The BBC to air documentary investigating the 1984 attack on the Sikh shrine of the Golden Temple
The BBC have scheduled a one-off documentary tonight which will take an in-depth look into the historic attack on the Sikh shrine, The Golden Temple, in 1984.
The programme entitled The Sikh Story: 1984 is told through the eyes of a UK born Sikh, Sonia Deol. Sonia was 11 when the siege took place, and retells the story through her experience of the event. She also interviews a number of individuals caught up in the event such as eyewitnesses and those who lost loved-ones in the riots which ensued following the attack.
masala.org.uk”title=”" >Indian troops stormed the Golden Temple under the orders of Indian’s Prime Minister of the time, Indira Gandhi. The Golden Temped is widely regarded as one of the Sikh’s most important shrines. The decision was made by the female Prime Minister to invade the temple in an attempt to overthrow the militant Sikh preacher, Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters.
The consequences of this action were extreme and created a huge divide between the Sikh community and the rest of India. Many also believe it led to the death of the PM Indira Ghandi who was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards as an act of revenge for the attack on the Golden Temple.
1984: The Sikh Story airs tonight on BBC1 at 10:55pm – UK.
alot of interesting facts can be conveyed in this 30 minute program.
i hope it it of a sophisticated nature and based on sophisticated opinions and facts as well as being of political and economical nature.
the golden temple was not just stormed in 1984 but again in 1986 and 1988 in operation black thunder.
i strongly advise the bbc not to make programs on sikh history if it is of a simple, and insifnificant nature, as there is a wealth of knowlwdge on this topic.
Interesting to see how facts are portrayed, as the Indian Government banned media from covering this atrocity. I cant begin to express my sadness and anger as a result of ‘operation blue star’. This is outright murder by India authorities. Alcohol and Ladoos were given out at the Darbar Sahib amongst those bastards who desecrated our place of worship.
Hail Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala, a hero of the Sikhs
We still suffer decades on..
The programme was totally biased and not Hindus were interviewed about the atrocities carried out against them by Bhindranwala associates. Those who were holed up with him in the Golden Temple.
He was a radical Sikh who became a terrorist by association!
He should have taken weapons into the Temple and if he had not, none of the atrocities would have ever occurred.
This programme was biased against the Sikhs, and the BBC clearly did not want to offend the Indian Government. The presenter was Sonia Deol, herself a Sikh; though just because the BBC had a Sikh face presenting, doesn’t mean it was fair and balanced. The BBC is scared to offend and accuse the Indian government. But the fact is, tens of thousands of Punjabi’s died during that decade, so I can’t believe the BBC decided not the share the scale of the genocide with the viewing public.
The unfortunate the thing is, that by not being critical of the Indian government, it will only add to the injustice that Punjabi’s feel, as heavy as ever. The BBC has failed, and I feel a injustice from them.
personally i feel that this documentary shouldnt have been broadcasted in thiis country. I think people in the UK have less education on this topic. This would never be shown in india. It will allow the english and pakistani to see our countrys weakness that hindus and sikhs hate eachother, which is untrue.you also failed to mention that… See More our Guru’s were all Hindu and also failed to mention that Hindu families made their first born child a Sikh of the Guru’s teachings. Hindus also lost their lives in this operation. Why was this not mentioned? The widow coloney was shown but why did you not speak of the many women and young girls which were dragged to the bunkers and raped inside the Golden Temple by the terrorists hiding in the temple. If he was so brave then why was he hiding inside the temple? Sikhi was created by Guru Gobind Singh Ji for the protection of Hindustan (India)! Also Guru Ji told us that our Guru Granth Sahib was our final Guru so how can people believe that bhinderawala was a Guru? That goes against the teachings of our Guru. I think overall you did a very good job but its a very touchy subject for punjabi hindus like me who belive in both sikh and hinduism.
good story hw it started and the finishing
As far as i am concerened regarding last night programme i hope nothing like this gets displayed ever again as it only brings back sad memories it was very sad to see all with your own eyes i was 14 years old and we were literally living 2 mins away from golden temple and the experience and the disasters were caused i really would not like to think about it ever in my life again. And yes golden temple was under attack not only 1984 but it was under attck 1986 as well and it was called black thunder attack.
