Most of you might have heard that in Punjab, the first son was made a Sikh, dedicated to the Army. I posed this question to all my Punjabi friends but never got a clear reply.

The article gives you the answer. It also has some interesting comments by a person who works with the Indian Army and some personal experiences too. Comments are welcome, am open to different points of view




Why was the First Hindu punjabi Son made a Sikh

by g.s.singh

In May 2004 Manmohan Singh became India's Prime Minister. When a person becomes PM it is natural for papers to show pictures of his immediate family. Mumbai's papers showed his brother, Surjit Singh Kohli and father K Kohli. I wondered! This meant that the PM's surname too was Kohli (caste Khatri or Kshatriyas) but for some reason he had decided to omit it. People called him India's first Sikh Prime Minister. This confused me even more because neither did my next-door neighbor Vikas Kohli sport a turban nor was he a Sikh.

When I asked 74-year-old Punjabi mother about this contradiction she said in Punjab there was a tradition where the first son was made a Sikh, dedicated to the Army. My next question to her was why did the Punjabis dedicate their first son to the Army? She did not have an answer. Here is what I discovered.

After reading Veena Talwar's book and three others I have come to the following conclusion. Am willing to stand corrected and would be keen to know a different view.

According to volume 7 of the History & Culture of Indian People published by the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan - "Disciples of Nanak called themselves Sikhs derived from the Sanskrit word sishya, meaning a learner or a person who takes spiritual lessons from a teacher. The public called them Nanak Panthis or Sikhs. Panth literally means path or way and it has been traditionally used to designate the followers of a particular teacher or of a distinctive range of doctrine".

"Singh means devotee". However, today Singh has come to mean Lion & has come to be associated with fighting classes throughout North India esp. in undivided Punjab (modern day Punjab, Haryana & Himachal Pradesh). The change was brought about the British. One of the principal changes that the British made after the 1857 mutiny was a reduction in the number of Bengali soldiers because it is they who were involved in the mutiny. They were replaced by Sikhs & Punjabi Muslims who had supported the British during the mutiny.

Veena Talwar wrote in Dowry Murder, "By the late 19th century, Punjabis made up 57 infantry units & Bengal (included Bihar & Orissa) fewer than 15".

W H Mcleod wrote in his book, Who is a Sikh, "Appreciative of the strength of opposition encountered during the Anglo-Sikh wars & as a result of the assistance which they received from the Sikh princes during the Mutiny, Sikhs were easily accommodated within the British theory of the martial races of India & Sikh enlistment increased steeply. For the British, martial Sikhs meant Khalsa Sikhs, and all who were inducted into the Indian Army as Sikhs were required to maintain the external insignia of the Khalsa". The British paid their soldiers very well, allotted them agricultural land & pension. Other castes like Khatris, Aroras & Ahulwalias did not want to loose out economically so they made the first son a Sikh meaning they had to grow hair etc.

Further Veena Talwar wrote, "To prevent the sort of mutiny they experienced from sepoys in 1857, the British organized religiously segregated regimental units from the alleged martial races, Sikhs, Pathans, Rajputs etc. This severely restricted Hindus of other castes particularly Khatris, who had served in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's forces. Khatris were arbitrarily lumped together by the British as trading castes. Many families got around this artificially imposed caste barrier by raising one or more son as Sikhs, chiefly by having them adopt the name Singh and grow hair/beard to match".

The maximum number of followers of Khalsa were Jats who as we know are tall, sturdy and big built people. (Jats are found in modern day Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh). Because of reasons listed in the preceding paras other castes like Khatris made one more sons a follower of Khalsa. Today sons of such Sikhs are considered to be followers of Sikhism while sons of the brothers who did not become Sikhs called Monas are considered to be followers of Hinduism.

The Punjab terrorism problem in the 1980-90's resulted in a deterioration of Hindu Sikh relations. Sometime around 1985 I remember my Delhi cousins telling me of the problem this created for the families of two elderly cousin brothers one of whom was a Hindu and another a Sikh. This happened because one of their forefathers wanted to avail of the economic benefits offered by the British to followers of Khalsa and decided to become a Sikh.

Impact on Names - today anybody with a Turban has Singh as his middle name or last name. Two people with the same surnames could be Hindu & Sikh. Let me explain. My first boss was born Sukhwinder Chadha & has a turban. Due to the resurgence of Khalsa he wrote his name in Inter office memos as Sukhwinder Singh Chadha to show he is a Sikh but signed cheques as Sukhwinder Chadha because that was the name as it appeared in his birth certificate.

Conversely there is another Chadha, school friend Vineet Chadha who is considered as a Hindu because he sports no turban. Non-Jat Punjabis with turban meaning Khatris etc invariably put Singh as their middle or surname because they have to prove they are Sikhs. Here is another example.

A girl I was looking to marry had the surname Batra. When she went to her father's place she used her Dad's email id whose name was J Singh (he retired from the Indian Air Force). I was confused. I asked her whether she was a Batra or a Singh (not that I had a problem with either). However, she never told me how father & daughter could have different surnames. Since her father sported a turban he was considered a Sikh. To know the answer read next para.

Impact in Indian Armed Forces by Sandy - "I cannot help but give a input on Sikhs. This is based on my interaction with the armed forces for the past 21 years. I joined NDA at the age of 18. Before I joined I used to think that Sikhs are one community without any caste bias. But I was wrong.

After joining the services I realized that the Sikhs are more divided on caste lines than Hindus. The Jat Sikhs consider
themselves to be superior to others. The Sikhs who have surnames common with Hindus e.g. Chawla, Arora, Kohli etc. are called "Bhapaa" sikhs or the trading (read Baniya) Sikhs and are considered inferior as compared to Jat Sikhs who are basically Zamindars or Landlord Sikhs. (* Tells you how that happened).

Another sect/caste of Sikhs, which are considered even lower than "Bhapaa" Sikhs are the "Majhabi" Sikhs who are basically SCs in the Sikh community. Their parental/ancestral occupation was of sweepers/garbage lifters. Even the British encouraged this caste system by having the Infantry units segregated on caste lines. When one says he is from Sikh regiment, it means that he is basically a Jat Sikh.

However, when a Sikh soldier belongs to Sikh LI (Sikh light infantry), he is a "Majhabi" Sikh. A Jat Sikh would be seen dead rather than join a Sikh LI unit. You will find hardly any Jat Sikh officers in Sikh LI regiment. Only Hindu officers would be heading the "SikhLI" units. That is why the non Jat Sikhs never reveal their surnames for the fear of being ostracized / ridiculed
in the Sikh community. They always suffix their first names with 'Singh', period".

Unlike a Khatri or Arora caste who needs to prove that he is a Sikh a Jat has no such compulsions. A Jat Sikh has Singh as part of his name e.g. super cop K. P. S. Gill. However, note that S stands for Singh but is silent.

* 'The British passed the Punjab Land Alienation Act of 1900. This piece of legislation created a favored, dominant, agriculturalist class i.e. Hindu & Sikh Jats and Muslim tribes and non-agriculturists were Hindu Brahmins, Khatris and Banias. This act made tribe & caste the basis of land ownership. The act was not done out of concern for peasants but to pacify the landowning classes and deflect a rebellion and to aggravate/exploit any tension that existed between Hindus & Muslims so as to keep their own grip on Punjab. Peasant discontent was converted into fresh & deep religious antagonisms that smoldered dangerously in 1907 that eventually resulted into the flames that ravaged Punjab in 1947.

British sought to anchor itself in Punjab by playing the distinctions between Hindoo and Mahomedan while nurturing the Muslim and Sikh Jats as loyal subjects.

Friends what was the impact of this, some thoughts - it created two classes of people the agriculturists & others dividing society in the process, meant that Jats only owned land in modern day Punjab, wrongly branded the Hindu as a greedy moneylender thereby increasing friction in society. These divisions contributed to the full blown communal incidents that partitioned Punjab in 1947 on religious lines. Two recent implications of this Act. One of the reasons why the Punjab terrorist problem of the 1980-90's in India started was because the Jat Sikh farmer refused to let the govt give Haryana's farmers the waters of the Bhakra Nangal Dam (constructed between 1955-60). Two the 1900 Act resulted in the non-agriculturist class migrating to urban areas. So today you find other caste as Khatris & Aroras in mainly urban areas and Jats owning nearly all the agricultural land in Punjab'.

The above gives you an important effect of the British decision to allow only Khalsa Sikhs to be employed by the Indian Army. I believe that the British deliberately did this to drive a wedge between Hindus & Sikhs using modern day connotations. The famous divide & rule policy.

Well on the thing of the first son being made Sikh from Hindu family, that is also true for first son being made Sikh from Muslim Family. Many Punjabi Muslims before Punjab was divided also made their first son Sikh. Well when Sikhism came about it had keen relation with Sufism and Hinduism, as it was the new religion of Punjab, families of both hindus and muslims made their first born son a sikh, it was also that Sikhs were considered a worrior race, and they commanded great respect from all people, even the Pathans respected the Sikhs as their equals. and about the army thing, well it is true Sikhs did enjoy many privedges with the British but you must remeber it was to keep them in check, Sikhs made 80% of the casualties for the Indian independence, after annexing Punjab the British took over all Sikh Gurudwaras, they were afraid that if the Sikhs were not kept in check they would rebel again.

and it is also true the Sikhs do keep the caste system, guess its a cultural thing, castism is strictly prohibited by the religion though, even in Punjab of Pakistan today, Muslims define themselevs as Jats and Rajputs.

It is also true that Jats consider themselves superior to other Sikhs, but it is untrue about the some sikhs not putting a caste name after Singh. For Rajput Sikhs dont have Rai at the end, they keep Singh.

I am not JAT, we are a Business class from what is Pakistan today, Multan to the the exact area. But Jats, and my "caste", we all come from the same clans as the Rajputs came from.

Again Army is one place where castes still exist, but in Modern day, educated Sikhs dont care, my uncle is married to a Jat, and have another who is married to White British.

But it is true and sad that, castism exists even in a religion that specifically says no to it, most of my family have Multani after Singh in their names.

