. It is dairy of a journalist who was actually present near Darbar sahib and had see almost every thing with his own eyes. This is a useful document. The book explains with detail the atrocities committed by the angry Hindu soldiers of the Indian army. It also mentions the reaction of the Hindus as well as the Sikhs with regard to events immediately before and after the invasion on darbar Sahib and the genocious of the innocent Sikhs. Among the punjabi publications no such work depicting such an important event of the world history does exist. The author has written two more books but none of them is up to he mark but the book is remarkable far the facts and figures and picturesque of the attack and aftermath.
khalistan Di Twarikh by dr. Harjinder Singh dilgeer 9who is author of a large number of books modern Sikh history) is a detailed document about the Sikhs’ struggle for freedom. In the first section the author explains the Sikhs’ struggle as the basis of the post-1984 phenomena. The second section deals with details the invasion and the atrocities , the persecution, the killings and torture and the black laws
promulgate by the Indian regime. The sufferings of the Sikh nation have been candidly discussed in this book. This is useful document for the students and scholars of the history of the Khalistan movement, its genesis and the consequences. with several hundred photographs, the books is of great value for the students of Sikh studies Due to data given in his book, it has become a reference book of the 20-years(1978-1988) of the sikh resurgent movement.
Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer’s second book “Shiromani Akali Dal (1920-2000)” is far better than Khalistan Di Twarikh as far as the detail of Blue Star Operation and its assessment is concerned. Dilgeer has given objective analysis of the attack on Darbar Sahib. He was quoted one Surjeet Sing Chhadauri, whose assessment is a comprehensive analysis of the militant movement. This is the only book Punjabi, which does complete justice to the subject as well as the whole Sikh politics of twentieth century. 2003, Ajmer Singh published veehvin Sadi Di Sikh Rajniti. This book is not different from Dilgeer’s Shiromani Akali Dal (1920-2000)”. It seems that Ajmer Singh has develoved the whole book on the material/analysis of Dr. Dilgeer in the above-mentioned book.
Kio Kito Visah by Narain Singh is another precious book, which traces the causes of the tragedies 1984 (June and November). this book indicts the Sikh leadership for having trusted the Hindu Congress leadership in 1947. Narain Singh was the manager of Nanakana Sahib before 1947 and has several books and tracts to his contribution. He has revealed several facts, which were unknown to other writers because (Narain Singh 0 had close links with severl senior Sikh leaders.
ki Khalistan Banega is another work by Harbir Bhanwar. It is a collection of journalist. The author has not dealt the issue with detail, nor is he certain about what he want to say. Still some of the information to which he was a witness is important.
Dooja Zafarnama byJaswant S. Kanwal is a collection of letters addressed by the author to theIndian Prime Ministers. These are in fact essays and not letters (they were never mailed). The author basically a novelist and does not have command over the political issues. Like a layman he has tried to give his opinions about some of the contemporary issues. Moreover, the whole book is full of contradictions and the author seems to be either confused or he has not the courage to say the truth. The author, however, has been able to mention the abuses of human rights in the Sikh Homeland.
Khalistan Di Lor Kiyon by Sirdar Sarup Singh Narang explains with detail the Sikhs’ case for right self-determination. The author has presented figures which explain that the sikh Homeland was and is being used the usurper India as a colony and the Sikhs, in their own Homeland, are being treated as slayes. The book asserts that the invasion of Darbar Sahibas an act planned to carry the genocide of the Sikhs. The value of the book lies in the facts and the other rare but the arguments about the real issues of the Sikh struggle are not very convincing.
Dahishatgardi Dian Jarhan Kitne Han by Satpal Dang, an official of the Communist party (loyal Indira Gandhi) is another angry book writen with a purpose to defame the Sikhs and their struggle. The book discusses the reasons for the disturbances in the Sikh Homeland. The author does not present any logic by indulges in false propaganga and rumor-mongering. The facts and figures presented by the author an incorrect, false and the whole seems to be a angry propaganda. Among the anti-Sikh works written about the Sikhs struggle is the most notorious and besides, it is a sub standard work.
Besides these books some Urdu publications have also come up. The most Important to mention two Pakistani publications Khalistan maazi ka khwab Mustakil Ki Haqiqat by Tariq Ismail Sagar and Bhar Wich sikh Qaumi Tehriq by Mohammad jahangir Tamimi. Both the books arw written with good intentions by both the books are based on insufficient sources.
Besides the literature discussed above, several books discuss the events of u=the Blue Star Operation Even in some reference volumes the reference can be found with regard to the invasion of the Darbar Sahib and the Akal Takht Sahib. The entries written by the anti-Sikh school are propaganda material.
The Anl Sikhism School consists of w.H McLeod, J.S. Grewal, harjot Oberoi, Surjit Hans, Pishaura Singh, an impartial writer is Professor Neol Q. King. The rest of the writers have prasented lop-sided/partial/prejudice material. The reasons are best known to them, at least not a subject of this paper.