The impact of the Sikh Genocide of 1984 continues today
The community reflects on the impact and strength it has left on them today
The community reflects on the impact and strength it has left on them today. (Flickr/Miki Jourdan)
In early November of 1984, over 4,000 Sikhs were murdered, and thousands more had their human rights infringed upon. Sikhs around the world remember this history, during the first week of November.
The genocide of 1984 occurred because of Operation Bluestar, when the Indian government began their attack that June on Darbar Sri Harminder Sahib — the Golden Temple. The attacks started after Indira Gandhi was shot by two of her Sikh security guards for her part in Operation Bluestar, according to the site NeverForget84.
NeverForget84 was founded by Jagtar “Jaggi” Singh Johal, who was detained in 2017 by the Indian government.
The Sikh Reference Library that contained hand written manuscripts of the Gurus and the treasury storing historical artifacts of Maharaja Ranjit Singh were burned, according to the Sikh Museum website. Thousands who were celebrating the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan lost their lives.
“The past treatment of Sikhs came into question in a larger development of India as a nation,” says Guntaas Kaur, BC vice president of the World Sikh Organization (WSO) and practicing lawyer.
“Unfortunately, identity politics became tied up with a demand for state rights and the federal government to adhere to those boundaries established,” she says.
However, Kaur says the greatest strength as a community is remembering the events that occurred and continuing to teach the next generations about the history.
“The activism around raising awareness has created a chain link that will perpetuate itself in terms of its greatest legacy, then call it out when we see it happening.”
Paneet Singh, playwright and filmmaker, directed and wrote a Vancouver Guldasta in 2017, though he had the idea for almost 10 years.
A Vancouver Guldasta is a play about a Punjabi Sikh family in Vancouver, set in the first week of November 1984, as they process what is happening in Punjab. The play is mostly in English, though there is some Punjabi used.
“I do not want to write a story that doesn’t resonate with or alienates the [Sikh] community,” Singh says. “Not every piece is for everyone … education is not the intention, education is the byproduct.”
Filmmakers like Singh continue to present and remember 1984 through film, written work, and art.
Each June, a candlelight vigil is hosted at the Vancouver Art Gallery to commemorate those who died during Operation Bluestar.