And why Sikhs join the Army, well in teh Sikh code of conduct every Sikh is swonr to defend the weak, innocent and poor, After British Annexed Punjab, their were over 50,000 Sikh Khalsa troops umemployed, and these were well trained and professional troops, at par with European Standards. Another thing is that Soldering has been a way of life for Sikhs.

Even outsite India, especially in Canada, the entire Canadien Mountain police force is Sikh. Its not the privildges the SIkhs enjoyed that they joined the army, but more over it was their way of life.

I never saw ur question before, if you have more questions ask



another thing about the Water dispute. It more political than anything, but it is true that Punjab does not have surplus water anymore, Water level is dropping across the board, by 2050 75% of the water levels would have dropped. and the other thing is that the basis on which Huryana gets water is that they consider Huryana part of the Indus Valley basis. This allows Hurana to get free water. But in reality Huryana is not part of the Indus Valley, the Valley ends at Patiala well short of Huryana, so the Punjab governments wants Huryana to pay for the water. So you see its much debated, Punjab also wants the Punjabi-speaking areas of Huryana to join Punjab, such as Ambala. its more political than anything.




It is also true the British did use the divide policy really well, for in Ranjit Singhs Army, Muslims made a big part of it, they commanded the entire Artillery. and if it wasnt for them, Sikhs would not have taken over the terretories they did. and look now, we are divided by a invisible line.


PS. you dont become a Khalsa Sikh by just simply growing hair and keeping a Turban, a Turban is not a requirement of the Sikh religion, there is a special Head cover that is. Any one becomes a Khalsa SIkh by going through Baptism.

Why Osama resembles Bhindramwale
The Rediff Special/Colonel Anil A Athale (retd)

June 09, 2004

On the eve of the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, I was posted in
Punjab. My battalion of Gorkhas was located at Ambala and had the task of
defending a section of the border north of Amritsar.

I had never been to the Golden Temple and took the first opportunity to
visit the shrine. Being a compulsive smoker, I had a packet of cigarettes on
me. At the entrance itself I was told to deposit the packet in the locker
and then go ahead.

During my first visit to this holiest Sikh shrine, I heard the shabad kirtan
(devotional songs) being sung from the first floor of the Harmandir Sahib.
Being an avid fan of Indian classical music, for me it was a treat to listen
to some of the finest music, that too free.

From this time onwards, whenever I was passing through Amritsar I made it a
point to visit the Golden Temple and spend some time there. It was always a
rewarding experience.

It was quite common to see, at that time, that Hindu visitors to the Golden
Temple far outnumbered Sikhs on a normal day. In my army days most of my
close friends were Sikhs and therefore one was quite familiar with Sikh
rituals and often visited gurdwaras as a matter of course on Sundays.

But less than 13 years later, I found myself again in Punjab, this time on
the unpleasant duty of dealing with terrorists who thought that pulling out
Hindus from buses and gunning them down mercilessly was their highest
religious duty. As a participant in the painful but necessary Operation
Bluestar, I can vouch that when General K Sundarji said that the Indian Army
entered the Golden Temple with a prayer on its lips, he echoed the
sentiments of all of us.

Today, when the memory of those nightmare years seems distant, there is an
attempt to give a very different colour to the whole episode. Gulzar did
that quite effectively with his film Maachis. The tragic consequences of
that were seen in the suicide of a Sikh police officer (former Tarn Taran
superintendent of police A S Sandhu) who had dealt with terrorism. It is
therefore time for all Indians to understand the truth that led to a
ten-year bloodbath in Punjab and not attempt to glorify the terrorists under
the garb of human rights.

Most analysts agree that the troubles in Punjab began with the
Nirankari-Sikh clash that took place on April 13, 1978, in Amritsar. The
Nirankaris are a heretic cult that violates the basic tenets of Sikhism and
yet claims to be part of the Panth. Forty protesters died in that clash and
a feeling spread that the government was supporting the Nirankaris. It is
noteworthy that at that time Punjab was being ruled by the Akalis. The
violent movement that began initially as an anti-Nirankari agitation soon
turned against the government and, later, Hindus.

The origins of the Punjab crisis and Sikh separatism go back to the British
days. As in the case of Muslims, giving Sikhs a separate identity, not
religious but political, was a part of the divide and rule policy. But the
trauma of the partition of Punjab did much to wash off that myth and the
Sikhs returned to the Indian mainstream.

The Akalis often used the slogan of 'Sikh Panth in danger' (not unlike the
Muslim League's equally false and disastrous slogan of Islam in danger!) to
garner votes, but consistently failed in their attempts. Sikhs, by the dint
of sheer hard work, prospered and came to occupy a dominant position in many
fields, including in the armed forces. A distinction needs to be clearly
made between a distinct religious identity and political separatism based on
religion.

Why then did Punjab erupt in the 1980s?

Several explanations have been offered. Some attributed it to the
deprivation of the masses in spite of the Green Revolution. Others felt that
the Akali frustration at their inability to attain political power (as the
SC/ST Sikhs and Hindus combined to support the Congress) was at the root of
the violence. Machinations by Indira Gandhi, who was credited with having
deliberately created Sikh militancy to gather frightened Hindu votes, has
also been floated as a serious theory.

But none of these explanations suffices to understand the widespread support
that militancy enjoyed at its peak. To understand this phenomenon, one has
to go back to the decade of the 1960s and the Green Revolution.

In 1965, when the US effectively used food aid to browbeat India, Indira
Gandhi and her dynamic minister in charge of food and agriculture, C
Subramaniam, fashioned a strategy to attain food self-sufficiency in the
shortest possible time frame. The irrigated lands of Punjab, Haryana, and
Western Uttar Pradesh were targeted for application of miracle seeds,
fertilizers and mechanisation.

The strategy succeeded and India became self-sufficient in foodgrain. But
rising incomes and mechanisation brought in their wake social tensions.

In the hard work that intensive agricultural operations involved, the turban
and the beard were seen as a hindrance. Sikhs in large numbers took to
trimming or even shaving their beards and cutting their hair, both against
the tenets of the Khalsa (pure) Panth. The hair and the beard are not mere
external symbols for a Sikh, but a major part of his identity.

Worse, many took to smoking, a taboo in the Sikh ethos. A district like
Amritsar, which has a majority Sikh population, became the highest
revenue-earning district for cigarette companies. 'Paani piyo pump da te
cigarette piyo Lamp da' was a catchy slogan that linked the smoking of Red
Lamp cigarettes with water from the 'pump', subtly linked this symbol of the
Green Revolution with smoking.

In travels through Punjab as an army officer, one was always welcomed with
open arms. It was also common to share the charpoy and lassi with the
farmers. During all these encounters, one frequently heard a lament from
Sikh elders that at the rate at which people were deserting the faith, in a
few years there would be no Sikhs left in Punjab.

The relationship between Sikhs and Hindus was such that the moment a Sikh
shaved his beard and cut his hair, he became a Hindu. Sikh society felt
insecure at the assault of this 'modernisation' and feared for the survival
of its identity. This feeling was not confined to the villages but was
commonplace even among the Sikh intelligentsia.

In this situation of fear and foreboding arrived Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
with his single-point programme of strict adherence to the Sikh symbols. His
campaign against trimming of hair and shaving of beards found a groundswell
of support amongst the Sikh masses. And he enforced his dictates with
ruthless force.

His violent methods brought him into direct confrontation with the State and
soon militancy began in Punjab.

But 'modernisation', the real threat, is a formless entity. So the violence
first targeted the Nirankaris, then the government machinery, and then the
Hindus. In the final stages, the terrorists turned increasingly against the
Sikhs themselves and became predatory. It is at this stage that the
militants lost support and were finally overcome towards 1993.

The situation was tailor-made for Pakistan. It intervened with a generous
supply of arms and ammunition and mayhem began in right earnest. The US and
the UK also saw in this an opportunity to destabilise India, their long-term
goal during the Cold War. The West used expatriate Sikhs as an instrument of
its policy and gave shelter and support to all manner of terrorist groups.

Indira Gandhi saw this as a direct challenge to India's very existence and
eventually decided to act, leading to Operation Bluestar. The rest, as they
say, is history.

There is an uncanny resemblance in this to the Islamist terrorism that the
world is witnessing today. Like Sikhism then, Islam today is afraid of
modernisation and Westernisation. This also explains the wide support
terrorists enjoy in the Muslim world. Osama bin Laden is a spitting image of
Bhindranwale.

Like Sikh terrorism, the current wave of Islamist terror will subside once
the terrorists turn predatory (as their recent attacks in Saudi Arabia and
Pakistan indicate) and lose popular support. Only then will the world be
able to deal with this modern scourge. Punjab does offer a valuable lesson.

There is a segment of the Sikh Community that calls itself " The Khalistanis" and this group is fighting to create a country of Khalistan, by converting the present state of Indian Panjab, into the country of Khalistan.

Khalistanis have several names and designations for themselves, amongst them are such names as Pseudo-Sikhs, Khalistani Sikhs, Islamo-Sikhs, Sikh-Mullahs, etc etc. Regardless of which name is used for them, the simple reality is that they are Not Sikhs at all. They prostitute themselves as well as their Sikh-Panth. They are Not what they claim to be, they are perpetrating a Lie, because they are Not Sikhs at all.

They have plenty of arguments with the real Sikhs, the Non-Pseudo-Sikhs (the Non-Khalistani Sikhs) and for valid reasons, these argument are not going to end nor can they end, these arguments are here to stay.

2. To put it simply and briefly, the Khalistani Sikhs have started Islamicizing their Sikh Religion. They are well on their path of Mono-Theism and Exclusivity of the Islamic Type, they are also adopting Islamic type Self-Righteousness, Self-Aggrandizement, and Terror-Techniques of Islam.

For over half a century, they have been touting slogans of "Sikh-Muslim Ithaad Zindabad (Long Live Sikh-Muslim Unity)," as early as the year of 1946, and possibly earlier than that. They are emulating the methods and mores of Islam and Christianity, especially of Islam.

