Until My Final Farwell, The Struggle Continues

Shaheed Dr. Gurnam Singh Bhuttar

 

In the name and honour of our beloved Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, may this greeting be heard to all of Guru Ji’s congregation, Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. The following historic poem was narrated to me many times from a very young age and has stayed with me ever since:

 

Where the blood of martyrs falls

The destiny of the nation changes.

But where scalps are sawn off

This not only changes the destiny but an entire image of the nation!

 

At the time I would read this, never had I imagined that I would too be witness to the same conjured brutality and see history repeat itself.

 

Our own history speaks of the brutality inflicted by the emperors. There was a price put upon every head of a Sikh. They were minced alive, cut limb from limb, small children cut into pieces and placed as a garland around their mother’s neck. The oppressive dictators and their armies would hunt down the Sikhs as if it was some sort of hunting game.

 

Every one of the battles of those times, saw up to 30-35 thousand Sikhs give their lives and become martyrs. Yet, no oppressor was successful in diminishing the pride of this glorious Sikh Nation. The Nation survives, breathes and lives on these sacrifices. Had the pride fallen then undoubtedly the nation would have dwindled, but never has this been the case for the Sikhs. This eternal pride and dignity are what has kept the Sikhs awakened and alive.

 

It was known that a handful of Sikhs would stand up against and fight an army of upto hundreds of thousands. It is funny how these oppressive empires have since fallen and disappeared but in all their might were still unable to dissipate the Sikhs. The Sikhs are just as much alive today as they were then.

 

Khalsa Ji! The same history is repeating itself today. The change in century has just given the Oppressor a new face. It’s just that the armour of the army has changed; the methods of inflicting brutality have advanced, but the target motive of disseminating the Sikh Nation remains the same.

We continue to walk with our head held high; this pride, self-respect and dignity run through the blood of our veins and never will our heads bow. We must maintain our utmost faith in our Guru Ji and pray that today’s history will see the same victory of the past. We will defeat those who want us demolished. Never can they succeed in making the Sikh nation extinct.

 

Following Baba Deep Singh Ji’s martyrdom, the Sikh Nation lived a sovereign power for up to ninety years! Traitors such as Dhian Singh Dogra and Teja Singh were instrumental to the fall of the Khalsa Raj, by forming relations and agreements based on greed with the British Generals and thus tying the noose of slavery round our necks. Again, who could deter and defeat us? In a span of just a hundred years, not only did we free ourselves, but we freed the entire Hindustan (Indian nation) from under the cover of slavery.

 

Alas, it was our bad luck that even though we contributed to 85% of sacrifices for this fight of freedom against the British Rule, the negligence and ignorance of the Sikh leaders such as Master Tara Singh and other traitor leaders left us without a home country. Instead, these leaders fell for the sly pretence and promises made by Nehru who claimed we are brothers and must stay together; you will have your own independent state within India. This left us freed from one slavery and fell into the pit of another.

 

It wasn’t long after the partition of 1947, that the Indian central Government in Delhi began instigating and plotting ways to destroy the Sikh identity. It wasn’t until the events of 1978 that the true colours and motive of the Indian Government were marked clear as day. A stray dog Gurbachana, stood up by the Indian Government and created a cult, he boasted of creating seven stars, explicitly insulting the concept of the Khalsa initiated by our tenth Master, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj At one of his cult events, a group of Singhs and Singhnia came to peacefully protest against these derogatory attacks. However, they were greeted with open fire of bullets which the Indian Government allowed, as they stood there and watched. Thirteen of these peaceful protestors were killed and attained martyrdom. It was no surprise that under the safety net of the Indian government Gurbachana left Punjab and safely reached Delhi. The Akali leadership of Punjab became the back scratchers of the Indian Government. Amidst their greed and power-hungry stomachs to keep their seats, these leaders couldn’t even pluck up the courage to speak out against this atrocity.

 

This was a critical turning point! It saw the rise of an illustrious leader who walked into the battle field with his sword unsheathed; the fourteenth Jathedar of Damdami Taksal, Sri Maan Sant Baba Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindrawale. Slowly but surely, the foothold areas of this fake Nirankari cult (Narakhdhari) began to close and identified perpetrators were served justice. The next generation of Sikhs were part of a new awakening and uprise to defend their faith. How could the Delhi powerhouse allow for all this to happen? It was determined and stopped at nothing.

 

Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale was arrested and charged under a fabricated case.  However, the uproar of protest and outpour of support from the Sikh nation influenced an immediate release. Bhai Amrik Singh, under the guidance of Sant Ji and under the umbrella of All India Sikh Students Federation began rallying youth all through-out India and Punjab. This agitated the Indian Government and hastily arrested Bhai Amrik Singh and Baba Thara Singh who were brutally tortured. Seeing the need to put an end to this Oppressive dictatorship, Sant Ji called an Ardas at Sri Akaal Takht Sahib for the entire Sikh nation to uphold the pride and honour. A pledge was made on 19th July 1982, which was named the Dharam Yudh Morcha.

