Government of India | American Turban

In a process that took 30 years, Sajjan Kumar, a leader in India's Congress Party, was recently acquitted in the case implicating his involvement in the anti-Sikh pogroms in 1984. Five co-accused were convicted.(source: Live Mint)

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 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

Organizer of last week’s NY Sikh Film Festival speaks

November 7, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

At the Sikh Art & Film Foundation, we believe Sikh values are American values, and we know that film is a powerful medium. Through choosing the best films and gathering together every fall, Sikh and non-Sikh, we honor our history and share our values and humanity in a way that the gap with other people. But we are not afraid to show films that reveal our foibles, for Sikhs are also ordinary people — and people sometimes fall short of […]

Categories: 1984, Events • Tags: Government of India, New York, Sikh International Film Festival, Tejinder Singh Bindra