But i don’t understand why bring out the sad memories again.
The programme totally forgot to mention the massacare of 13 Sikhs in 1978 by a sect group callaed Naragkaris. These Naragkaris were sponsored and promoted by Indira Gandhi who was looking at various ways to undermine the Akali Dal party. Evil tactics were used such as creating this evil sect to divide the Sikh religion. It was only after no justice was done by Indian courts (they let the guilty Naragkaris walk free) that Saint Ji took up arms. Violence, rightly so, was taken up against these devil worshipping sect and their evil leader shot and sent to hell. Events then got out of hand and Gandhi wanted to portray Sikhs v. Hindu’s. This would win her the forthcoming elections, similar to the Thacther in UK using Falklands war to win elections. As for crimes in Punjab & GT, many of these were done by government stooges & normal gunda’s which India has a large population of. Indra Gandhi now sits in hell for deeds during the early 80′s in Punjab.
aishwarya,
Read your message. You make some good points.
Indeed Hindu’s in Punjab had no problems with Sikhs & vice versa. The reason why many Hindu families made their first born male child a Sikh was number of reasons:
1) A Sikh is viewed as brave man & Hindu’s wanted first male child to protect rest of family
2) Sikhs in those days were recruited into army and this was steady employment
3) Many Hindus would pray in Gurudwara and pary to god for a boy, making promise that when boy was born he would be Sikh.
Saint Ji had no problem with Hindu’s and viewed all as brothers & sisters. To win votes by striking fear in minds of all Hindu’s in India – Gandhi promoted the sub plot of killing innocent Hindu’s and blaming SJB & his men. Many of the Hindu’s killed in Punjab in those days were killed by Government Agents & Stooges. Others were killed by general Gunda’s that India has many of. These criminals come out the wood work as soon as they know they can get away with it. Partition in 1947 is prime example. This gave Gandhi the excuse to storm Golden Temple. As for rapes in GT, these were carried out by criminals who had joined the movement on instructions of the Punjab Police. They were to muddy the name of the movement as much as possible so normal folk would not support the cause. This trick ultimately worked. Also many of these crimes happened in the 1986 not 1984 when many of the warriors holed up in temple were true followers not criminals. All this just to stay in Power – sums Gandhi up. Remember in 1970′s she imposed emergency rule when she was found guilty of corruption to hold on to her power. Witch comes to mind !!!
Ashwaria,
First can I start by asking you some questions before i move on to the rest of the good readers on this this site.
Did you see women and young girls being dragged to the bunkers and raped inside the Golden Temple?
Was you there to witness this yourself?
Are you saying this has happened because you have heard it from others or you have witnessed the event yourself?
Have you ever considered not saying something unless you know you are telling the whole truth 100% about something you have heard and not witnessed with your very own eyes?
Look everybody is angry about something or the other but shouldn’t we try to follow good practice learning from those mistakes and accept that what has happened should never happen again. Moving on from that rather than sit on the subject and debate about it years later would be alot better than eating away at each other. All those humans that have died during that time are not here today to give their views or opinions any longer than their loved ones would wish for them to still be here with them.
Let us all wish such an incident should never occur again of this sort in India – EVER AGAIN or anywhere in the world
Let Sikhs and Hindu’s be at peace as they live today.
When we go to the Mandir, Gurdwara, Church or Mosque and so on
… before god we act as we are really good natured humans for taking the time in our lives to be there in the house of god whenever we visit.
While there we don’t think about others around us who are also present in the house of god, but we get a feeling that we are being good very good people for being there. sometimes we get a feeling that others think we are good for being there.
we ask the lord for whatever we want quietly in our hearts and don’t say it loud in front of others because we don’t want anybody to know what we have asked for.
