1984 | | Page 3

A graphic by the National Sikh Youth Federation in the United Kingdom describes the initiating events during the Indian government's attack on Darbar Sahib (aka the Golden Temple) in June 1984, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths. (Source: NSYF)

Remembering June, 1984

June 3, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The year 1984 is forever etched into the Sikh psyche after it was added to the long list of atrocities against the Sikh people by rulers of their land. During the first week of June of that year, the Indian Government launched “Operation Blue Star“, an attack on the center of the Sikh faith in Amritsar, India, and invasions of numerous other Gurdwaras (Sikh houses of worship) across Punjab and India, under the pretext of neutralizing militants that had taken […]

Categories: 1984 • Tags: Amritsar, Darbar Sahib, Golden Temple, Gunisha Kaur, Guru Arjan, Guru Arjun, India, Indian Army, National Sikh Youth Federation, NSYF, Operation Blue Star, Punjab, Simran Jeet Singh

The Indian Disconnect

May 21, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

About two months ago, I observed the continuing engagement by representatives of the Indian government with the Sikh American community, which in that instance took the form of an exhibition on Sikh heritage in Atlanta, Georgia, sponsored by the Government of India. This exhibit has just recently been presented in Washington, D.C., as well, and it is consistent with increased engagement and activity related to the Sikh American community — be it directly, or through lobbying of US officials — […]

Categories: 1984, Civil Rights, Politics • Tags: 1984, 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Government of India, November 1984, Sajjan Kumar

A protestor holds up a sign during a "Free Bhullar" rally in San Francisco, CA, April 18, 2013. (source: Sikh Roots)

Picture of the Day: “Free Bhullar” rally in San Francisco, CA

April 19, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yesterday, demonstrators assembled outside the Indian consulate offices in San Francisco and New York to protest the imminent execution of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar in India. Devender Pal Singh’s conviction in the case of a 1993 assassination attempt in India was based on very questionable grounds, and while the judiciary seeks to execute him when he is deemed mentally fit, voices opposing the execution have been increasing within India and abroad.

Categories: 1984, Civil Rights, Events • Tags: California, Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Devender Pal Singh Bullar, protest, San Francisco

“Free Bhullar” protests scheduled tomorrow in SF and NY

April 17, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Tomorrow, Sikhs in San Francisco and New York will be protesting outside the Indian consulate offices in each city at noon (local time) against India’s imminent execution of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar . As mentioned on this blog last week, Professor Bhullar has been sentenced to death by hanging in India for a 1993 bombing even though the evidence convicting him and the judicial process thereof has been extremely questionable. Adding to the dubious nature of this case is that […]

Categories: 1984, Civil Rights • Tags: Capital punishment, Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Devender Pal Singh Bullar, India, New York, protest, San Francisco

"End the Death Penalty" poster. (source: @jakaramovement)

One year later, another Sikh faces execution in India

April 12, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

About a year and half ago, the story of Devender Pal Singh Bhullar was shared on this blog. Devender Pal Singh, a university professor, has been on India’s death row after he was deemed guilty for a bombing in India in 1993 which took the lives of nine people. He was sentenced to death by hanging. However, the conviction was rife with inconsistencies and problems, the most notable of which was that Devender Pal Singh’s confession was based solely on […]

Categories: 1984, Civil Rights • Tags: Amnesty International, Balwant Singh Rajoana, Capital punishment, Devender Pal Singh, Devender Pal Singh Bullar, Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, India

A poster for the film "Sadda Haq" at an American movie theater.

Keeping the untold story untold

April 5, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Punjabi film “Sadda Haq” (loosely translated as “our rights”) — telling a story about the insurgency in Punjab, India, during the 1980s and 1990s — opens today around the world. Not so ironically, the film has just been banned by the Punjab government, the land in which the film is set. “The Punjab government has imposed ban on the screening of movie ‘Saada Haq’ till further orders. This step has been taken to maintain communal harmony in the state,” […]

Categories: 1984, TV/Movies • Tags: 1984, anti-Sikh pogroms, Ensaaf, Government of India, Sadda Haq, Sikh genocide petition, Sikhs for Justice, White House

"The smoke blackened marble on the right hand side is evidence of the fire which engulfed the Darshani Deori which housed priceless artifacts of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Bullet marks on the white marble facade are also clearly visible. Blood trails on the left side wall are likely evidence of the executions of captured Sikhs who were shot at point blank range by Indian Army soldiers with their hands tied behind their backs with their turbans as reported by multiple eyewitnesses." (source: SikhMuseum.com)

An irony for April Fool’s Day

April 1, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Guru Nanak Mission Society in Atlanta, Georgia is hosting a “heritage” exhibition from April 1 through 20, putting on display artifacts that are attributed to the Sikh Gurus and other relics from Sikh history. This would be an intriguing exhibition to partake, however, there is a little irony to be found therein. Of note, the exhibits are “provided by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) New Delhi Consul General of India.” It is noted that one of the exhibits […]

Categories: 1984, Events • Tags: Atlanta, Darshan Deori, Georgia, Government of India, Guru Nanak Mission Society, Operation Blue Star

Still from film "Who killed Bobby Rai?" by Naujawani.com

The “I Pledge Orange” movement, one year on

March 28, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This week marks one year since the “I Pledge Orange” movement took hold of the minds and hearts of Sikhs around the world inspired by one Balwant Singh Rajoana, a man on India’s death row who was scheduled to be executed on March 31, 2012, in Punjab, India. Balwant Singh was charged for participating in the 1995 assassination of Punjab’s then-Chief Minister, the tyrannical Beant Singh. After the protests in Punjab and around the world, Balwant Singh’s execution was stayed. […]

Categories: 1984, TV/Movies • Tags: Balwant Singh Rajoana, Beant Singh, Harwinder Singh Mander, I Pledge Orange, India, Naujawani.com, Punjab, Who Killed Bobby Rai?

Painting "Khoon ke Athru" by Harjit Kaur Grewal.

Receive an original painting for sponsoring Ensaaf’s Appear for the Disappeared 5K walk

March 19, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

As mentioned last week, I will be participating in an event in Fremont, California, on April 6, called “Appear for the Disappeared“, a five-kilometer walk to raise funds for Ensaaf, a non-profit organization that is documenting and seeking justice for the thousands of victims of state-sponsored disappearances during the 1980s and 1990s in Punjab, India. During that time, innocent men and women — particularly Sikhs — were the victims of torture and extra-judicial killings in Punjab by state agencies and […]

Categories: 1984, Events • Tags: Appear for the Disappeared, California, Decade of Disappearances, Ensaaf, Fremont, Harjit Kaur

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: 1984