3. Where did this approach land the Khalistanis in the year of 1947, the year of partition? In 1947, these Khalistanis were walking in caravans (in three clothes) from West Punjab towards the Indian Border, with SH** in their pants, while they were being fired upon and beaten by the Moslem Mobs all along the way, these were the same Moslem people whom the Khalistanis had been calling as their Moslem Brothers and with whom they had been trying to form Sikh-Muslim Ithaad (Sikh-Muslim Unity), for at least decades before the partition. Why did they get this kind of Dishonorable Treatment from their so-called Muslim Brothers? You do not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out the reason for this un-becoming and un-grateful treatment of the Moslems, imparted to the Khalistani-Sikhs. The reason is simply this that to a Moslem, a Khalistani-Sikh is a Total-Kafir, as big a Kafir (Infidel, that is a Non-Moslem Infidel) as a Non-Khalistani-Sikh is, there is no difference between the two to a Moslem. But the thick-headed Khalistani-Sikhs cannot grasp this Not-So-Sophisticated Reality.

4. Regardless of what brand of politics the Khalistanis follow, there is one thing that the Khalistanis had not done, hereto before in the past, and that was the soaking of Sikh history in the blood of innocent people. In the 1980s, the Khalistanis took care of that deficiency also. During the ten years of Khalistani Revolt and Terrorism in the state of Panjab, the Khalistanis murdered 100,000 totally Innocent Panjabis (70,000 Hindus and 30,000 Moderate Sikhs) before they were stopped via OPERATION BLUE-STAR launched by Prime Minister, Mrs. Indra Gandhi. If Mrs. Gandhi had not stopped them, they would have easily slaughtered another 100,000 Panjabis, in the style of politics of power, just like the Moslems, who have always practised this art of Holy Terror, for centuries and centuries.

5. What exactly are the Khalistanis saying and what is their theological argument, in support of Khalistan? The Khalistanis are saying that their Sikh Religion is totally separate and totally distinct from Hinduism and is very close to Islam. By means of a variety of arguments, they are projecting their Sikhism as being separate from Hinduism, and closer to Islam, and they are pushing their Sikhism towards Islam.

6. How exactly are the Khalistanis are doing this? The Khalistanis do this by telling their Sikh Co-Religionists that they have a book (Granth Sahib) just as the Moslems and Christians have their own books of Quran and Bible, whereas the Hindus have none. Sikhism does not practice Idolatry, just as Islam and Christianity do not, whereas Hinduism does practise Idolatry. Sikhs also have their own Guru (Founder and Leader), just as Islam and Christianity have their own Prophets, but Hinduism does not. Sikhism is also Mono-Theistic and worships only One God, same way as the Moslems and Christians do, whereas the Hindus worship a number of gods.

By producing arguments of this type, the Khalistanis try to prove that Sikhism is separate and distinct from Hinduism, and is closer to the Mono-Theistic Religions of Islam and Christianity, especially Islam.

7. How valid are these Khalistani Arguments? These arguments are NOT valid at all. The Khalistanis do Not know what the hell they are doing and what the hell they are talking about. They are All-Wet.

By projecting their Sikhism as separate from Hinduism, and closer to the Barbaric Religions of Islam and Christianity, the Khalistanis are betraying not only their Sikh-Dharma, but also their Great and Dharmic Sikh-Gurus.

These arguments of the Khalistanis are Half-A** arguments, because there is no similarity between the Guru of the Sikhs, and the Prophets of Theo-Cratic Monotheistic Barbaric Religions of Islam and Christianity. The two concepts are Not the same at all. None of the Sikh Gurus claimed to be a Prophet, that is An Intermediary between Man and God (Allah/Jehova). The Khalistanis are forgetting that Sikhism is not a religion but a Dharma (just like Hinduism).The Sikh God is Not Cruel, Jealous, and Vindictive God, like the Islami/Christian God. The Soldiers of Islamic and Christian Gods, have each slaughtered hundreds of millions of innocent human beings for centuries and have wiped out dozens and dozens of civilizations, all across several continents. To compare these Gods with the God of the Sikh Dharma, is the greatest travesty and mockery of Sikh-Dharma. Further, Idolatry is Not Mandatory in Hinduism. Hinduism does not require idolatry, many Hindus do not practise idolatry, others do. The choice is strictly upto the individual Hindu. The Biggest Error and Stupidity of the Khalistanis is their Total Disregard and Ignoring of the VEDIC BASIS OF SIKHISM. Without the Vedic-Basis, Sikhism falls flat on the ground. The Vedic Principle of Karma and Re-Incarnation is the Very Basis of Sikh-Dharma, just as it is of Hinduism.

Compared with that, Karma and Re-Incarnation Principles are the Absolute-Nightmares for both Islam and Christianity, neither of them can stand either Karma or Re-Incarnation, they regard these two principles as the works of the Devil, the Devil who is at war with their Islamic/Christian God. This explains how screwed up are the Half-A** arguments of the Khalistanis.

Well before you go reading in to this, you need to understand how the troubles of Punjab Started, Forget the Separate Nation sentiment for that has very little to do with it.

Now the Root of this problem, the trouble creators were British. With the Division of Punjab, the whole Sikh faith was split. If one goes to Pakistan today, it is dotted with Sikh religous Sites. Punjab was the last terretory to fall to the British, Before the Sikhs who made 15% of the Peopulation were in control, and the Muslims begged them to kick out the Afghans, Lahore came under Sikh control with no strenghth whatsoever. Soon all of Punjab was as one. Its Might went unchangalled through out the Region. Persians and Afhgans who use to terrorizes Punjabis before, now had become the pray. Punjab's control extened from Kabul, to Kashmir, to Delhi. Now when the India gained its Indepence Sikhs made 80% of the Martyrs, but when they saw there home being Split, it came with much displeasure, which also caused the Gadar Riots. After 1947 Punjab formed what is today Huryana, and Himacheal. Neru told the Sikhs that the constitution would not been made without the consent of the Sikhs, yet to this day no Sikh representative has signed it. The Government also declared Punjab a multilingual State, which meant Punjabi would not be the official Language. So Sikhs started a Movement known as the Punjabi Suba. For this they were beaten and Harrased in the Streets of Delhi. Seeing the majority of the Punjabi Suba people were Sikhs, the Extremist Hindus saw this as a Sikh movement, and told Punjabi Hindus to state their mother Tongue as Hindi, when infact most of them did not even speak Hindi. This is return, Divided Punjab on religous standard and not Lingual Standard, thus Punjab became even smaller, adding to the hatred of Punjab being split during the Partition. And to this day many Punjabi speaking areas and still in Huryana, Himachael and Rajastan which have not been turned over to Punjab, including Chandigarh. And so to this day this still stings Punjabis that those areas are not under their name.
Next came the Water Issue. Now Ravi and Beas are sole Punjabi rivers and are not interstate Rivers like Setluz. During the 90s Yamna was being shared with other States, and Punjab asked a stake in the water sharing and it was abruplty denied with the reason that Yamna did not cross into Punjab. More of Ravi water is given to Rajastan than Punjab uses it self. Ravi and Beas waters go to Jammu, Huryana, and Rajastan, with Punjab using less of its own waters. Now Setluz is already shared with the Bhakarra Dam, but Huryana wants the Setluz water with a new Canal. The way the water is distributed is through waters levels done in 1965 and now the status is that Punjab has no abundant water to give, and if it does, 5 districts of Punjab would go under severe water Shortage.

These are the Things Bhindrawale was fighting for. Another thing you need to learn about Sikh Militants. Mohit ( Finalkill ) has seen the movie Hawaie, its a Hindi movie that got banned in India, showed a very accurate depiction of the 1984 period. The truth is that there were two kinds of Militants. The good ones and the bad ones. Believe it or not there were Hindus that joined Sikh Militants. Now the Pakistanis told the Sikhs to kill as many Hindus as hey can, and with this it created 2 classes of Militants. Bhrindrawale did not fall into this class. You should really try to hear some of his speeches, and you will Understand what he was saying. The killing of innocent Hindus were not his doings, but separate Sikhs. There are over 3 Million Sikhs outside India, and most of them Proclaim themselves as Khalistani Sikhs, Another this Bhindrawale did not want Khalistan as being what is Punjab today, He wanted the Full Punjab, and the Punjab of Pakistan, not of course that was almost Impossible, the things i stated above were the Things that forced people to do this

Now its a sad thing that the those cowards Sikhs, did those things and through a stigma in the face of people like Bhindrawale, again do not liten to others, his speeches are avaible on the internet, listen to them yourself, and come to your own conclusion.

There other things than just land and water dispute. a lot of things add up. For example the Sikh beatin in 1965 for Punjabi Suba, again Sikh beating in teh Asian Games held at Culcutta, and again the Sikh Riots. It is true Bhindrawale bit more than he could chew but he was not a terrotist.

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One evening a boy of three was out for a walk with his father. There was also an elderly man with the father. Chatting they walked on and went beyond the village. Green crop delighted the eyes. The elders were walking along the edge of a field. Not hearing the footsteps of the boy, the father looked back. The boy was sitting on the ground and seemed to be planting some thing. The father became curious.

"What are you doing?" said he.

"Look, father, I shall grow guns all over the field" was the innocent reply of the boy. His eyes shone with the strong faith that guns would grow in the field. Both the elders were struck with wonder at the little boy's words.

The boy was Bhagat Singh who later fought like a hero for India's freedom and sacrificed his life.

How sad that Punjab had to suffer so much after having played a frontline role in the Freedom Struggle!! Punjab has suffered more than Bengal because of the three religions, instead of Bengal's two.
If the basis of all state formation in India is linguistic, then Punjab that is inside the Union should be reunited, and north Bengal should get its own state, since they don't speak Bengali.

http://india_resource.tripod.com/hist-2nation.html

WEST PUNJAB ABLAZE

SHEIKHUPURA

Sheikhupura is the district next to Lahore on the Western side. Just three miles out of Lahore, after crossing the River Ravi, one enters the boundary of this district. This district contains Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Sri Guru Nanak Dev, and the huge estate attached to this Gurdwara which before partition yielded a revenue of about twenty lakh rupees annually to the Sikh people. Most of the proprietors of land in this district were Sikhs who had fine lands and had made them rich and productive by lavishing on this land such hard labour as only the Sikh agriculturist appears to be capable of. Besides, the urban Hindu and Sikh population of this district had industrial enterprise and had set up business houses, factories and works. Sikhs and Hindus were, however, in a minority in this district, the population proportions being:-

Muslims
...
...
...
63.62%
Hindus
...
...
...
9.12%
Sikhs
...
...
...
18.85%

Sheikhupura Hindus and Sikhs were perhaps, after Rawalpindi and Multan, the worst sufferers at the hands of the Pakistani fanaticism and cold-blooded murderous frenzy. The blow fell on them suddenly and swifly-leaving between 10,000 and 20,000 of them dead in two days. The conspiracy that was hatched in Sheikhupura between the Muslim Leaguers, the Civil Officers, Police and Military for the extermination of Hindus and Sikhs of this town and the district governed by it, is perhaps the worst on human record, showing calculated devilry on such a large scale.