Yet when we are there we feel a bond between us and god, but cannot see him
He is there, we know it because if he isn’t you would not go there
Thats why when jee kartha heh we go to the place of worship
The hearts desire that I need to go to the house of god and I need to tell him my feeling or ask for something
He is knower of all, and hears every thought we think and every word we say
Yet he is quiet about everything he knows. If anybody felt the most pain in the whole world when the 1984 events and other such devastating events took place throughout the worlds history God has felt the pain more than anyone in the universe because we are his children, and he never sees any of us differently be it Hindu, muslim christian or sikh etc…
Yet he still keeps quiet.
Is it right to waste time debating on past issues or is it wise to forgive, if not forget, and move on? Should we as individuals think it is right to stir things further when yet the lord himself, who sees everything is quiet. Each soul is judged and everybody knows that.
Why are we using our remaining breath and thoughts while alive wasting time arguing about who is right and who is wrong, does it not seem wiser to get on with each other instead The exact practice the lord of every religion has asked us to do through all religious teachings.
This is my thought I don’t mean to to harm anybody s feelings
The deeper we go into any subject and throw questions at each other and debate the more we get wound up and argue. This is the core of evil and leads to hatred amongst people – Occupy your mind and utter the name of god instead
Ask for the well being of everybody and for the strenght to live a humble life – don’t wind up in arguements knowing it will not make a difference. You and me cannot change what has already happened but we can by understanding it will not lead us to a better society unless we learn to forgive and move on.
Your fellow human
H Singh
Sonia did well in researching and confronting Gen. Brar in the slaughter of pilgrims as well as meeting wifes/mothers of murdered husbands/sons.
I am not a Khalistani but I’m a supporter of sikh human rights in a hindu dominated society.
Hardly anyone has been charged with those atrocities in Delhi! I wonder why; all involved were hindu politicians.
Obviously this touches a nerve with the hindu, hindu-punjabis communities, who
still wish to dominate and crush the sikh identity. No surrender!! Never in a million years, until the last ounce of sikh blood is drained in the Ganges.
Raj Kara Ka Khalsa!!
…. all these comments are so very well, however, most Indians (Hindus and Sikhs) don’t know the extent of what happened and perhaps happens in Punjab, before and after that self-made gangster or at worst terrorist. There were casualties on both sides, because his people and alike persecuted Hindus in Punjab (I know, because they shot one killing him, dragging him out of his car in front of my yiunger brother many years ago). In fact that gangster killed Sikhs too, please look up the facts as to what a intoxicating waster he had become. I am sure many many Hindus and Sikhs can recall from their parents and relatives what a hostile place Punjab was in the 80s and 90s, and still is in some places today. We, in this country have it easy, because we don’t see what happened and how much more harmonious than here it is now.
Keep the useless comments coming if they are biased…
quote “aishwarya says:
11/01/2010 at 9:45 am
personally i feel that this documentary shouldnt have been broadcasted in thiis country.”
“will allow the english and pakistani to see our countrys weakness ”
ashwaria – quit your selfish nationalistic BS. innocent people were killed by india and the world needs to know. how dare you suggest that history be buried.. thousands of innocent men and women were killed defending their rights/land/home/place of worship!!!how can you EVEN suggest what india done in the past should not be made public.. who will bring india to account for thos thousand of innocent killed.. how can you let them be killed in vain? how can your countries pride be worth more than the lives of innocent.. (ironic cause it’s people that make a country..)
europe til last year was prosecuting nazi soldier for the atrocities committed by hitler.. and here’s you suggesting burying history in the name of country pride n honour. india’s atrocities are not hidden from the world..pakistanis know exactly what took place during gujarat riots.
quote
“The widow coloney was shown but why did you not speak of the many women and young girls which were dragged to the bunkers and raped inside the Golden Temple by the terrorists hiding in the temple.”
what evidence do you have this filth took place.. surely if this wasnt propaganda it would of been mentioned in the documentary.. why would they rape their own women?
Sant Bindrawla Ji was NOT a terrorist he was protecting his people and the golden temple from gettting invaded.
