Amritsar: Sikh Shahadat, a quarterly magazine, organized a first seminar to analyze the writings related to “Teeja Ghallughara”, June 1984 attack of Indian Army on Darbar Sahib (Amritsar) and 70 other Gurdwaras across Punjab and adjoining states. The seminar held on 26 May 2024 at Central Khalsa Yatimkhana, Putalighar, Amritsar recorded participation by researchers, analysts and scholars.
Dr. Kanwaljit Singh, chief editor of Sikh Shahadat welcomed participants. He said that the Sikh Shahadat has planned a series of seminars/discussions to analyze the writings of the past 40 years that are related to “Teeja Ghallughara” which is a pivotal event of recent Sikh hisotry. He also suggested various frameworks using which the writings may be classified and grouped for analyses.
Research scholar Navjot Singh read his paper analyzing a portion of Indian journalist Kuldeep Nayyar’s autobiography in which he writes about the June 1984 attack of Indian Army on Darbar Sahib and other Sikh Gurdwaras.
Ravinderpal Singh, a research scholar at Punjabi University Patiala analyzed the writeups about Teeja Ghallughara which were published in Sikh Shahadat (monthly magazine) from its starting in March 2000 to September 2009,when its publication was stopped because of police repression. He highlighted the importance of write-ups published in Sikh Shahadat (monthly magazine) in developing understanding about “Teeja Ghallughara”.
Dr. Gurpreet Singh presented his paper analyzing a book on the June 1984 attack on Darbar Sahib by the Indian army written by former Indian Army official General Kuldeep Brar. Brar was the officer who was leading the Indian army attack on Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar. He highlighted the self-conflicting narrative built by Kuldeep Brar in his book.
Presenting a paper on suppression of Sikh expression about “Teeja Ghallughara” by the Indian State using ‘digital repression’ against the Sikhs Parmjeet Singh, editor of Sikh Siyasat News, cited incidents of content blocking. He said that the Indian state started its digital repression against Sikhs in May 2015 by blocking Sikh online portals which were extending information about “Teeja Ghallughara”. He highlighted that the ‘Ghallughara week,’ observed during the first week of June each year, has become a period marked by intensified efforts by the Indian State to suppress Sikh voices through widespread content blockings. He underscored how this systematic digital repression serves as a means to silence dissent and erase narratives surrounding the traumatic events of “Teeja Ghallughara.”
Dr. Sikandar Singh, head of Punjabi Department at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib presented his paper analyzing Punjabi author Sant Singh Sekhon’s writings after Teeja Ghallughara. Dr. Sikandar Singh elucidated how the events of “Teeja Ghallughara” had profoundly impacted Sant Singh Sekhon, a marxist, prompting a notable shift in his perspective and writings. Drawing extensively from Sekhon’s writings, Dr. Sikandar Singh underscored the shifts in Sant Singh Sekhon’s understanding.
The seminar concluded with Sukhdeep Singh Mudaki extending gratitude to all participants, encapsulating the spirit of collaborative exploration and scholarly exchange that defined the day’s proceedings.
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿਚ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ:- ਅਦਾਰਾ ਸਿੱਖ ਸ਼ਹਾਦਤ ਵਲੋਂ ਲਿਖਤਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਪੈੜਾਂ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ’ਤੇ ਕਰਵਾਈ ਗਈ ਗੋਸਟਿ