1978 Sikh–Nirankari clashes

A violent incident occurred between the Sant Nirankari Mission, a heretic sect and traditional Sikhs on 13 April 1978 at Amritsar, Punjab, India. Sixteen people—thirteen traditional Sikhs and three Nirankari followers—were killed in the ensuing violence started by armed Nirankaris firing on Sikh protesters. Clashes occurred when some Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Damdami Taksal members led by Fauja Singh protested against and tried to stop a convention of Sant Nirankari Mission followers. This incident is considered to be a starting point in the events leading to Operation Blue Star and the 1980s insurgency in Punjab.

Background

Nirankari, a heretic movement within Sikhism, started in the 19th century. Their belief in a living guru as opposed to the scriptural guru Guru Granth Sahib resulted in their difference with traditional Sikhs.[1] In 1929, a break-way faction Sant Nirankari was formed by Avtar Singh.[2][3] Sant Nirankari also adopted many variations from Sikhs. They were further accused by Sikhs of criticizing Sikhism and its Gurus using texts such as Avtar Bani and Yug Purash.[4] These tensions lead to their clashes with Sikh organizations mainly Damdami Taksal and Akhand Kirtni Jatha at many places in Punjab.[5]

Incident

On 13 April 1978 Sant Nirankaris organized a convention in Amritsar to be headed by their leader Gurbachan Singh. Damdami Taksal and Akhand Kirtni Jatha perceived this event as an insult to Sikhism as 13 April is celebrated by Sikhs as the birth of Khalsa. A group of Sikhs led by Fauja Singh marched from Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) to the venue to prevent the Nirankari convention.[1] In the ensuing violence 11 members of Akhand Kirtni Jatha including Fauja Singh, 2 followers of Bhindranwale and 3 Nirankaris, total 16 people were killed.[2][6]

Aftermath

62 Nirankaris including Gurbhachan Singh were charged with the murder of 13 Sikhs. But they were acquitted on the basis that they acted in self-defence. This incident is considered to be the starting point of the events leading to Operation Blue Star and the insurgency in 1980s in Punjab.[2][7][8][9] Gurbhachan Singh was murdered in 1980, allegedly by Ranjit Singh, who later become head of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Ranjit Singh spent 12 years in jail as an under-trial from 1984 to 1996.[10][11] Several other members of Sant Nirankari Mission were also killed later.[12] In 1978, after the incident Akal Takht issued a Hukamnama expelling Nirankaris out of the Sikh community.[1][13]

Legacy

Gurudwara Shaheed-Ganj, Amritsar was raised in the memory of the Sikhs killed in the clash.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Marty, Martin E.; Appleby, R. Scott (1 July 1996). Fundamentalisms and the State: Remaking Polities, Economies, and Militance (1 ed.). University of Chicago Press. p. 272. ISBN 978-0226508849.
  2. 1 2 3 "Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood". Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  3. ↑ Singh, Roopinder (January 22, 2006). "Chronicling a community". The Tribune. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  4. ↑ Chima, Jugdep S (2010). The Sikh Separatist Insurgency in India: Political Leadership and Ethnonationalist Movements. New Delhi: SAGE Publication. pp. 41–42.
  5. ↑ Dhillon, Gurdarshan Singh. Truth About Punjab SGPC White Paper (PDF). Amritsar: SGPC. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "THE Turmoil In Punjab". The Tribune. July 8, 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  7. ↑ Singh, Gurharpal; Tatla, Darshan Singh (October 2006). Sikhs in Britain: The Making of a Community. Zed Books. p. 81. ISBN 1842777173.
  8. ↑ Sidhu, Jaspal Singh (29 January 2014). "A Study About The Role Of Media In Punjab: A Nationalist Perspective Of Indian Mass Media". Counter Currents. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Acid test for Takht chief". The Tribune. 8 May 2000. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "Trouble over Pardon". India Today. Living Media. 10 November 1997. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  11. ↑ Swami, Praveen (15–28 November 1997). "A Jathedar is free". Frontline. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Gill, Sucha Singh; Singhal, K. C. (7 April 1984). "The Punjab Problem: Its Historical Roots". Economic and Political Weekly. 19 (14): 603–608. JSTOR 4373137. (registration required (help)).
  13. ↑ "Akali ex-minister attends Nirankari meet function Dal Khalsa sees red". The Tribune. 6 October 2002. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  14. ↑ Walia, Varinder (January 26, 2008). "History comes full circle". The Tribune. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
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