No incidents had occurred in Sheikhupura of any considerable nature, in spite, of all that happened since March, 1947 in Rawalpindi and Multan, Lahore, Amritsar and Gujranwala. This continued up till the day the Award of the Boundary Commission was announced, that is, August 17. Till that day there had been speculations as to which side would the part of Sheikhupura in which Nankana Sahib was situated, would go. Also, some people speculated that the ‘other factors’ clause in the terms of reference of the Boundary Commission might mean for example, Sikh landed interests on the basis of which Sheikhupura or a part of it might be awarded to India. So, during the period of indecision the Muslim League trouble-makers of this district were quiet, and were in a way sitting on the fence.

As soon as the Award of the Boundary Commission was announced and they knew that Sheikhupura had been awarded to Pakistan, the Muslim Leaguers and their allies, the Pakistan Police and Military, feverishly began to perfect and execute their plans for the looting and murdering of Hindus and Sikhs. Attacks on the countryside began as early as the 18th August; and within a week Sikhs and Hindus everywhere in villages, as will be seen from the appendix of incidents at the end, were being driven out en masse. During this time the plan was also made by which Sheikhupura town and other towns in the district were also to be cleared of Hindus and Sikhs.

The conspiracy began on about the 10th of August, when a public meeting of Muslims was called in cattle-fair grounds, ostensibly for the purpose of saying prayers for rains, which had that year been rather scarce. At this meeting, which naturally no non-Muslim could attend, the “plan” for attack on Hindus and Sikhs was explained to the Muslims. Muslims were very reticent about this meeting to their Hindu and Sikh friends and acquaintances. After this meeting, Muslim E. A. C.’s and other officials ceased attending the official club of which they were members. They instead held secret meetings, along with big Police Officers and Karamat Ali, a minister in the West Punjab Government and a resident of Sheikhupura. A confidential list was prepared of all leading Hindus and Sikhs of Sheikhupura, which was accidentally revealed by the Christian stenographer of the Anglo-Indian Deputy Commissioner, Disney. This was the ‘murder list’. Haq Nawaz, Superintendent of Police, transferred from Gurdaspur to Sargodha, incited Muslims while on the way to his new charge, to murder Hindus and Sikhs. The Deputy Commissioner was a willing tool in the hands of the Muslim League plotters, the police and officials, all of whom took their inspiration and guidance from the above-named Karamat Ali, at whose residence daily meetings of these elements were held.

The situation was tense and ominous. All issue of petrol to non-Muslims was stopped. Petrol was dumped for arson. After the 20th August military used to parade the town for four or five days. But there were no incidents. Without valid ground, curfew was imposed on the 24th August. This was the first time Sheikhupura experienced curfew. Here too the curfew operated as everywhere in Pakistan. Muslims were free to move about during curfew hours, to set fire to houses of non-Muslims and to commit murders. Non-Muslim representatives approached the D. C. with the request to lift curfew, as it was being abused. But he did not agree to this request.

Muslims were making brisk preparations for the rioting of the next few days. There was a good deal of coming and going of Muslims at the residence of Karamat Ali, Minister. On the 25th, Hindu and Sikh houses were burned in Gurdwara Bazar. A false alarm was raised of an attack on a Muslim mohalla by Sikhs. All this was done to incite Muslims to fall upon Sikhs. On the 25th also a vigorous attack was made on Ramgarha which had a Sikh population of 1,200. Sikhs were being chased. The Muslim mob was followed by the military. When Sikhs gave a fight the Muslim mob retreated. Then the military took the lead and took up positions against Hindu-Sikh areas at about 2 o’clock (day). By about 5 o’clock the Hindu-Sikh population of this area had been killed, and the houses were in flames. Muslim mobs now swelled and spread out to attack to different parts of the town. Street after street was surrounded by Muslim mobs, military and police. The looting, burning and murdering continued all over the town for more than 24 hours, and stopped only on the evening of the 26th. Some Hindus and Sikhs saved themselves by hiding; others ran out during the night. 3,000 Hindus and Sikhs were killed by the military in Atma Singh’s factory alone. Altogether 15,000 Hindus and Sikhs were killed in this massacre. Pt. Nehru, at the time lie toured the West Punjab with Mr. Liaqat Ali Khan, estimated the number of those killed in Sheikhupura at 22,000. Women were molested. Hindus and Sikhs who resisted the molesters were shot dead on the spot. In the Namdhari Gurdwara two wells were filled with the bodies of Hindu and Sikh women who committed suicide to save themselves from dishonour. Two other wells were similarly filled. Swami Nand Singh, a member of the Peace Committee was shot dead by his former Muslim colleagues on this Committee. On the night of the 25th August, the D. C. was present in the Main Bazar when arson, murder and looting was going on. A Section 30 Magistrate, Ahmed Shafi asked Lt.-Col. Dr. Surat Singh to convey his boast to Sikh leaders that Muslims had done in two days what Sikhs might never be able to do to Muslims.

This is in brief the tragic story of Sheikhupura.

The countryside of Sheikhupura, like that of Lahore was combed for Sikhs and Hindus, who were turned out of their houses, and murdered in large numbers. Muslims fell upon Hindus and Sikhs all over the district with a brutality and thoroughness the extent of which it is difficult to imagine, and of which only a vague idea can be given in the brief accounts given below. It is not easy to estimate how many actually succeeded in reaching the river Ravi or crossing it successfully, on their way to India in the first few days after the establishment of Pakistan.

The village of Kot Pindi Das in Shahdara Tehsil was attacked on the 15th August and, was thoroughly burned and pillaged for two days. It appears those who attacked were busy in pocketing loot. So, Hindus and Sikhs managed to escape with their lives in a destitute state.

Bohar, Chak 8 and Chak 702 (all in the Tehsil of Nankana Sahib) were simultaneously attacked on the 21st August with the help of Muslim Military. The refugee train which carried Hindu and Sikh evacuees from these places was stopped near Shahdara, a railway station five miles West of Lahore, and they were stripped of all their possessions.

Nangal Bhuchar was attacked on the 21st August. Hindus and Sikhs were forced to save their lives by fleeing, leaving their entire property behind. While crossing Pattan Bhindian (on Ravi River) they were attacked. They put up a good tight, however, and routed their assailants.

Machhochak in Shahdara Tehsil was attacked on the 22nd. Muslims from 10 surrounding villages fell upon this single village. About 50 Hindus and Sikhs Were killed. The rest left in a destitute state.

Dhanoe was attacked by a Muslim mob, accompanied by Pakistan Military, on the 24th. Hindus and Sikhs fled to seek shelter in Babakwal, a neighbouring village. Their assailants pursued them there. Here a general slaughter ensued in which between 400 and 500 Hindus and Sikhs were killed. A number of women were abducted.

Sikham, situated in the jurisdiction of Muridke Police Station, was attacked on September 1. Here 100 Sikh males were killed and 50 were wounded. 22 women were abducted, while 50 were forcibly converted and married to Muslims.

At Dharanagar lying in the area served by Sharakpur Post Office, 90 Sikhs were killed on the 27th August. Of Chak No. 49, in Shahdara Tehsil which was attacked by 50 Pakistan Militarymen on the 25th August, the entire Sikh population was wiped out.

Aiya Kalan was attacked towards the end of August, also by Pakistan Military. Here the number of Sikhs killed was about 80. Another 30 were killed on the way while evacuating from this village.

Khori and Nangal Dunna Singh (in Gujranwala District) were attacked by beat of drum. When Hindus and Sikhs of these villages were evacuating and crossing Pattan Bhindian (on Ravi River) they were again attacked, and some women were abducted.

In Ratniwala about 30 Sikhs were killed, while another 100 were killed by the police near village Wadhai Chima when they were evacuating for safety to a refugee camp. .

Chak No. 12, also called Gobindpura, was attacked on the 27th August by a force of 2,000. 25 Hindus and Sikhs were killed here.

Hindus and Sikhs of Sadh Nau Abad were forced to quit their homes and were again attacked while crossing the Ravi River, when 40 were killed.

In Awan Labana, on the 25th a big attack was made by a Muslim mob, Muslim police and military. Here 200 Sikhs and Hindus were killed, 200 women and some children were abducted. Looting and burning occurred on an immense scale.

The village of Faridabad (in Nankana Sahib Tehsil) was attacked on the 26th. Only half of the Hindu-Sikh population of this place reached India. The rest were either killed or forcibly converted.

Chak No. 4 Risala, situated within the jurisdiction of War-burton Police Station was besieged for 3 days, from 26th to 28th August. An ultimatum was given to Hindus and Sikhs to embrace Islam or to be prepared to face the consequences. The attacking force had in it 30 men armed with rifles, who marched at the head of a big mob. The Sikhs of this place were many of them ex-military-men, and they put up a very stiff resistance. On the third day all Hindus and Sikhs were forced to quit in a destitute state.

At Shah Kot brutalities were committed. One Sikh’s eyes were gouged out by the Muslim mob. 1,000 Hindus and Sikhs were forcibly converted. Hindus and Sikhs of Sacha Sauda were turned out, stripped of all their possessions.

One of the memorable and heroic battles given by Sikhs took place at Bhuler Chak 119, in the jurisdiction of Sangla Hill Police Station. This large village was attacked on the 30th August. This village is located close to the borders of other districts, notably Gujranwala and Sialkot. All through August Muslims of the neighbouring areas continued to make preparations for attacks on Sikhs, with the active complicity of Muslim officials. After the 15th August, Bhular was the centre where Hindus and Sikhs of a considerable radius around came together for shelter. On the 30th, Muslims sent an ultimatum to the Sikhs of this place to vacate Bhuler, which the Sikhs indignantly rejected. Then Muslim mobs and police attacked from all sides. On the 1st September about 25,000 Muslims had gathered for attack. This mob attack, however, failed to break the morale of the Sikhs. Then armed police and Baluch Military stepped in to help the Muslim mob. Finding that the fight was unequal, Sikhs decided to die fighting, and killed their own womenfolk to save them from dishonour. A fierce and desperate battle ensued after this. Sikhs set fire to their own homes and property. About 200 Sikhs met their death in this engagement. The rest evacuated, fighting.

