1984 Anti Sikh Riots

News came out just a few days ago on the BBC that 11 life sentences were passed to those connected with the Gujarat riots. In an age of reconciliation when governments are being called to task on human rights violations, it seems out of place that the world’s largest democracy would still cover up its recent past of violence. Genocide, in general, is not uncommon. It spreads across time and space from the Native American genocide, the Turkish atrocities on the Armenians to the most well known, the German Holocaust on Jews, the LGBT population, gypsies, and the disabled. Others include the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, East Timor, Guatemala, Papua, Indonesia, Sudan, possibly now Kenya. The list continues. Why, in the context of the 20^th century then would the anti Sikh genocide be worth talking about?

If you have not heard of the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 do not be surprised. Books about the topic are impossible to find. Television shows and movies are heavily censored within India. For a government-sponsored genocide, it is chilling how few people are aware that up to 20,000 people died and even more women were raped in roughly a week. Yet as terrible as it may be, why should the world care about the 1984 riots?

First of all we have to take into consideration what were the consequences for the government which inflicted this genocide? Unlike many other governments, leaders in the Congress party of India has never been held accountable for their actions. Many are still in power. For a country with an emerging economy, holds nuclear arms, and an increasing weight in global politics, we must as a global community must examine what kind of values does such a government really hold? While many countries have their own dark spots, India, claims to value multiculturalism, tolerance, secularism, capitalism, and democracy. It has done well in promoting the image of a peaceful, stable nation which has attracted many international investors. However if these values genuine, a democratically elected government has a responsibility to not only the international community but to its own citizens to respect their right to security and freedom in their own country.

The anti-Sikh Riots of 1984, which was followed by 10 years of human rights violation in the northern state of Punjab, is one of the most under examined acts of government-endorsed violence in modern history. The casualties count from 5,000 to 20,000, at the very least, five times as many as the now infamous Gujarat riots. By continuing this silence we also endorse this silencing of the past. We also deny justice and validation of the survivors of these crimes. While we cannot change the past, by simply being aware of the capability of a government that is strikingly similar to our own, we can hope to not only encourage healing but show the world that not even a democratic, secular, multicultural government should get away with this.

Here are a few documentaries that explain the background:

This one is the beginning of a series called 1984 Sikhs' Kristallnacht. It gives a good background on the lead up to the 1984 riots as well as a good description on what had happened.

This one is a second part of the five part series which goes into further detail on the riots.

The second video is a 45 minute documentary called “Storming the Temple” which appeared on the history channel which also explains the lead up to the anti-Sikh riots in 1984, such as the attack on the Golden Temple (the Sikh equivalent to Mecca or the Vatican).