Understanding Punjab, Sikhism, and Khalistan: Part 1

• The advent of British control over the Punjab region in India after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh marked a significant turning point in the region’s history. 
• The Khalsa aimed at a combination of spiritual excellence and valour of the highest order and the Sikhs were exhorted to sacrifice their lives for the faith. 
• Beginning in 1981, Sikh political leaders led a series of mass civil disobedience campaigns against the Indian government and demanded greater autonomy for the state of Punjab.
• The assault on the most sacred Sikh shrine, the Akhal Takht led to the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi which resulted in a massive pogrom against the Sikhs.

Introduction

The Indian state of Punjab has been the focus of war and conflict in India since the time of Alexzander of Macedonia and since then it has been of geo-political importance. Punjab, also the birthplace of the Sikh religion as we know it today, is only a small part of the Sikh empire under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. Most of the religious and philosophical foundation is derived from the Sanatana Dharma. However, they carry their own strong identity.

But when the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Govind Singh created the Khalsa to protect his people from the tyranny of the Mughals, in some ways it superficially set them apart from the Hindus. And as has happened with all religions, there was cellular mitosis within the Sikh religion. As the boundaries were blurred between Sikhs and the Hindus and with the formation of the Khalsa, a form of orthodoxy started to take place which eventually led to the violent Khalistani movement.

Prelude to terror 

Beginning in 1981 and 1984, Sikh political leaders led a series of mass civil disobedience campaigns against the Indian government. They demanded greater autonomy for the state of Punjab and it was a legitimate demand as per the constitution. However, some took the road towards extremism which was a violent terrorist campaign for the creation of a sovereign Sikh state led by a Sikh preacher, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

This led to serious violence directed at the Hindu community and moderate Sikhs. The separatist Khalistanis also found support among some Sikhs in Britain, the United States and Canada and more importantly received support from Pakistan. 

Operation Blue Star

Things turned to the worst when the Indian Army was forced to attack the most sacred Sikh shrine, the Harmanidr Sahib or the Golden Temple. Its leader Bhindranwale was killed along with his supporters and several pilgrims within the compound.

The assault on the most sacred Sikh shrine, the Akhal Takht led to the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi which resulted in a massive pogrom against the Sikhs. In Delhi the capital, more than three thousand Sikhs were killed by mobs as the police did nothing under the political instruction of the Congress party.

Whether the Sikh gurus intended the creation of a separate faith and community for their followers is a subject of theological debate and is very contentious. Still, one thing is certain they never wanted to be seen as separate from Sanatana Dharma. The Hindus and Sikhs share a lot of commonalities when it comes to customs and culture. The Khalsa aimed at a combination of spiritual excellence and zealous valour of the highest order and the Sikhs were exhorted to sacrifice their lives for the faith. 

This abstract aims to give a brief insight into the Khalistani movement, how it received support from the ruling Congress party to counter the political influence of Akali Dal, how from asking for political autonomy things virile into sectarian violence, and terrorism, and how it has again found a new discourse thirty years after the violence had ended.

A Historicity of Punjab under the Sikh and British Rule

The advent of British control over the Punjab region in India after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh marked a significant turning point in the region’s history. Here is an overview of how British control was established in the Punjab:

Ranjeet Singh’s Rule (1799-1839): Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a charismatic and capable leader who unified the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century. Under his rule, the Sikh Empire expanded to include much of the Punjab region and major parts of present-day Pakistan and northwest India. Ranjit Singh’s rule was characterised by strong central administration, a secular approach to governance, and religious tolerance. 

Ranjit Singh’s Death and Succession Issues: After Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in 1839, his empire faced a succession crisis. His heirs were relatively weak, and the empire was plagued by internal divisions and power struggles among different Sikh factions, known as the “Misls.”

The First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-1846): Taking advantage of the internal strife within the Sikh Empire, the British East India Company, which controlled much of India, initiated the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845. This conflict ended with the Treaty of Lahore in 1846, which forced the Sikhs to cede significant territories, including the Jullundur Doab and parts of Kashmir, to the British. The Treaty of Bhyroval (1846): The Treaty of Bhyroval was signed between the British and the Sikh Empire in 1846. It established British control over certain territories in the Punjab and recognized Maharaja Gulab Singh as the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, under British suzerainty.

The Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-1849): Tensions between the British and the Sikhs continued to escalate, leading to the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1848. The British decisively defeated the Sikhs in the Battle of Gujrat in 1849, leading to the annexation of the Punjab by the British. Annexation of the Punjab: After the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the Punjab region was formally annexed by the British Crown in 1849. The region was incorporated into British India, and a new administrative system was put in place.

British Rule in the Punjab: Under British rule, the Punjab was governed by a Commissioner, and a new administrative structure was established. The British introduced modern administrative practices, infrastructure development, and education systems. However, they also faced significant challenges, including resistance from certain segments of the Sikh population. The Indian Rebellion of 1857: During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Punjab remained relatively peaceful, and many Sikh soldiers in the British Indian Army remained loyal to the British. This loyalty was partly due to the recruitment practices and favourable treatment of Sikh soldiers by the British.

The Punjab remained under British control until India gained independence in 1947. At that time, the province was divided into West Punjab (which became part of Pakistan) and East Punjab (which became part of India), resulting in significant population migrations and communal violence during the partition of India.

The first essay is a primer as it will give the reader some perspective and understanding of the subject which is very complicated. The next part will focus on the divide-and-rule strategy of the British in Punjab.

_{(The author is a freelance writer and has published articles on defence and strategic affairs and book reviews. He tweets @LaxmanShriram78. The opinion expressed is the author’s own)}

References:

_{• Singh, Dr Gopal, A History of the Sikh People: 1469 – 1988, World Book Centre, 1989.
• Ranjit Singh Monarch Mystique-1780-1839 Vanit Nalwa ISBN 13 : 978819105261
• Singh, Harbans, The Heritage of the Sikhs, Asia Publishing House, 1964.
• Singh, Khushwant, A History of the Sikhs, Volumes I & II, Oxford University Press, 1991.
• The Five Ks of the Khalsa Sikhs Author(s): Hew McLeod Source: Journal of the American Oriental Society , Apr. – Jun., 2008, Vol. 128, No. 2 (Apr. – Jun., 2008), pp. 325-331 Published by: American Oriental Society Stable
• https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/first-sikh-war
• Punjab: Operation whitewash – India Today}

Balaji Subramanian

_{Balaji is a freelance writer with an MA in History and Political science and has published articles on defence and strategic affairs and book reviews. He tweets @LaxmanShriram78. Views expressed are the author’s own.}