Sangla Hill is a fairly large and flourishing town in Sheikhupura district. This place was attacked on the 27th August by the Muslim Military, and the attack continued for several days. Here the technique followed was the same as employed by Muslims in most other towns. Curfew was imposed, which confined Hindus and Sikhs to their houses while Muslims went about freely, setting fire with police help to Hindu and Sikh houses, killing and looting. Here operations were directed against Sikhs by Magistrate M. G. Cheema of Lahore notoriety. 300 Sikhs were killed and a large number were shaved forcibly. Stabbing went on with police looking on. Hindus were given a false assurance of safety and ordered on pain of death not to shelter Sikhs. Later, Hindus too were looted and killed. Huge looting went on for days in this prosperous town. Searches took place in a way which outraged the modesty of Hindu and Sikh women.

Other Sheikhupura villages looted and devastated on a large scale, in which men were killed and women abducted are, Kuthiala Virkan, Khanna Labana, Chak 32, Chak 33, Malian Shekhan, Khanpur Kalla, Hariala etc.

Kathiala Virkan, in the jurisdiction of Muridke Police station was attacked on the 19th, when Sikhs began to evacuate. The evacuees were attacked between the villages of Fatehpur and Bhatianwala by Muslims of 20 neighbouring villages. 200 Sikhs were killed, and 250 women were abducted. Out of the original jatha of 5,000 only 1,500 finally reached India, the- rest having been killed on the way in attacks at various points.

Sharakpur is a Municipal town and a Sub-Tehsil of District Sheikhupura. Here leading Muslims had promised safety to Hindus and Sikhs with oath on the Koran. On the 27th August, however, the day after the unprecedentedly large Sheikhupura Massacre, Muslims fell upon Hindus and Sikhs. Muslims armed with rifles and automatic weapons attacked Hindus and Sikhs. Only 71 out of a total Hindu-Sikh population of a thousand escaped being murdered. Women and children were not spared. Jewellery and property worth hundreds of lakhs was looted from Hindus and Sikhs.

This was another installment of the elimination of minorities from Pakistan.

LYALLPUR

Lyallpur constituted the richest spot the Sikhs possessed in the Punjab. It was purely a Sikh creation, economically speaking. Sikhs had converted by hard toil of generations a sandy waste which this area was, into the granary of the Punjab. The Lyallpur Sikhs were not only one of the most prosperous group among the Sikhs anywhere, but they were also very well-disciplined, independence-loving and had a highly developed social conscience. They had taken a leading part in the movements of education and reform which stirred the Sikh people in the twentieth century. They were a proud, assertive and militant kind of people, who would not easily take a beating from any one. It was of the Lyallpur Sikhs primarily and also of the Sheikhupura Sikhs that the official Pakistan publication said that they left the West Punjab ‘defiantly.’ Yes, the sturdy Sikhs of those areas left the West Punjab thoroughly defiantly, and not abjectly. It was they again, to turn out whom from West Punjab, Governor Mudie made up his mind firmly. In his letter to Governor-General Jinnah, quoted elsewhere, he said:


“I am telling everyone that I don’t care how the Sikhs cross the border, the great thing is to get rid of them as soon as possible. There is still little sign of the 3 lakh Sikhs in Lyallpur moving, but in the end they too will have to go.”

This letter needs being pondered over carefully to realize the deep-laid Pakistan conspiracy to turn out Sikhs from their hearths and homes in his way: “I don’t care how……”

In the town and district of Lyallpur as a whole there had been few incidents of any kind before August, 1947. That was because the Sikhs of Lyallpur were so sturdy, so well-organised and capable of giving to any assailant much more of beating than they got. So, despite their majority in the district, Muslims dared not attack the Sikhs. There had been a few stabbing incidents in Lyallpur, and curfew for a few days but that was all. While in the neighbouring districts of Multan, Sargodha and Jhang there had been trouble on a varyingly large scale, the prestige of the Lyallpur Sikhs kept the Muslims at a respectful distance. Later on it was the Pakistan Military and police which finally decided the Sikhs upon leaving. And then they left, but in the words of the Pakistanis, ‘defiantly’ offering stiff resistance in most places.

So little was the amount of disturbances in Lyallpur up till August and so great the confidence of the Sikhs in being able, despite all that had happened since March 5, 1947 to get on even in Pakistan, that they more or less made up their minds to becoming citizens of Pakistan when Pakistan came into being. One of the two Sikh members elected to go into the Pakistan Constituent Assembly was a resident of Lyallpur, Giani Kartar Singh. The other, Sardar Ujjal Singh, belonged to the neighbouring district of Sargodha.

But so determined was the policy of the Pakistan Government and of the Muslim League in ejecting all non-Muslims and especially Sikhs from Pakistan, that harassment and murder of Sikhs and Hindus began even in quiet Lyallpur, as soon as Pakistan came into being. A few days after the establishment of Pakistan two non-Muslims were stabbed to death in Lyallpur near the Clock Tower, a very central place in the town while a crowded peace-meeting was being addressed by the Deputy Commissioner there on the need for communal peace. This incident and a few others of the kind showed to Hindus and Sikhs which way the wind was blowing for them. By the end of August murder and arson by Muslims had become very common in Lyallpur, and Hindus and Sikhs moved into refugee camps, those at Khalsa College, at the Arya School, and other places. Evacuation from these camps began somewhat later.

The way in which the Pakistan administration functioned is illustrated by such instances as these: One Sikh’s hand was cut off by Muslims with the kirpan snatched from the Sikh. The police put the Sikh under arrest and nothing was done against the Muslims. 12 Sikhs were stabbed during curfew hours, in spite of which being imposed, Muslims roamed about freely, attacking Hindus and Sikhs. One woman was snatched away from a Hindu by Muslim Janglis, while the two were going to the aerodrome to take plane to India.

In the rural areas the attacks began round about the beginning of September. By that time the whole of the West Punjab was in flames, so to speak. Hindus and Sikhs were being attacked everywhere and were largely on the move to India. Lyallpur Sikhs were the last to be attacked and it was the Pakistan Military alone which felt confident of handling them.

The village of Chak 37 is situated close to the Lahore-Shorkot railway line. On the 4th September a refugee train was stopped near this village and Muslim Military attacked it, killing 50 Sikhs. After this butchery, the train was again started.

Jaranwala, a prosperous commercial town, was attacked by a large Muslim mob on the 28th August. While the townfolk (Hindus and Sikhs) put up a good resistance at first, the mob fell upon a hospital where Sikhs who had fled from the Sheikhupura terror of August 25-26th had taken refuge. 57 of these helpless Sikhs were killed and 40 of their womenfolk were abducted.

Attack on Jaranwala continued for ten days or longer. A large number of Hindus and Sikhs, estimated at about 700 were killed in the various refugee camps, such as the Mandi, the school and Turianand Hospital. 700 women were abducted and the number of those wounded was in the vicinity of 1,000. This attack was planned after the joint visit of Pt. Nehru and Mr. Liaqat Ali Khan, so that the Indian Prime Minister could be shown a clean record in this part of Pakistan.

From Chak No. 143 in Samundari Tehsil which was attacked by a Muslim mob on the 4th and 5th September, not more than 3 Sikhs were known to have come to India out of its total Sikh population of 700. This fact has its own grim story to reveal.

Kamalia, a large town, was attacked near about August 15. Here Muslim officials becoming active early, got as many as 3,500 Hindus and Sikhs killed and a very large number, especially Hindus, were forcibly converted. Other details like looting etc. are better left to the imagination of the reader.

Balloki Head was the bottleneck at which Hindu-Sikh convoys coming from Montgomery, Lyallpur, Sargodha and Multan etc. had to cross over the River Sutlej into Indian territory. Here these convoys were quite often detained for days together and extensively searched. These ‘searches’ were really predatory attacks in which everything of value was snatched from Hindu 12 and Sikh refugees by Pakistan Military, police and Muslim goondas. From the huge Sikh convoy of 90,000 which reached Balloki Head on or about the 13th September, a group of 4,000 was forcibly detached and diverted towards Bhai Pheru. This group was attacked on the way and out of it hardly 250 survived.

In the beginning of September, Hindus and Sikhs of 8 or 9 villages around Chak 305 (in the jurisdiction of Police Station Chatiana) were forced to quit their homes under threat of shooting. Their arms were taken away from them, and they were kept thirsty for a whole day. Then they were ordered to march. Those in the rear were repeatedly attacked and killed and their womenfolk abducted. After much further ill-treatment they were pushed into a railway train. This train was stopped at mile 5 on the Shorkot Road line and Pakistan Military and police fell upon it. This happened on the 9th September. Out of the 5,000 Hindus and Sikhs in this train, only 6 (six) survived. So thorough was the slaughter of these Hindus and Sikhs.

Hindus and Sikhs while evacuating from Pakistan were subjected to repeated attack, killing and looting. From village after village have come stories confirming this. The Hindu and Sikh inhabitants of several villages collected in Chak 272, which however, was attacked and extensively looted on September 8. The survivors of this attack evacuated from their place of shelter and were again attacked near Salooni Jhal. Here a large number of Hindus and Sikhs were killed and great loot was taken by the invaders. The unhappy survivors’ trials were not yet at an end, for they were once again robbed of their belongings at Balloki Head, in Pakistan, the point at which they had to cross over into India.