The indian government were going to invade the golden temple whether Sant ji was there or not! Sant ji did the right thing to get his own army to fight back.
How dare Indira Ghandi give orders for the army to shoot and kill inocent people at the Golden Temple. What goes round comes round and she was killed i have no sympathy for her but do have sympathy for the thousands of innocent sikhs that were killed.
dear aishwarya,
please prove any incidence that any girl was raped in sikh temple, it is very simple to say, u r the people who are enemy of sikhs and u r nor true hindu also
There are some really good point made here..
it was the slaughter of mankind only and only instigated by the politicians and only the unemployed and people from lower strata of society were used to kill sikhs. They were paid meagre amount for killing one sikh each time. This was really agonised sikhs against India. Sikhs and Muslims being minority are always targtted. But people forget about this brave KOMs. They should remmeber SIKHs
sat shri akal ,,,, 1st of all topic is serious n should b discuss so i jst read what every body said. 1 thing we must clear that sant ji was a real MAN .A HERO. god is the main power , he mke us fyt so we can be busy , world is lyk a play ground. history teach us everythin . if 2 people fyt n smeone ask them whose ryt from u then no 1 wil say that i am wrong . so TO solve that thing 3rd person needed. if u wan speak anythin ,feel that n then speak . n nt lyk the politians who read the papaers to speech ( as we seen indian n sme othar politian do) . only those people read papar to speech those who dnt wana show whats in there hearts. sme people who jst speak without papars readin they say what there heart say…. now i wana tell u that every1 live lyf n no1 wana die without a gd reason even army man dnt wana die without reason. n no 1 wana pick weapon , every one wan to stay with there families.. heepz people who had a talk with me , they said sikh jst cme to exsitance to protect hindus ,,,,,,,,,, kkkkkk iam can agree,,, buh what we should call them who cant even protect themselves n there own people, a gay? yah that is ryt.. so 2 person 1 is George W. Bush n othar is osama bin ladin … whose ryt? most will say bush as hero n osama as terrorist ,,, ask ur self question that who have killed more people? bush is answer, hahhhhhhaaa same theory alpies to sikhs n indira gandhi ……. i will never say she was always worng buh desire of nations ruler 4 ever mke her do all this ……. she had forgot the history of sikhs… i have million thing to say n i can prove that so i thing if anyone wana talk jst as friend i will be free 4 u… n jst reply me n get ma id or get from site or ask me to give it to u . if smeone wan us to forget what had hapnd then let smeone rape u or urs n let smeone kill ur in front of u n let me show how u can forget,,,,,,, aishwarya ji be a human n feel what had hapnd with sikhs n sory is the solution of heepz problem buh should be from heart buh indian govt neva feel guilty n sory 4 what they did …… MANS FIGHT 4 RYT N GAY JST FORGET THAT.. hindustan cmes from hindu ,mean place 4 hindu n we r nt hindu,s …… then y we cant even call punjab as khalistan? indian tke 250 yr to b free even at last they get freedm on heads of sikhs n dnt wory its jst 50 yr tme have pased from when we r slave of india.. thxxxxxxx
… oh look at me, I’m Sikh and I think that Terrorist was a Sant, blah blah blah. This truly is a very serious topic and narrow minded people should not comment on it with hearsay/rumours and without the facts and evidence.
Why don’t the Sikhs who think they’re so undervalued ask India’s Sikh Prime Minsiter? And why is there investment in Punjab and a new International Airport being built, where there is already one? Think economics and think how far India (Hindus and Sikhs) have come.
