1984: A Sikh Story

Ricochet J · 10 Jan 2010 at 10:44

The atrocity Operation Blue Star was a military attack against The Golden Temple, given the go ahead by the Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.

The operation led to her eventual death by assassination, by her two Sikh body guards. The aftermath of the assassination was devastating with mass killings of Sikhs across India.

From the books I've read on this subject, news reporters were refused entry into Punjab, especially the BBC, and were denied to report the mass killings and injustice that was happening.

What are your thoughts on Operation Blue Star?

There is a program tonight, on BBC1, called "1984: A Sikh Story" which unravels the events of the operation.

psd99 · 10 Jan 2010 at 10:58

9/11 attack on the Sikhs in their homeland that's what I think of it.

Sonia Deol is only good for one thing - a pretty face

Ricochet J · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:04

But from the Indian Military point of view, The Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) was a hiding place for some Sikh terrorists.

psd99 · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:08

Ricochet J said:
But from the Indian Military point of view, The Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) was a hiding place for some Sikh terrorists.

Yes "Sikh Terrorists" the ones that were going to blow their own temple up or perhaps the ones who were going to jump on to an aeroplane and blow people up.

Not all of the people were "terrorists" think of all the pilgrims including the young children, the women and the old aged. Innocent "terrorists" losing their lives in their homeland.

Hamster · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:10

Ricochet J said:
But from the Indian Military point of view, The Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) was a hiding place for some Sikh terrorists.

It's also a place of residence for many many Sikhs and their families who aren't terrorists. I saw the destruction in Amritsar first hand before the rebuilding and it was chilling.

Tefal · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:11

MehulLakhani · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:12

Will be a very interesting programme - I always hear lots about what happened from relatives, but would be good to see a documentary on this

R

Mehul

SiD the Turtle · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:12

Well it's a two way thing. Just like modern-day Islamic extremists, they were asking for trouble by hiding in a place of worship with guns. Tell me where a Guru suggested that was a smart idea!

On the other hand, the Indian Military went in too heavy handed and were not trained to deal with these kind of problems.

P.S. never debate this topic with a Sikh in person, it's like debating the justifications of 9/11 with a Yank.

Cosimo · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:13

Ricochet J said:
What are your thoughts on Operation Blue Star?

The Indian government/army giving Sikh militants a bad time. It caused an outcry at the time and still does amongst the Sikhs. I wonder how many people here can remember it.

Ricochet J said:
URL=http://www.radiotimes.com/

I see it's on at a very popular viewing time, 10:55pm - 11:55pm.

psd99 · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:20

SiD the Turtle said:
Well it's a two way thing. Just like modern-day Islamic extremists, they were asking for trouble by hiding in a place of worship with guns.

That's like comparing chalk and cheese. Where was the part where a bomb exploded on a bus?

That is the reality of modern day Islamic Extremists they create terror as much as they can and there is no remorse for innocent civillians

Glaucus · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:25

I know nothing about it, except it was meant to be terrorists, hiding in the temple to escape capture. Hiding behind the public does not mean military should not engage. Innocent people also have a duty to leave the area or force the terrorists out IMO. You could even go as far as calling them sympathisers and actually go as far as saying they were terrorist sympathisers and helpers.

Will be watching it.

SiD the Turtle · 10 Jan 2010 at 11:26

psd99 said:
That's like comparing chalk and cheese. Where was the part where a bomb exploded on a bus?

That is the reality of modern day Islamic Extremists they create terror as much as they can and there is no remorse for innocent civillians

They were extremists who didn't hold the views of the mainstream, peace loving religion of Sikhism. They shot fellow Sikhs, civilians and police officers. Then they fortified the holiest of Sikh sites. They were terrorists, extremists, what ever you want to call them.

It doesn't justify the massacre, but they were no saints.

pallys · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:20

It had nothing to do with those individuals being so called "terrorists" which was false anyway.

It was all about religion, Hindu's vs. the Sikhs.

The Indian Government knew perfectly well they were demolishing the Sikh Holy Shrine.

It is like bombing the Mecca, or the Vatican City. You just don't do it.

If you do, you feel the wrath of God. And the Lady paid with her life. God did not choose to save her.

Still to this day the Sikhs are deprived and treated unfairly by the Government in India.

Things only getting a bit better with a Singh (Sikh) in charge of India who is finally making it an economic power house with his policies. Something the previous Hindu's should have done but were continually corrupt and siphoning off money.

Tefal · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:32

pallys said:
If you do, you feel the wrath of God. And the Lady paid with her life. God did not choose to save her.

No you feel the wrath of man.

God did not chose not to save her.

People decided to kill her.

Frenzy · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:35

substitute the book for the holy grail and the golden temple for the popes cathedral (random example) then substitute the people for christians and the terrorists for scientologists (es not a very good example) yeah like that. I dont know much about it myself despite being sikh, going to watch it tonight.

Raikiri · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:38

pallys said:
If you do, you feel the wrath of God. And the Lady paid with her life. God did not choose to save her.

She died because two Sikhs decided to kill her, not because 'God' chose not to save her.

Same as the Sikhs died because she chose to attack them, not because 'God' chose they weren't worth saving.

Tefal · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:39

Raikiri said:
She died because two Sikhs decided to kill her, not because 'God' chose not to save her.

unless of course it was gods wrath that killed all those Sikhs at the temple.

God did not choose to save them.

bah you edited

Frenzy · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:41

Sikhs follow the teachings of god. We dont use god to justify evils...

Tefal · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:43

Frenzy said:
Sikhs follow the teachings of god. We dont use god to justify evils...

pallys said:
It had nothing to do with those individuals being so called "terrorists" which was false anyway.

It was all about religion, Hindu's vs. the Sikhs.

The Indian Government knew perfectly well they were demolishing the Sikh Holy Shrine.

It is like bombing the Mecca, or the Vatican City. You just don't do it.

If you do, you feel the wrath of God. And the Lady paid with her life. God did not choose to save her.

Still to this day the Sikhs are deprived and treated unfairly by the Government in India.

Things only getting a bit better with a Singh (Sikh) in charge of India who is finally making it an economic power house with his policies. Something the previous Hindu's should have done but were continually corrupt and siphoning off money.

Some of you clearly do.

Frenzy · 12 Jan 2010 at 16:45

Tefal said:
Some of you clearly do.

Some people yes, we dont view these as real sikhs because it goes against the FOUNDATION of the religion. Sikhism is probably the most tolerant religion in the world =/

I wish i knew more about my faith so i could articulate what the religion is really about but im ashamed i dont. My religion was not forced upon me, but i was encouraged to learn. Growing up in england i never felt like taking the oppourtunity.