BY INDIRA PRAHST
Instructor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Langara College
Vancouver
HUNDREDS of Sikhs from all over the world gathered last week in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York to stand in solidarity and send a message to the world that the November 1984 Sikh Genocide has not and will not be forgotten. The spirit this time was more serious but hopeful in getting closer to having the 1984 massacre recognized as a genocide and pressuring the Indian Government to punish the perpetrators. With the world listening, especially through social media, transmitting these messages was easier than in the past. There were speakers, including myself, at the event who spoke about the Indian Government casting a blind eye to the Sikh grievances, including two witnesses of 1984, Jasbir Singh from California, one of the prime witnesses against Congress (I) leader Jagdish Tytler, who’s one of the main accused in the 1984 Sikh massacre, and Gurdeep Kaur from India to share about their witnessing of the state violence that was inflicted on innocent Sikhs.
You had to be there to experience the mood, but I will try to capture some of it in this piece. With hundreds of Sikhs from across North America, including Vancouver, B.C., standing in front of the United Nations, which is a symbolic space for civil and human rights, the mood was positive, but serious. The cold weather reflected the numbness and awe many were feeling upon hearing the speeches of how little India has done over 30 years to address Sikh grievances and punish the guilty.
There were two main messages conveyed throughout the event which was evident with the posters and signs that Sikhs from all generations held up for the world to read. Firstly, the goal was to illuminate that what had happened to Sikhs in Delhi and across the region, was not a riot, but genocide; and secondly, to educate the public about rights to self-determination and advocacy for a Sikh nation.
Indeed, the desire for a Sikh homeland was in the forefront of the Sikh psyche which was evident to me when, on the way to the event, we passed the flags of the world’s nations which flew in front of the United Nations building, and one Sikh pointed towards the flags and said: “One day our flag will be standing with the others here.” These words illustrate that the hope for a Sikh nation is alive. Also, when Jasbir Singh spoke to me about his eye witness accounts of state violence in November, which he had done over the last four consecutive years, this time he added that justice for him in addition to having the perpetrators punished was a “Sikh homeland.”
Significant as well was that members of Sikhs for Justice along with Jasbir Singh and Gurdeep Kaur, the two witnesses gave their accounts at the United Nations when the Sikhs for Justice submitted a report titled, “November 1984 Sikh Genocide” for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
She said: “The doctor at the time said that the body of the infant was do badly damaged it was better to put him to death, because he would not have a good life given the seriousness of his injury.”
Standing in front of the United Nations, she shared similar stories with the public. Standing next to her was Jasbir Singh who listened attentively. He told me afterwards how her story brought back memories for him. He said: “I feel a connection with her when she recounted what she had seen in 1984.” Singh added that these gatherings where “everyone comes together and can share in the pain and sorrow of 1984, makes me feel less alone.”
There is no doubt that the horrendous events of 1984 continue to haunt Sikhs. This was also evident in my fieldwork across Canada, USA, Europe and Punjab (in India and Pakistan), as well as my visits to the colony of the Widows of 1984 in Tilak Vihar, Delhi.
In closing, I leave you with the words of Gurdeep Kaur: “I still have faith in Wahe Guru who will deliver justice.”