I always say, if you have so much hatred against Hindus and India, why sit here in UK or elsewhere in the world and throw mud? Go back home and campaign against the change you bleieve you deserve and are presumably owed?
i love how some of you sikh people are so brainwashed….i mean u blame everything on the indian government and u give a pass to the fact that bhindranwale was hiding out in a holy temple with weapons and it seemed like he was ready to fight. u give a pass that before the indians (i guess u guys are not indian or something) invaded the temple there was fighting and hindus being killed as well. u dont always mention that the invasion was lead by a sikh, and had sikhs in the army that invaded. and u make it seem like its the hindus coming after the sikhs only or its the indians coming after the sikhs only. i mean im not saying indira and the government is not to blame. they are. but some of you just seem so brainwashed like you blame it all on them and you dont critique the people who were hiding out in the temple with weapons. i mean its bad that they invaded the temple and killed innocent peoplle. yes i agree. but is it also bad that people hid out in the temple with weapons then? is it bad that innocent hindus were being killed before the invasion then? i mean some of u are so brainwashed. this is kind of like how some crazy islamic terrroists are. some of u parents have to to stop rasing your kids with a one sided way on “the indians invaded us sikhs” or the “hindus invaded us sikhs”, i mean there is more to it then that. i know this article mentions that people were hiding out in the temple with weapons but some of u people who seem so biast and one sided. i mean seriously dont be so biast and one sided. and if u want khalistan then consider that if u get all those states from india, and not just punjab, then the majority of people will be hindu. and if u get indina punjab and pakistan punjab as khalistan then the majority of people will be muslim then . .
you people who think santji was a terroist guranteed are hindus. he respected all cultures!!People camt to him for help there’s a story online where Santji helped a hindu girl because her in-laws were torturing of money. He says to her tht u r the daughter of a hindu r u willing to become the daughter of the sikh she approved. then bhindernwales men went and bought her in laws. he takes out a plate of notes and says u guys told her to get money from her father i’m her father take what u want. they all pleaded for forgiveness. He taught them from right and wrong and treated that innocent girl as his daughter. And as for general brar he’s a coward for not saying no to the operation. read the gallant defender that will tell u all whos a terrooist and who’s the true saint!!!!!!!
Yet again, the british play divide and rule, and we are all for it.
Let me remind you who else died because of this sikh exteremism and government apathy… all people aboard the kanishka flight.
killing is not the solution… and those sikhs who call themselves sikh.. i know how much religion you follow, pagg lani ni, karcha, kanga, kirpaan kuch nahi… only meat, wine, women and weapons. thats what you are left with.
Before Abusing a National leader.. go through the history properly.
Don’t be so imaginative, that u were there in the temple, and u have been killed by the army and reborn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalistan_movement
such a nice story .i am sure it has shown the world what was really happened in 1984 and how indian govt tried to finish sikhs in india.but they should now know that we are like lions as amore you hurtus more we get stronger and can chase the world by its own if we want.
sat shri akkal ji.i am from brisbane.
Sant Bindranwale was not justified to use the Golden temple as a hideout amassing guns and weaponry.
The army was not justified to attack the Golden Temple either. Both parties made their mistakes and the onslaughter afterwards in Delhi is a shame to the whole of India.
Regardless to say, its been over 25 years since Operation Bluestar and what have the skhs done in Amritsar to improve the holy place and make the surrounding city an unforgettable place. They are amassing mi$$ions and not making use of the wealth to promote the universal message of Guru Nanak.
They are only concerned on the dress code and wearing the kirpan they should drop this whole notion of fighting with every international government with the right to wear kirpans. Its downright embarassing to all sikhs, turbanned or not, kesh or cut kesh. We understand the turban requirement but wear the kirpan as a symbol for crying out aloud. That is why the sokh faith has not flourished or expanded and is still stuck in the dark ages with these illiterate bigots who are supposedly head of the sikh faith. We need a revolution to put sikhi back on its tracks.
Like famously said…”It would be difficult to point to a religion of greater originality or to a more comprehensive ethical system than the Sikh faith”..Max Arthur Macauliffe
“The Gurus Granth Sahib has something of special for the rest of the world”..Arnold Toynbee
We need to get rid of the bafoons that think they own our sikh religion in Amritsar and the majority of the gurudwaras that are run by these corrupt terrorist..yes I call them terrorists as they are no different as they are hijacking our Sikh faith!..
God help us for a new revolution to take the Sri Guru Granth Sahib to the next generation!!