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Third extended edition of June 1984 Martyrs’ directory released

June 7, 2012 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

Amritsar (June 05, 2012): The Dal Khalsa has come out with the third update edition of the directory of martyrs, who laid down their lives defending the Akal Takht during the brutal assault by the India army in June, 1984. The release of the directory, this time significantly coincides with the commencement of the Kar Sewa by the Damdami Taksal to raise the memorial to these very martyrs.

The army attack codenamed as “Operation Bluestar”, was the darkest chapter in the recent history that redefined relationship of the Sikhs with the Indian state.

This updated third edition carries the messages of Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa and senior journalist Jagtar Singh who has chronicled the history of this period. Dal Khalsa founder Gajinder Singh, who is in exile has also penned down a note for this directory to pay tributes to these martyrs.

“The nations which ignore their martyrs are bound to be doomed. The Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwarpal Singh had initiated the exercise to compile the directory keeping this in view. It has not been an easy task to identify the fighters and those who provided them the equally important logistical support. The directory has the names and profiles of all these martyrs”.

Pro-freedom Kashmiri leader Geelani in his message has said that the Sikhs have a history of chivalry, bravery and sacrifices. They have learnt hard way defending their faith. Expressing his solidarity and sympathies with the Sikh people, he said suffering at the hands of a common tormenter binds (Sikhs and Kashmiris) together.

“These martyrs of the June 1984, like Bhai Mani Singh, Baba Deep Singh and Baba Gurbaksh Singh, are exemplary martyrs of the Sikh nation. The Dal Khalsa, the militant organisation of the Khalsa Panth, brought out a directory to perpetuate the memories of these martyrs for the coming generation”, said Baba Harnam Singh.

“This third edition of the directory brought out by the Dal Khalsa is dedicated to those very men and women whose courage and conviction were admitted even by the head of the invading army” said Jagtar Singh.

H S Dhami head of the organization has written in its editorial message that their group has made a humble contribution to bring on record all those unknown and unsung heroes of one phase of the struggle of the Sikh people against the Indian state. He said operation “Bluestar” was the saga of unparalleled chivalry of the Sikhs that had become part of the Sikh folklore.

The directory includes the profiles of 220 Sikh martyrs of 1984, which was released in the presence of their family members on the eve of 28th anniversary of the attack. Kanwarpal Singh said their team members led by Sarbjit Singh Ghuman have done a lot of research work but still a lot has to be done. “We have come across the names of many more that perished during the attack but we are still to ascertain the place, date and how they died”, he added.

Resounding slogans of Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal and Raj Karega Khalsa, Deg Teg Fateh, rent the air the moment Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, present head of Damdami Taksal and other Sikh representatives of different radical groups presented the copies of the ‘Directory of Martyrs’ to Ishar Singh and Tarlochan Singh- sons of Sant Bhindrawale and Bhai Amrik Singh. Around about 126 family members of martyrs today graced the occasion.

Articulating the rationale behind the publishing of the directory, he said since the work on memorial started, it was necessary to bring on record in whose memory this memorial was being raised.

Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal, Baba Ajit Singh Lohgar, SAD (Panch Pardani) leader Bhai Daljeet Singh, Harpal Singh Cheema and KAC chairman Mohkam Singh graced the occasion and paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the attack.

Highlights:

The directory lists includes two women Bibi Paramjit Kaur Sandhu and Bibi Upkar Kaur president women wing of Sikh students Federation. The directory also recalls the role and contribution of more than 30 kar sewaks who came from Nanded, which reached Darbar Sahib a few months before June, 1984. Five of them were arrested and the rest attained martyrdom.

-13 year old Sarabjit Singh Dadher was the youngest of the martyrs.

-one Gorkha from Nepal and two Hindus who embraced Sikhism also laid down their lives in this fight against the enemies of Panth Khalsa.

-one of the martyrs had come long way from Singapore who died fighting for safeguarding and upholding the sanctity of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

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Related Topics: Dal Khalsa, June 1984 attack on Sikhs, June 1984 Martyrs, Sikh Martyrs

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