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1984 –Unforgettable and Unforgivable
WSN Bureau
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Galaxy of social, religious and political
activists sing paeans about
Ajmer
Singh’s latest book, 1984-Unchitvya Kehar at its release
ceremony in
Chandigarh
exhorting the writer to write more in the coming years. |
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 CHANDIGARH:
At an impressive ceremony at the Chandigarh Press Club, in the
presence of a galaxy of scholars, writers, political, social and
religious leaders of the Sikh community, Ajmer Singh’s new book 1984
–Unchitvya Kehar was released by Lt.Gen. Kartar Singh Gill – chief
of the International Sikh Confederation. The first copy of the book
was presented to Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalra, wife of slain human
rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, in the presence of his
daughter Navkiran Kaur.
Releasing the book, which is the third book of the author in the
series of books on contemporary history of Punjab, Gen. Kartar Singh
Gill said that the events of 1984 are unforgettable and the lame
duck apology offered by Dr. Manmohan Singh without change of heart
and change of attitude and policy towards the Sikhs was wholly
unacceptable to the Sikhs.
Calling
Mrs. Indira Gandhi a dictator, the former General of the Indian army
recounted the behind-the-scenes maneouvres in the conduct of
Operation Bluestar. Expressing his feelings, Kartar Singh said that
“whenever we have suffered an onslaught, we have come out stronger,
and though it appears that we are still in the dumps, we will
definitely emerge more committed and strong.” He exhorted everyone
to read the book to understand the nuances of the Indo-Sikh conflict
so ably and painstakingly narrated by Ajmer Singh in all the three
books that he has written so far.
 Human rights activist and editor of World Sikh News, Jagmohan Singh
presented a preview of the book and pointed out that it was the
non-understanding of the theo-political status of Darbar Sahib in
all its ramifications that led to the catastrophe of 1984. He said
that since the SGPC has failed to respond with a comprehensive White
Paper to the wild and superfluous allegations of the government of
India, these three books by Ajmer Singh can easily be labelled as
the “unofficial authentic White Paper of the Sikh community to the
events of 1984”. He further said that it was befitting that the book
is being released during the year when the Sikhs are commemorating
the 25th year of Saka Akal Takht, code-named Operation
Bluestar. Sikhs have to understand the working of the Hindu mind and
the Hindus have to understand the Sikh psyche and in this lies the
basis of peaceful co-existence of the two nation-groups.
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We need not minutes and hours, but days, weeks, months and
years to understand the full gamut of issues relating to 1984
said the author of the book Ajmer Singh in his concluding
speech, but suffice it is to say for the moment that the
phenomenon of Sant Jarnail Singh was not the result of some
round table conference or the conclusion of some premeditated
plan or an accidental occurrence, the only plausible explanation
is that it was a religio-historic build up, which happens from
time to time to provide much-needed impetus to history.
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As the audience was interested to know more about the book, speaker
after speaker dwelt about different aspects of the book. Dr. Jaspal
Singh, editor of Desh Sewak pointed out how the author’s two earlier
books –Vehvin Sadhi di Sikh Rajniti and Kis Bidh Ruli Patshahi were
very popular in the United States. He called Ajmer Singh a true
historian whose narrative style makes his books easy reading and
interesting. Calling Ajmer Singh to continue his journey he
expressed the hope that the author would continue his search for
truthful history of the Sikhs and
Punjab.
Daljit Singh Bittu, president of the Shiromani Akai Dal
(PanchPardhani) emphasized that though there is silence from the
Sikh side, the opponents continue their war against the Sikhs. “It
is upto the Sikhs to realise whether they hear the sounds of battle
or not.” Reading the pages of Ajmer Singh’s books is discovery and
rediscovery of the journey which the struggling Sikh youth have
undergone over the years in the recent past. The cause and rationale
for Sikh sovereignty, the reasons for the martyrdom of many of his
close associates who were brutally tortured to death, what was the
phenomenon called Sant Jarnail Singh, all these and many more
questions need to be answered by all concerned Sikhs for in the
search for an answer to all this lies our survival as a nation, said
the leader in his soft but impassioned speech.
Daljit Singh further said the spiritually logical and impassioned
treatment of the book deserves kudos and expressed the hope that the
next books will be able to deal with the period after 1985 in the
same forthright manner as the earlier ones.
 Left
activist and writer Rajinder Rahi in his brief and passionate speech
said that the books of Ajmer Singh are well researched and provides
the reader enough material as talking points for discussions and
debates on 1984. The deep insight and experience of the author are
tools used to the full by the author which has led to him being
perceived as “the new emerging challenge” by some ill-informed
leftist thought followers.
Former senior journalist Jaspal Singh Sidhu in his short and sweet
speech pointed out that the book attempts to deal with the question
of minorities which has not been handled constitutionally and the
creation of a monolithic state continues to be a silent operation of
the Indian state.
We need not minutes and hours, but days, weeks, months and years to
understand the full gamut of issues relating to 1984 said the author
of the book Ajmer Singh in his concluding speech, but suffice it is
to say for the moment that the phenomenon of Sant Jarnail Singh was
not the result of some round table conference or the conclusion of
some premeditated plan or an accidental occurrence, the only
plausible explanation is that it was a religio-historic build up,
which happens from time to time to provide impetus to history.
 He
said that while the Akali leadership was responsible due to its
weakness and inefficiency, but he does not see them as collaborators
and conspirators in the tyranny against the Sikhs. They were
culprits and victims at the same time. 1984, he said was the attempt
of Hindu India to foist and impose a singlular definition of Indian
identity and the Sikhs have fought and will continue to fight this
trend.
Daljit Singh, editor of Amritsar Times and a long time friend of the
author ably introduced the author and other speakers, dwelling on
the role of each one of them during the last decades and enunciating
how their affinity with Ajmer Singh came about. He pointed out that
whether one agrees with the angle of Ajmer Singh or not, his book
flows more easily than a purely academic and factual style account,
it is straight from the heart and therefore is appreciated by the
academic community as well as the lay reader and the activist who is
still entrenched in the on-going struggle for rehabilitation of Sikh
identity. Daljit Singh pointed out that there is a dire need for
Sikh scholars and the near-absent Sikh intelligentsia to imitate the
work of Jews in recapturing memories of holocausts, particularly
through the medium of cinema.
 The
book release function was well attended. Human rights activists
Navkiran Singh, D. S. Gill, political leader Daljit Singh of
Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani), religious activist Rajinder
Singh of Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat, social activist Mohinder Singh
of Vanjara Trust, author Harjagmandir Singh, former SGPC member
Amarinder Singh, Col. Jasmer Singh Bala, Malwinder Singh Mali, Major
Singh Mattran, Megh Raj Butter of BKU, Gurbachan Singh from
Jalandhar. Youth activists from various student groups were also
present. Others present included those who had worked with the
author during the turbulent periods in the last four decades.
22
July 2009
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