Operation Blue Star: An Attack On Sikhs Essay

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Operation Blue Star: An Attack on Sikhs
Masses of innocent Sikh civilians, dressed in traditional, Indian clothing, gathered at the Golden Temple on June 8th, 1984. People gathered to celebrate an important religious holiday, the anniversary of the death of their fifth guru, Arjun Dev Ji, the Guru who built the Golden Temple. Priests recited the daily prayers, as individuals listened and paid their respects. Others sat on the floor together and ate langar (simple food provided by the temple), as equals. In this way, Sikhs expressed the ideals of equality, and unity. However, soon this holy shrine and its pure marble floors would be stained with corpses and blood as a result of the gruesome fighting between militant Sikhs and Indian government soldiers that ensued shortly after. For the first time in the 400 years, the 24-hour prayer vigil had ceased.
At 19 years old, Manny heard this terrifying news as he sat in front of the television in the village of Patara, only a mere 40 miles away from the violence. He was instantly paralyzed by fear. Manny was left with a tough decision to choose where his loyalties lied. Should he stay and support the Sikh loyalist movement or should he lend himself to the military as a means of comprising his personal beliefs? The news broadcaster stated that “Saint” Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, leader of the Damdami Taksal (a Sikh-advocated political group), was killed. Young Manny could not fathom the loss of his first true hero. He had always perceived “Saint” Bhindranwale as the ideal Sikh soldier, not a terrorist. Manny reminisced about going to see him preach at a local gurdwara (Sikh temple). He learned there that Sikhs were a religious group a part from Hindus and Muslims, with a destiny to rule th...

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... blurred for Manny. Now as a grown man, he sees that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had the resources and to carry out the attack in another way, but chose not to. Above all, there was no justification for demolishing the Golden Temple. Ultimately, in Manny’s opinion, a Sikh with both religious and military insight, Operation Blue Star was not worth it. Reflecting upon history, I realize that the rift between Indian government and Sikhs continues to grow today. Sikhs feel like outsiders within their own country due to the lingering resentment toward them because of their ambitious stride toward separatism in 1984. Tensions between the two groups are still present because the issue of equality has not been properly resolved; however the power of memory can help lift the fog of ignorance that has clouded generations of Indian minds and pave the way for progress.

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