The Sikh and Hindu residents of Chak No. 310 and other neighbouring villages in Tehsil Toba Tek Singh had to undergo very gruesome experiences at the hands of Pakistan Military and Muslim National Guards. About the last week of August, Muslim Military began attacks on Sikh bustees. The Muslim Sub-Divisional Officer of this area lulled Sikhs into a false sense of security by repeated oaths on the Koran and promises that Sikhs would not be attacked. Finding conditions growing intolerable, on the 1st September 5,000 Sikhs left the area on foot. Still the S. D. O. promised on the Koran that he would make them entrain from Toba Tek Singh and arrange for their safe evacuation to India. Instead, however, of being taken to Toba Tek Singh, they were taken to Chak No. 95 where they were attacked by Muslim Military and Muslim National Guards. Several women were abducted here. Finally on the 7th September these people were put in a train for India at Toba Tek Singh. This train was attacked by a large Muslim mob and the Muslim National Guards. These attacks were repeated and between Toba Tek Singh and Dabbanwala Railway Stations more than 1,500 Sikhs were killed.

A convoy of Sikhs of Chak 204 and its neighbouring villages was looted by Muslim Police at Balloki Head, the place already mentioned as being the point of junction between India and Pakistan. A portion of this convoy was diverted by the Police to Bhai Pheru, where an attack was made and 220 of the convoy were killed, 250 wounded and 15 women were abducted. Other portions of this convoy were also repeatedly attacked and looted. Near Khudian, which is close to Chhanga Manga, Muslim villagers broke the bund of the canal to obstruct the passages of this convoy and to entrap and slaughter it. The Gurkha Military accompanying the convoy, however, showed praiseworthy firmness. It is said the Gurkha Jemadar was wading in water up till his neck, but made the Muslims to realize that it would go hard with them if they continued to play mischief by letting flow the water of the canal. The threat of reprisals on the part of Indian Military made the Muslims realise that their own safety lay in ending the mischief. So the broken bund was repaired by them and the convoy passed on.

In the Loco Workshops Shed at Lyallpur Railway Station on the 3rd September, 3 Sikhs were killed in an attack. Among those killed was a child.

At Tarakabad Railway crossing, Muslim Military shot dead 60 Sikhs, who were part of a Sikh convoy which was proceeding on its way to evacuate to India. This happened on the 3rd September.

The incidents narrated above are only a very few (so few indeed as to be not more than two percent of all that happened in Lyallpur district). More names of villages attacked and casualties suffered appear in the catalogue of attacks appended towards the end of this book.

The Lyallpur Sikhs, as has been pointed out above, were a resolute disciplined body of men and in these days they were fortunate in being served by a band of selfless and cool-headed leaders, who to shame the devil, decided to co-operate fully with the regulations of the Pakistan Government, which that Government never seriously put into effect. Some of these workers had to their credit the rescue of Muslim women and children trapped in East Punjab.

In some places Sikhs in desperation followed the scorched-earth policy, destroying their own belongings when it became clear that they would in any case be looted by their despoilers, Pakistani Muslims. No wonder the Pakistan pamphlet complained that Sikhs left West Punjab ‘defiantly.’

During the months of September and October, 1947 the roads leading from West Punjab into India revealed one unending, melancholy procession, day after day, of Sikh men, women, children and cattle, all fatigued and hungry, as they trekked into India, some with their few salvaged belongings in carts and others on foot. These begrimed and harassed Sikhs were those driven out of Lyallpur by systematic and designed Pakistan terror.

Many died on the way, especially the young, the old and the sick. The roads were all full of stench at every few yards from dying cattle. It was to this state that Pakistan had reduced the best and most prosperous colonists which India has in recent times known.

GUJRANWALA

The District of Gujranwala lies next to Sheikhupura west of Lahore. The Muslim population of this district was 70.45%, while the Hindu and Sikh population combined was 22.70%. As everywhere in the Punjab, Sikhs and Hindus were enlightened entrepreneurs, good businessmen and organisers, and the Sikhs were very good farmers and owners of rich, fertile land for which they contributed land-revenue many times their population strength.

Nizamabad in Gujranwala District is famous for its cutlery industry. Thousands of parcels of knives from this place have been despatched by the Muslim grinders to different places in the Punjab and outside to replenish the armouries of Muslim League and Muslim National Guards. Very many times the Police of Bombay, Central Provinces, the United Provinces and other provinces have intercepted these parcels in the railway yards, and thus prevented their reaching those who could have used them for murdering the followers of other religions. But while some of these parcels have been confiscated through police vigilance, many times the number so confiscated surely reached their destination.

Wazirabad, a railway junction joining the Lahore-Rawalpindi-Peshawar main line and the Jammu-Sialkot line has earned great notoriety for the attacks made on Hindu-Sikh refugee trains and for the large massacres which took place both in the town and at the station.

Gujranwala itself continued to be disturbed in June and July; and in August, like all other West Punjab towns, it rose to massacre and hound out its Hindu and Sikh population. A peace meeting had to be called in Gujranwala on the 11th July at which Muslim League leaders including Mian Iftikharuddin and the Khan of Mamdot made very glib speeches about the virtue of neighbourliness and communal harmony. But the Muslim audiences knew very well that all Muslim League leaders’ peace appeals, from Mr. Jinnah downwards were meant only to do a formality, to fool the Western world and to lull Hindus and Sikhs into a false sense of security. Behind the scenes these very speech-makers were planning riots and organising and financing arson and murder.

In July stabbing attacks on Hindus and Sikhs occurred frequently. There were also some attacks on Hindu-Sikh areas and arson was attempted. But the Hindus and Sikhs of Gujranwala were a well organised and fearless people, and gave back to the Muslims better than they got. Especially was the Gurdwara attacked, from which Sikhs kept their assailants well at bay.

With the approach of August 15, however the aspect of things began to change. By the end of July when a Muslim Deputy Commissioner arrived to take over charge of the District, the Muslim determination to hound the Hindus and Sikhs out of the own was evident. Officials, police and Muslim League were working in close co-operation to this end. Hindus and Sikhs naturally sensed the imminent danger and tried to leave before loss of life occurred. The Hindu-Sikh exodus became a general flight, for which even enough transport was not available. On the 27th July stabbing of Hindus and Sikhs was going on frequently. In the curfew if the Hindus and Sikhs came out, they were arrested, while Muslims went about armed, freely doing whatever mischief they liked. Stabbing of Hindus and Sikhs went on with the police looking on. Hindus’ and Sikhs’ houses were set on fire; even when the culprits who did this were arrested, the police did not take cognizance of the offence. A secret order was issued by Mehar Ghulam Mohammed, Inspector of Police who went from Amritsar, to the Muslim policemen to kill all non-Muslim policemen. Muslim police constables shot dead at sight any Hindu or Sikh. Between the 11th and 17th August all Hindu and Sikh localities, such as Guru Nanakpural Hakim Rai, Mandi Khajurwali, Brahm Akhara, Chauk Chashma, Sheikhupura Gate area, etc. had been burned. The murder of Hindus and Sikhs occurred on a large scale. One of the most brutal and shocking murders was that of Dr. Tej Bhan’s family. There were 14 members in their family. Dr. Tej Bhan’s house was attacked by Muslim police, but the attack was repulsed. Then Imdad Hussain Shah, Sub-Inspector came with more force. The house was set on fire at which the inmates came out. The men were first shot dead; and then the womenfolk with children in their arms. Only one minor boy and one girl escaped.

Sub-Inspector Hussain Shah, who at Lahore had burned down the vast and prosperous Hindu area inside Shahalmi Gate in collusion with Magistrate M. G. Cheema, now came to Kamoke, a prosperous Hindu-Sikh trading centre a few mites from Gujranwala. He carried on a general massacre of Hindus and Sikhs in Kamoke town and in the Ilaqa.

Asghar Ali Shah, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Naushehra Virkan got all Sikhs within his jurisdiction murdered. He would collect them under pretext of making some enquiry and get them all shot dead.

These were some of the ways in which minorities were being eliminated in Pakistan.

Village Dorhian in the area of Police Station Kila Didar Singh had a purely Sikh population. The inhabitants of this area were murdered wholesale by the police and Muslim National Guards. In Eminabad wholesale murder of Hindus and Sikhs occurred also. At Sohadra, on the 13th August, 60 Hindus and Sikhs were killed. Burji Chanda Singh was attacked repeatedly from the 16th August to the 2nd September and 125 Sikhs got killed.

The town of Gakhar was attacked on the 17th August. Here looting and killing continued for 3 days. 200 Sikhs and Hindus were killed.

Kot Des Raj was attacked on the 15th August. Here the number of Hindus and Sikhs killed was 300; 120 were forcibly converted. In Udhowali, attacked on the 27th, about 60 were killed. Almost the entire Hindu and Sikh population of Maju Chak, numbering 500 was slaughtered.

Village Ramke Chatha was attacked on the 5th September. Here Hindus and Sikhs took the life of their own womenfolk to save them being dishonoured by Muslims. Mandi Sukhoki was attacked on the 3rd September. Sikhs were ferreted out from Hindu homes and killed with brutality.

Dharaunkal was attacked on 19th August. Out of its total Sikh population of 80 only about 20 survived the attack.

A large massacre of Hindus and Sikhs occurred at Dhariwal in the jurisdiction of Kila Didar Singh Police Station. Hindus and Sikhs were evacuating, and were attacked near Lalpur. 1000 were killed.

Great destruction of Hindu-Sikh lives also occurred in the villages falling within the jurisdiction of Wadhon Police Station, which was attacked by Mohd. Azam Magistrate, and the D. S. P.

In Ladhowali Chima a big massacre occurred. 125 Hindus and Sikhs were killed and 50 wounded. 200 women were abducted. The people of village Sagar put up a heroic resistance and most of them died fighting against the Muslim assailants.

In Mari Thakran 76 were killed.

Patlemal, Mirzapur, Thapnala and Mirza Jan suffered great loss of Hindu and Sikh lives.

Muslim goondas were imported from Lahore to attack Lohianwala, a village three miles outside Gujranwala. Here 30 to 40 Sikhs were killed. Looianwala, another village was attacked by the Muslim military which got down from a train which was stopped on purpose, and attacked this village, Sikhs were hounded down and in a brief space of time 100 were killed.

In Wadd 42 Hindus and Sikhs were killed.

