Khalistan Movement Research Paper
Abstract
Sikh nationalist movement “The Khalistan movement” generally refers to the demand for a separate Sikh state called Khalistan ("The Land of the Pure") in Punjab region of India. The Khalistan movement was fought on various grounds mainly though in the name of cultural and religious identity, political insecurity and self-determination. (Gaurav, 2014) The independence movement was propagated by members of the political-religious group Akali Dal and its various splinter groups, and internationally among the Sikh diaspora. The movement’s origin dates back to the late nineteenth century when communal boundaries became more antagonistic between Hindus and Sikhs. The movement was primarily led by Akali Dal, who adopted a stronger stance for …show more content…
(Unknown, 2006) In June 1984, the Indian Government ordered a military operation, Operation Blue Star to clear Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar and thirty other Gurdwaras (Sikh Place of Worship) of armed terrorists who were desecrating Gurudwaras by using those as sanctuary. During this operation, Indian army had around 83+ casualties with 220 injuries, and 200- 250 Sikh militants were killed. (wikipedia, 2016) The handling of the operation, damage to the Holy shrine and loss of life on both sides, led to widespread anger and criticism against Indian Government. The Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards in retaliation. Following her death, thousands of Sikhs were massacred in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The subsequent Punjab insurgency saw several secessionist militant groups becoming active in Punjab, supported by a section of the Sikh diaspora. Indian security forces suppressed the insurgency in the early 1990s, but Sikh political groups such as the Khalsa Raj Party and SAD continued to pursue an independent Khalistan through non-violent means. The movement began to fade around the early 1990s reportedly due to the impact of almost a decade of violence and economic repercussions. …show more content…
The Sikhs are a unique group of people, in that their religion, beliefs, and collective identity are relatively new in the larger scheme of world history. Comprise about 2% of the Indian population. A sizeable population is also found in Pakistan. With estimates ranging between 18 to 30 million people globally; and still they have managed to make a prominent mark in the realm of Indian and global affairs. (Simrat, 2007)
The initiated Sikhs also called Amritdhari refer themselves as a collective body known as the Khalsa. There is a lot of debate by scholars what this word means; some assert it means sovereign/free, while others contend it means Pure/Genuine. Some propose it means, “God’s own”. As it can be ascertained that with a global population Sikhism has become an international religion, however, it has faced and continues to face a set of problems like all major religions. The most prominent has been the quest for a Sikh state culminating into the demand of Khalistan in the current era. (Jawad,
Sikh nationalist movement “The Khalistan movement” generally refers to the demand for a separate Sikh state called Khalistan ("The Land of the Pure") in Punjab region of India. The Khalistan movement was fought on various grounds mainly though in the name of cultural and religious identity, political insecurity and self-determination. (Gaurav, 2014) The independence movement was propagated by members of the political-religious group Akali Dal and its various splinter groups, and internationally among the Sikh diaspora. The movement’s origin dates back to the late nineteenth century when communal boundaries became more antagonistic between Hindus and Sikhs. The movement was primarily led by Akali Dal, who adopted a stronger stance for …show more content…
(Unknown, 2006) In June 1984, the Indian Government ordered a military operation, Operation Blue Star to clear Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar and thirty other Gurdwaras (Sikh Place of Worship) of armed terrorists who were desecrating Gurudwaras by using those as sanctuary. During this operation, Indian army had around 83+ casualties with 220 injuries, and 200- 250 Sikh militants were killed. (wikipedia, 2016) The handling of the operation, damage to the Holy shrine and loss of life on both sides, led to widespread anger and criticism against Indian Government. The Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards in retaliation. Following her death, thousands of Sikhs were massacred in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The subsequent Punjab insurgency saw several secessionist militant groups becoming active in Punjab, supported by a section of the Sikh diaspora. Indian security forces suppressed the insurgency in the early 1990s, but Sikh political groups such as the Khalsa Raj Party and SAD continued to pursue an independent Khalistan through non-violent means. The movement began to fade around the early 1990s reportedly due to the impact of almost a decade of violence and economic repercussions. …show more content…
The Sikhs are a unique group of people, in that their religion, beliefs, and collective identity are relatively new in the larger scheme of world history. Comprise about 2% of the Indian population. A sizeable population is also found in Pakistan. With estimates ranging between 18 to 30 million people globally; and still they have managed to make a prominent mark in the realm of Indian and global affairs. (Simrat, 2007)
The initiated Sikhs also called Amritdhari refer themselves as a collective body known as the Khalsa. There is a lot of debate by scholars what this word means; some assert it means sovereign/free, while others contend it means Pure/Genuine. Some propose it means, “God’s own”. As it can be ascertained that with a global population Sikhism has become an international religion, however, it has faced and continues to face a set of problems like all major religions. The most prominent has been the quest for a Sikh state culminating into the demand of Khalistan in the current era. (Jawad,