Books
Lancing an Urban Myth
by VARINDER WALIA
A new book, Cannon Unto Canon, by Indian diplomat and Ambassador to Madagascar, Diljit Singh Pannun, unveils some startling revelations which belie many of the claims made by Indira Gandhi and the Indian government on the subject of the 1984 attack on the Durbar Sahib and the destruction of the Akal Takht.
Amritsar-born Indian Ambassador to Madagascar, Diljit Singh Pannun, who had made efforts to avert Operation BlueStar - the name given by Indira Gandhi's government to the attack on the Durbar Sahib in June 1984 - by mediating between Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and the union government, has said certain forces had played mischief and misguided Indira Gandhi, leading to the Army operation.
This was despite the fact that the firebrand sant had agreed to initiate dialogue to resolve the deadlock.
The exclusive meeting between Bhindranwale and Pannun assumes significance, since the latter had put his life in danger by trying to resolve the "Punjab problem".
The Indian envoy reveals this and other first-hand information about the talks between India's Central government and Bhindranwale in a new book, Cannon Unto Canon, just released by Singh Brothers, Amritsar.
"I was pushed to talk to Sant Bhindranwale at the Akal Takht. It wasn't my personal effort. I was pushed into it by a large number of friends, including the then senior-most officer of the government of Punjab, S.S. Sidhu, who was the de facto ruler of the state".
The Indian envoy asserted he was kept in the dark about the impending Army operation by vested interests; otherwise, many innocent lives could have been saved. He said he worked out some details with Sant Bhindranwale and it looked so simple and straight.
"We had an informal and frank exchange of views".
The book by Pannun further discloses that "the dialogue with Sant Bhindranwale was conducted in such a warm and cordial atmosphere that he called for Rooh Afza (a soft drink), which was arranged by Baba Thara Singh and we took it".
"I remember I made the proposal that Indira Gandhi shall speak to the nation and appeal for peace and normalcy in the country, particularly in Punjab, and elaborate that all problems afflicting the state shall be resolved through mutual discussions", Pannun writes. He adds that he wanted the sant to respond to this appeal by announcing that he would wait for a month and would persuade his followers and others to keep their guns unloaded during this period.
The envoy said he had proposed a period of four weeks for the same (while Bhindranwale wanted just one week), which they hammered down to ten days. Pannun assured Sant Bhindranwale that if some mishap took place, Indira Gandhi would not blame it on his men. The sant, however, sought a commitment from Pannun that the Central government would stop torturing Sikh youths during captivity. Pannun claimed that Sant Bhindranwale was keen that this plan should not be sabotaged.
The documentation of the reports sent to the Central government before Operation BlueStar reads, "We ended this meeting in utmost cordiality and understanding and were happy at the outcome. In fact, I found there was nothing that would frighten the Government of India, nor anyone else".
Pannun claimed that Bhindranwale had repeatedly told him, "I don't want Khalistan, but they would give it on a platter to me". He said the sant was "grossly misunderstood", and had he been treated with honesty and consideration, Operation BlueStar would have never taken place.
[Courtesy: The Tribune]
Photos: Top of the page - Indian soldiers pose for a photo before a burning Akal Takht, June 1984. Bottom of the page - The Akal Takht, as depicted in a historical 19th century print. Second from the bottom: Rubble outside the newly destroyed Akal Takht, June 1984. Third from bottom: The Akal Takht, as seen through fire and smoke immediately following the attack by Indira Gandhi's troops, June 1984.
Conversation about this article
1: Gurteg Singh (New York, U.S.A.), June 06, 2007, 11:00 PM.
It is naive to say that anybody played mischief or misguided Indira Gandhi. The so called negotiations were initiated with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale as well as traditional Akali leadership by the Indian agencies through various channels and influential Sikhs as a public relations ploy while the policy to attack Harmandar Sahib was firmly in place and the preparations were in full swing. The decision to attack, for political advantage in the next elections as well as to teach the Sikhs a lesson, was taken much much before the so-called talks with Sikh leadership and were clearly designed as a side-show. Any elementary student of Indian history and politics would know that the bogey of Khalistan and terrorism was raised by Indira Gandhi herself, with effective help from the Extremist-Hindu establishment and media to defame the Sikhs, justify Operation BlueStar and conduct genocide and unspeakable atrocities without opposition from any quarter.
2: Manjit Singh (U.S.A), June 07, 2007, 7:05 PM.
Jo karangay, so bharangay! ("Whatever they sow, so shall they reap"). Looking at history, and at their pattern of behaviour in recent years, I believe it won't be long before India will again fall under foreign rule or influence. It's a constant pattern in Indian History. China? Russia? The U.S.? I just hope Sikhs will maintain their strengths in the meantime - emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical and financial.
3: Barry (U.S.A.), June 07, 2007, 8:40 PM.
I agree with S. Manjit Singh's comment. After all, we survived the Mughals. And we survived Indira Gandhi too ... Chardi Kalaa!
4: J. Singh (U.S.A.), June 07, 2007, 10:08 PM.
Where can this book be purchased? [Editor: The book publishers and sellers, "Singh Brothers", can be contacted at singhbro@vsnl.com]
5: Khushdeep Singh (New Delhi, India), June 07, 2007, 11:14 PM.