Kamoke is an important trading town, a few miles east of Gujranwala. Hindus and Sikhs had set up here flourishing Mills, factories and banks. Here, on the arrival of the Muslim military, on the 16th August, looting and murdering of Hindus and Sikhs started. On the 16th August 100 bags of rice were looted from shops of Hindus and Sikhs and on the next day a whole truck-ful of food looted by Muslims. One woman was shot dead. The general attack began on the 21st, when the police called 50 to 60 Hindus and Sikhs out of their houses and shot them dead. On the 23rd eight rice husking factories, all belonging to Hindus and Sikhs were burned and so were many houses of Hindus and Sikhs. When Hindus and Sikhs, on demand of the Muslim police officers, paid a sum of sixty thousand rupees, this arson and murder stopped temporarily. But soon after, these activities were resumed by Muslims and huge looting occurred which included the Central Bank and wheat in Mandi, which was worth four lakhs of rupees. On the 24th the Gurdwara of Dam Dama Sahib was attacked. The Granthi and several Sikhs inside the Gurdwara were murdered by a Muslim mob of 1,000. Later, another 150 Hindus and Sikhs were killed while sheltering in private houses.

Towards the beginning of September, a Hindu-Sikh refugee train coming from West Punjab was attacked by a Muslim mob, abetted by the police and military, at Kamoke. The refugees in the train had been kept without water for two days. Whatever weapons of defence the refugees had, such as licensed guns, were taken away from them. The mob stabbed and speared the passengers, while the police shot down any one who tried to escape by running away. The Pakistan Military made a show of firing, but their shots were directed towards the sky and not the mob and after a short while they also joined the mob and the police in shooting down the passengers.

Most of the male refugees were butchered or shot dead. The women were sorted. The elderly ones were later butchered, while the younger ones were distributed. Children were murdered by being flung with force on the ground.

Wazirabad which was an important Hindu-Sikh trading centre, became like Raiwind, notorious for the large number of attacks on Hindu and Sikh refugee trains. On the 12th August a train left Amritsar. Its Hindu and Sikh passengers were first attacked at Moghulpura five miles east of Lahore, and almost all of them were murdered. Some few who escaped reached Wazirabad and beyond. On the 13th a general massacre of Hindus and Sikhs occurred at Wazirabad. The Mandi was burned and huge looting took place. The same day general looting of the bazar again occurred and all available Hindus and Sikhs in the bazar were murdered. Trains coming from Wazirabad carrying Hindus and Sikhs fleeing from Muslim terror, were stopped at Nizamabad, a few miles cast, and the Muslim military escort joined Muslim goondas of the mob in murdering Hindu and Sikh passengers. 5 or 6 women were abducted from this train. Altogether about 500 Hindu and Sikhs travelling by this train were killed. The railway track to Jammu, whither Hindu and Sikh refugees were going as the nearest way out, was removed. This train was also attacked, but its escort fortunately was Sikh and thus the Muslim mob were kept at a safe distance from Hindu and Sikh passengers.

MONTGOMERY

The Sikhs of this district like those of the neighbouring district of Lyallpur were colonists mainly from the districts of Central and Eastern Punjab. Many of them were ex-soldiers or their descendants, who had got grants of land from the British Government for war service, since the beginning of the twentieth century. These sturdy colonists cleared the jungles and made of them smiling and prosperous fields. The local Muslims were the Janglis-wild, illiterate folk, whose fanatical passions could easily be roused by the Muslim League leaders of this area, who were big absentee landlords and had neither the enterprise nor the industry and ability of the Sikhs and the Hindus, who brought prosperity to this area.

The population proportion of this district were as follows:-

Muslims
...
...
...
69.11%
Hindus
...
...
...
14.38%
Sikhs
...
...
...
13.17%

In Montgomery town trouble started on the 18th August, just the day after the announcement of the Boundary Commission Award. Montgomery, or at least those areas of it which were contiguous to Lahore and faced on to Ferozepore, in which most part of the Sikh land was situated, was one of the ‘dispute’ regions before the Boundary Commission and like Sheikhupura, Lahore and part of Lyallpur, it was expected that this area in justice and fairness would be awarded to India. Men, however, the Boundary Commission’s Award was announced, the Muslim Leaguers, waiting only for a signal, directed their attack on Sikhs and Hindus. On the evening of the 18th August, Sikh and Hindu shops were looted and all Sikhs and Hindus found in the bazars were murdered. The attacked communities shut themselves up in their houses and Gurdwaras and Mandirs. The Mandir was attacked. Hindus and Sikhs, after the first day, gave tough fight, but their valour and courage could not avail them anything against the Pakistan Military, police and officials, who were planning and leading the attacks. Huge loot was collected by Muslims from deserted and burning Hindu and Sikh houses. Sikhs had taken shelter inside the big building of Gurdwara Singh Sabha. Here they resisted attacks for days. Life inside this confinement was extremely hard, as food was scanty, and so was water. Dirt continued to accumulate, but the Sikhs inside bore all such sufferings with stoic courage. Even when Sikhs came out under official permit to carry rations inside the Gurdwara, they were subjected to torture and humiliation. Sikhs and Hindus were fired on and shot at the railway station, where they were waiting for days for being transported to India.

The attack on Montgomery town was the signal for Muslim attack on Sikhs and Hindus all over the district. In village after village, as happened in Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Gujrat or for the matter of that, any of the West Punjab districts, Sikhs were attacked, and fired on by Pakistan Military and police, which invariably directed the operations of the Muslim mobs.

The village of Mirak Shah (Police station Nurshah jurisdiction) was attacked on the 22nd August by a Muslim mob, Muslim National Guards, Police and Military in combination. An ultimatum was issued to Hindus and Sikhs to turn Muslims or to face the consequences. On their refusal to turn Muslims, they were extensively looted. The threatened population took shelter at Tandlianwala, in Lyallpur district, which is at a short distance. Tandlianwala was attacked by Muslims on the 25th August. The Gurdwara, where Hindus and Sikhs had taken shelter, was set on fire. Pakistan Military and Police fired on the Hindus and Sikhs who came out on the roof of the Gurdwara building. About 300 Hindus and Sikhs were killed here. On the 28th August, Wards Nos. 2, 3 and 4 of Tandlianwala, which had Hindu and Sikh populations, were attacked. In this attack, 1,900 Hindus and Sikhs were killed, and 400 women were abducted. The loot from this prosperous Hindu-Sikh commercial centre can only be imagined. The attacking force numbered about 25,000.

Chak 139/9L was attacked on the 1st Bhadon (about the end of August). This village and Chak No. 128/9L, which is in its neighbourhood, were simultaneously attacked. In these two villages Sikhs and Hindus from 27 surrounding villages had collected for shelter. The assailants who had come from the surrounding areas for this ‘holy war’ numbered about 30,000. Sikhs put a very stiff resistance, and held out for days. Casualties were inflicted on both sides. Ultimately Sikhs and Hindus were evacuated to India by the Indian Military.

Sikhs and Hindus from Chaks 65/4R, 65/J.D., 27, 61, 78 etc., finding a peaceful life rendered any longer impossible for them, formed, near about the 23rd August a caravan for travelling to India. No Military accompanied these people. Near Yusufwala railway station these people were attacked by a large crowd which was well armed and was led by Muslim National Guards. 18 Sikhs were killed in this attack. The evacuees were subjected to tremendous looting by Muslim mobs. Near Montgomery town police fired on this caravan. Here vast killing ensued, and 400 women were abducted. Finding the situation hopeless, a number of Sikh women immolated themselves by burning themselves or jumping into wells, to escape dishonour at the hands of Muslims. Some Sikhs took the lives of their own womenfolk. Among those who thus destroyed themselves were children of even eight and ten years of age.

In Hujra Shah Muqim the attack came on the 22nd August and continued for several days. The local Sub-Inspector of Police lulled Hindus and Sikhs into a false sense of security by promising to protect them against attack. However, a day after such assurance, the Muslim mob advanced to attack under cover of the Police and Military. Hindus and Sikhs in panic collected in 3 mohallas for safety. These 3 mohallas were set on fire by the Military. Hindu and Sikh women in these mohallas immolated themselves to escape dishonour. The men fought back, but could do little against the Police and Military. At last word was given to them that they would be safe if they came out of these mohallas. But as soon as they came out, indiscriminate fire was opened on them and 3,100 Hindus and Sikhs were shot dead. When the survivors were at last marched towards India, they were attacked by Muslims at Husainiwala Head in Pakistan. Here several men were killed and 25 women were abducted. Some Hindus were forcibly converted, but later on they were shot dead by Muslims.

An evacuee train carrying Hindus and Sikhs was held up at Montgomery railway station (first week of September) for attack. The pretext was made was that no coal was available for the engine. Hindu and Sikh factory owners, who were awaiting evacuation agreed to give coal out of their stocks for the engine, but as coal shortage was not the real cause of the train being held up, so it was not started. An attack on this train was, however, averted at Montgomery. Later this train was attacked at Raiwind on the 4th September, where already a large number of dead bodies of Sikhs were lying along the railway track. Those of the Sikhs killed in this train were added to those which were already lying there.

Pakpattan, Harappa, Okara, Dipalpur and other places in this district were also attacked, Hindus and Sikhs were killed and their belongings looted. In many places Muslim pirs directed these attacks and characterized them as a holy war waged against infidels, that is Hindus and Sikhs.

SIALKOT

Sialkot is a district bordering on Lahore and Amritsar beside Gurdaspur and Gujranwala. Its population proportions were as under: -

Muslims
...
...
...
62.9%
Hindus
...
...
...
19.41%
Sikhs
...
...
...
11.71%

which means that its population was divided into communities pretty much as in its neighbouring districts of Gujranwala and Sheikhupura, in both of which such huge carnage occurred among Hindus and Sikhs.

Sialkot did not have much of disturbance to speak of uptill August, 1947. Perhaps the Muslim League elements did not feel so very sure whether the district would be awarded to India or Pakistan. So, awaiting the Boundary Commission’s award they lay low, waiting for their opportunity.

Sikhs were a well-organised and important element in the district of Sialkot, despite their inferiority in numbers. They were mostly sturdy peasant proprietors and there were many ex-soldiers among them. The district had also played an important part in the Akali Movement and in the various Congress struggles. So, there were among the Sikhs and Hindus good leaders, organisers and fighters.

Muslim mischief started on the 12th August, the day after it had started in a big way at Lahore. An attack was made on Mohalla Bhabrian. Police were actively helping the assailants. Sikhs put up a very stiff and heroic resistance, and fought a strongly defensive battle.