 

The fake Akali Leadership was quick to jump onto the bandwagon and with the means of seeking some sort of control, they wanted a part of it. So, they had Harchand Singh Longowal installed as the Director for the Dharam Yudh Morcha. Under the pious and great leadership of Sant Ji, the Morcha was progressing as planned, with full effect and positive results. Hundreds of thousands of Sikhs gave their voluntary arrests as a means of continued protest.

 

Without a doubt we were seeing the growth and awakening within the next generation of young Sikhs who were becoming devoted to their faith; becoming Amritdhari and Shastardhari (armed). This did not go unnoticed by the powers that be and so they too began spinning cultivating their plan of attacks just as quickly.

 

It was with the backing and support of the Akali leadership that on the 3rd June 1984, the Indian Central Government was able to lead a stampede of hundred thousand army men onto the complex of Sri Darbar Sahib. Under the guidance of Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, many devoted Sikhs fought in defence and broke records for fighting continuously for upto 72 hours against the 5th strongest army in the world. This left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Indian government. Yet, the pledged oath by Sant Ji was fulfilled where he said ‘whilst I am alive, no army can set foot in Sri Darbar Sahib’. Sri Akaal Takht Sahib was destroyed beyond recognition, Sri Harmandir Sahib was made into a sieve, riddled with bullets. Thousands of Sikh men, women and children were made Shaheed (martyrs). Our Sikh Museum, our priceless library; all burnt to ashes, tanks were hurled onto Gurdwara premises.

 

The army and police were put on a rampage to target the youth of Punjab. But the heart of the Sikh Nation was firmly stood on the words of Sant Ji – ‘The day the government of Hindustan attacks Sri Darbar Sahib, will be the day the foundations are laid for Khalistan!’

 

Bhai Beant Singh and Bhai Satwant Singh took the opportunity to take revenge and serve justice to the perpetrator for carrying out the attack. Just as Bhai Sukha Singh and Bhai Mehtaab Singh served justice on Massa Rangarr, so did his sister (Indira Gandhi) receive the same treatment, placing yet another example of good over evil, onto our pages of history. The Indian Central Government began a merciless rampage on the Sikhs. Cities and towns such as Delhi and Kanpur received the severe brunt of it. This clearly defied the image India had portrayed to the world of being an advocate religious freedom and human rights. The wrongful acts could no longer be hidden.

 

The wound was still fresh yet the government puppet Harchand Singh Longowal and Rajiv Gandhi were sat in Delhi eating fresh Rasgulleh (Indian Sweets). This clearly put a stamp to their conniving partnership and complicit in targeting the downfall of the Sikhs. They gave the likes of Balwant and Barnala Administrative posts to be accomplice to their plans. It is no surprise that the Sikh Nation had already overridden this play of traitors by calling a historic Sarbat Khalsa on 26th January 1986. The final words declared by Sant Ji were reiterated to the Sikh congregation. A five member Panthic committee was established on 29th April 1986 to spearhead the continued fight for freedom in a focussed and visionary way, which continues till this day. Hundreds of youths from All India Sikh Students Federation and many other Jathebandis, sacrificed their blood and life for the cause in order to uphold the aim and pledge made by Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale and Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh.

 

Many were languishing in India’s most hellish jails, rotting away, yet reciting ‘Whatever God’s will that alone is sweet’. Numerous have been mercilessly tortured in interrogation centres and police stations. There were many living anonymously, continuing the fight against injustice and the Indian central government. Despite the blind sightedness of the powers that be, each and everyone in the Sikh nation was contributing to the fight for freedom in some form or another. The Government may have tried all its means and ways to tarnish the fight for struggle in the eyes of the common people, but the Sikh nation is more in support now than ever before.

 

At the time of Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh’s martyrdom, his final words were ‘In order to protect the sanctity of Sri Harmandir Sahib and Sri Akaal Takht Sahib, we are ready to sacrifice not just this life, but each and every life hereafter’. For future generations, these sacrifices made and the mindset of these martyrs should be deemed as the highest school of thought for inspiration. We bow our heads in awe and gratitude to these great martyrs who laid down their lives for freedom – Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh, Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh, Shaheed Bhai Kehar Singh. Let us vow that when the time comes to give our lives for freedom, there will never be a shortage of those ready to draw their blood for the cause.

 

Today, the role of the All India Sikh Students Federation is key and important in the fight for freedom. We have seen countless of our youths give their lives and made many sacrifices. In stark contrast, our very own leaders have dwindled and fallen into the web of the games played by the Indian Government only to attack and demoralise the Sikh People. But with the grace and blessings of our Guru Ji and by the honour of the All India Sikh Students Federation, the fight for cause remains in high spirits and those trying to bring it down are visible to all.

 

On behalf of All India Sikh Students Federation and in the purest loving memory of our beloved martyrs, today at this Shaheedi Smagam, I again would like to reiterate that the goal and aim is one. Under the continued guidance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, the enlightened and inspiring words of the highest example of Khalsa, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindrawale and with inspiration from Bhai Amrit Singh, we continue to fight. No power of this world can tire us from our mission.

 

Until my final farewell, the struggle remains ongoing.

Dr. Gurnam Singh Buttar (M.B.B.S)

Convenor, All India Sikh Students Federation