Why is that minorities are always labelled as terrorists, while the majority gets away with murder in broad daylight - multiplied a few thousand times over?
6: K. (New Delhi, India), June 08, 2007, 12:40 AM.
The spirit of the Khalsa can't be broken.
7: Harinder (Pune, India), June 08, 2007, 6:49 AM.
We need to learn from history. From the historical experience of the Jews and Christians in the Middle East, for example.
8: Sonia Grewal (Sweden), June 08, 2007, 7:43 AM.
We sikhs need to take lessons from the past in order to avoid making the same mistakes all over again. We should carry on with our lives. FORGIVE, YES ... but, FORGET, NEVER!
9: Joshvinder (Malaysia), June 08, 2007, 9:30 AM.
The community needs to plan ahead. And the issues plaguing us have become urgent and need to be addressed ... soon.
10: A.J. (San Francisco, U.S.A.), June 08, 2007, 12:43 PM.
Why were several dozen other Gurudwaras around India also invaded in 1984? Goes to show the tyranny of Indian "democracy". We will never forget. Even though we are told to treat it as a "bad dream", we will never forget. There is solid evidence that the the attacks were planned well in advance.
11: Dalvir (UK), June 08, 2007, 1:04 PM.
Guru Nanak: "The times are like drawn knives, kings like butchers, Righteousness has fled on wings ..." Anything changed in 500 years?
12: Tej Bir Singh (New Delhi, India), June 08, 2007, 3:19 PM.
Sikhism's unique message of universality and its respect for all faiths and beliefs is seen as a threat by many who have their own rigid and narrow-minded agendas. It is the age-old conflict between good and evil.
13: Amitoj Singh (New Jersey, U.S.A.), June 08, 2007, 10:35 PM.
The issue of forgiving applies only when an apology is ACTUALLY given. The Indian government, and people like Kuldeep Brar, still try to justify the 1984 massacre in the Golden Temple Complex. Why was it done on the same day as the Shaheedi Gurpurab of Guru Arjan Dev? We'll never forget!
14: Satnaam Kaur (Kenya), June 09, 2007, 3:48 AM.
The perpetrators of the wrongs committed in the two periods - 1947-1984 and, again, in 1984-2007 - consist of the same esatblishment. I believe the process of forgiveness only begins once inequality and injustice have been tackled. Forget? Never.
15: S. Singh (Sydney, Australia), June 09, 2007, 8:36 PM.
I think India has always, in its current era, persecuted its minorities. The Muslims have suffered much, for example, ever since Independence. The attacks against Sikhs are not isolated.
16: B.Singh (CA, U.S.A.), June 10, 2007, 2:50 AM.
We are weighed down by the low calibre of leadership today.
17: Surjeet Singh (Abu Dhabi, UAE), June 10, 2007, 3:44 AM.
We know from history that ever since Guru Nanak rejected organized religion, the purveyors of the same resented Sikhi. Over and again, there have been attempts, throughout the five centuries, to eradicate his modern school of thought, or dilute it to the point that it no longer poses a threat to the time-worn modes of superstition, ritual and intolerance. Again, nothing has changed even since 1984. The latest goings-on in Punjab seem to be following the same old pattern ... dark clouds are looming again on the horizon. We need to put our house in order. Education, introspection, circumspection, action ... Time is of the essence.
18: Raj (USA), June 10, 2007, 5:08 PM.
I believe that the leadership we need will, through necessity, have to come from outside India ... from people who have no political strings attached to any vested interests within India.
19: Sandeep (U.S.A.), June 10, 2007, 9:12 PM.
It is difficult to speak the truth, but it appears that the Sikhs as a people are the only ones left on the sub-continent who fight for truth.
20: Manny Singh (USA), June 10, 2007, 11:08 PM.
It is time for Sikhs and the Govt. of India to realize that they have fallen prey to the machinations of the Pakistan Intellegence agencies. I believe that neither one of them has even begun to fully appreciate the deep rooted conspiracy within Pakistan, for which the Indian Intelligence too, seems to have failed miserably.
21: Nimana Singh (Canada), June 28, 2007, 11:50 AM.
I am deeply concerned about those young Sikhs who are falling to prey to drugs. They are our future, and we need to grapple with the menace before it does too much damage. It is of utmost importance to the chardi kala of the panth.
22: V.S.K. (California, U.S.A.), August 22, 2007, 12:32 PM.
Thats where Bhindranwale came in. He strongly discouraged the youth from taking drugs/alcohol, and got so many to keep their kesh, follow rehat, and become true Khalse. We need strong leadership!
23: Harjot Singh (U.S.A/India), December 11, 2007, 2:39 PM.
Sikhan ne 2 ghalukare dekhe, par sikhi chardi kala which rehe hai, par aasi ek Indra da organized Hamla chaal nahin sake, Hamla do tarah nall kita gaya physically and mentally, ate aasi mentally una loka dee gulam ho gaye, aaj de sadi leadrship which oh Daring nahin kiii aapne nij sawarth to ute uth sakan ate panth wal dekh sakan, we need very wise and pointed leadership, we have to bounce back ... we have to do something ... ghar beth ke khuch nahin ho sakda ...
24: Kanwar (India), July 03, 2011, 10:38 AM.
We should be firm in our faith. And we have not forgotten all that happened prior to 1984 and after. We will fight on for justice. Waheguru will help us ...