Ultimately they were overpowered with the help of the Military. There was not much arson on this day, but quite a number of Hindus and Sikhs were murdered. The exodus of Hindus and Sikhs from Sialkot began after this attack. They took either the Jammu route or the Amritsar route. On the Wazirabad route, which was the third alternative, in those days no Hindu or Sikh was safe. At Wazirabad station, as stated elsewhere, several times massacres of Hindus and Sikhs occurred. On the Amritsar route, huge massacres occurred at Narowal and in its neighbourhood. As witnessed by a police constable, who was an evacuee from the district, he saw round about the 24th and 25th August, more than 500 dead bodies, mostly Sikhs lying outside Narowal. The railway track between Sialkot and Amritsar was strewn with dead bodies, mostly Sikhs. Village after village was attacked and pillaged. Sikhs were especially hunted down. While as a rule no non-Muslim convoy was allowed to pass a Muslim stronghold without being attacked, the main force of such attacks was directed against Sikhs, whom the Pakistan Muslims attacked with especially bitter malice. Earlier on the 17th, many Sikhs and Hindus had been murdered near Narowal when attempting to cross the River Ravi. The town was pillaged with arson and murder. Gurdwara Baoli Sahib in Sialkot was attacked on the 13th August. 20 Sikhs including women and children, who were inside the holy building, were killed or roasted alive in the flames of the burning Gurdwara.

As a matter of fact, on the 13th August, after their tame success of the 12th, Muslims made a full scale attack with the help of the police and the military. A vigorous campaign of arson, looting and murder was initiated, resulting in a large number of Hindu and Sikh houses and shops being burned and many Hindus and Sikhs being killed. The survivors fled to the railway station for safety, where on the 13th they noticed a train load of Hindus’ and Sikhs’ corpses arrive from Wazirabad side, at which station on the same day a huge massacre of Hindus and Sikhs had occurred. The famous Gurdwara of Babe di Ber was burned, so dear to Sikh sentiment as one of the places where Guru Nanak had resided for a considerable time. The inmates of this Gurdwara were shot dead by the police. Other Gurdwaras in the city were similarly attacked and burned.

While Hindu and Sikh refugees were being brought to India, a few days after, their lorries were unaccountably stopped at the Ravi Road in Lahore. A motor cyclist went into the town and brought with him a Muslim mob, which attacked these lorries, killing 40. The entire caravan would have been murdered, but for the timely arrival of Sikh military, who rescued the remainder. The survivors of this tragedy were seen at Amritsar by Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Health Minister of India.

Bhawanipur, in Tehsil Shakargarh, which was formerly part of Gurdaspur District, but since 17-8-1947 the date on which the Award of the Boundary Commission was announced has been included in Sialkot (Pakistan), was the scene of brutality and highly reprehensible and heartless duplicity on the part of Muslims. On the 24th August this. village was attacked by a Muslim mob. Those Hindus and Sikhs who escaped killing, hid in a sugarcane crop to save their lives. Muslims standing outside the field gave promises of safety in the name of Allah to all such as came out. Such of the besieged as were simple enough to believe this promise were killed on the spot as soon as they came out. Only a few women and 3 men were left. These men too were killed later. Many of the young girls were abducted.

Village Badomali was attacked and a large killing done and many women abducted. Below is the statement of Parsini, a 15 year old Hindu abducted girl, rescued by Indian Military. Her statement to the Chief Liaison Officer, East Punjab Government is:-


“About three months-back our village was raided by Muslims and our street known as Samaj Wali Gali was set on fire and the property was looted. They announced to the Hindu population that they would be given safe passage across the river Ravi towards India if they would go out peacefully. When men, women and children walked out of their houses the Muslim raiders committed atrocities with the women in the open streets and all young girls were taken away and a very large number of men and old women were killed. I was forcibly taken away by one Fazal Din alias Fajja, a tonga driver of Baghbanpura. A very large number of raiders belonged to Baghbanpura. Mst. Piari, who is now present outside and her cousin named Piari were also with me at the time. Two men named Labhu and Allah Rakha were with these two girls and were forcing them to go with them. We all the three girls with three men walked on foot and passed the night at Passianwala at the house of a Muslim whose name I do not remember. The owner of this house was uncle of Allah Rakha who had abducted the senior Piari. Next day we were marched again to Baghbanpura at about 10 in the night. I was taken to the house of Fajja and the other two girls also spent the night at the same place. During the course of the night Labhu, against the wishes of senior Piari, who is present outside, committed rape on her and also relieved her of two gold rings. The next morning both these girls named Piari, were taken away by Allah Rakha and Labhu respectively. After 15 days or so I was forcibly married to one Farid, aged about 25 years, a relation of the said Fazal Din. I was taken to his house where he used me as wife in the face of great protest and resistance put up by me. I was given the name of Khurshid and was forcibly converted.”

Jalalpur Jattan, an important town, was disturbed on and after the 12th August. The Muslims there had planned murder of Hindus and Sikhs in collusion with the District officials. On the 18th burning of Hindu-Sikh houses and the Mandir started on a big scale. Trains were held up; telegraph wires 13 were cut, and every Hindu and Sikh was blockaded. Saving of life by fleeing was rendered impossible. In the village surrounding Jalalpur Jattan, a very large number of Hindus and Sikhs were killed. In this town itself, 400 were killed; only one person out of its Hindu and Sikh population is traced as having survived.

At Thambrewal, in Tehsil Daska, on the 16th August, several Hindus and Sikhs were murdered. About two dozen were forcibly, converted to Islam. These converts were later killed, their leaving of their ancestral creed not having satisfied the power-lust of their conquerors.

The village of Panj Grain Bajwa, in Tehsil Pasrur was attacked on the 26th by a Muslim mob and Pakistan police. Its total Hindu-Sikh population was 300 out of which only 70 or 80 survived. The rest were attacked several times and killed in large numbers on their way to Narowal, whence they intended to evacuate to India. Those who were not killed and were captured, were forcibly converted.

Hindus and Sikhs of Bhikho Chak were attacked by a party of 130 Muslims while they were leaving the village. The attack occurred on the Pattan at Ravi river. 113 of those attacked were killed; there were not more than 17 or 18 survivors.

In this village terrible butchering was done. The force which attacked it was 6,000 strong. Altogether 3,000 Hindus and Sikhs were killed by the Muslim Military with rifle fire. The number of women abducted was 300. The survivors were forcibly converted. Muslims made the attack with drums beating and possessed machine guns and such other weapons.

Of the village Bhoi in Tehsil Daska, very few Sikhs survived. In Melomer on the 29th August, as many as 1,500 Hindus and Sikhs were burnt alive in the places where they had hidden for shelter.

At Dhapai in the jurisdiction of Zaffarwal Police Station 150 Hindus and Sikhs were killed and 50 young girls were abducted.

Jassar is an important town in Sialkot District and a railway junction. A terrible massacre of non-Muslims occurred in this town on the 23rd October, 1947. This incident created great tension in East Punjab. The following telegram was sent by the Commander of J. D. Camp, Amritsar to the East Punjab Government:-

“No. 3346 ShW. Situation in Amritsar has deteriorated suddenly through information about attack on train load of non-Muslim refugees which occurred at Jassar in Sialkot district, and was proceeding to Dera Baba Nanak (India Border) on foot on 23rd. Though Pakistan press has given out that 30 were killed and 200 wounded rumour in city based on story of survivors and published in local papers is 1,500 killed. About 10,000 non-Muslims collected at noon today near the Muslim refugee camp at Cattle Fair ground for the purpose of attacking camp in retaliation. They have been persuaded to turn back with considerable difficulty. But feeling in city is still high. People are insisting that some action should be taken at highest level and West Punjab Government warned that unless incidents cease on their side, it will be difficult to control people on ours. Curfew has been imposed. Additional military posted at refugee camps Cattle Fair Ground and Jandiala. Muslim refugees train detained at Beas. Arrangements are being made to reinforce Beas. Muslim refugees train will only be passed through if railway track found in order and situation permits. Assistance of local leaders also being harnessed.”

The Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, reported about this incident:-

“I visited Dera Baba Nanak with Brigade Commander and Superintendent Police yesterday in connection with the attack on the non-Muslim train near Jassar, district Sialkot. It appears all refugees were made to detrain at Jassar. The luggage had to be put aside and then short distance away attacked by armed Muslim mob. Military escort fired into air only and also shot dead three Sikh members of guard because they protested against Muslims failure shoot at mob. Only two thousand reached. Of this number about six hundred were injured; about seventy needing hospitalization. Thirty serious cases have been brought to Gurdaspur or sent to Amritsar hospital and others were being moved. It is not possible yet to give exact number dead or wounded left behind but total feared high as according some reports train carried about five thousand refugees. The property was all looted after systematic searches and a very large number of women have been abducted.”

On November 1, the Governor of West Punjab wirelessed his apologies to the Governor, East Punjab taking care, however, to minimise the number of casualties.

The message was as follows:-

“Your 381-GPP. The incident at Jassar is deeply regretted by all. Full particulars were furnished immediately after verification by Provincial Government to Prime Minister, East Punjab, Refugees Minister India, Deputy High Commissioner and CLO. Casualties in this incident were 30 refugees killed and 200 wounded; action of the escort resulted in 50 attackers killed; wounded not known but must have been 300 or 400. All possible steps are being taken to prevent such occurrences and this particular case is being vigorously investigated. I.G. Police has appointed an S. P. for special enquiry.”

MIANWALI

This border district of the Punjab was comparatively undisturbed during the March riots. A mob of 10,000 attacked the town of Mianwali, but the presence of mind shown by the Deputy Commissioner and the authorities averted the trouble then. On the 28th August in Mianwali Muslim mobs and military killed 250 Hindus and Sikhs inside the Gurdwara, in Sanatan Dharm Mandir and Arya Sumaj Mandir. These places of worship were also attacked.

Later, a massacre of Hindus and Sikhs occurred, in which altogether 3,500 were killed and 1,000 women were abducted. Looting was on a very extensive scale.

After the establishment of Pakistan, however, the process of elimination of Hindus and Sikhs started in this district, as all over West Punjab, in full vigour. In this district, on the 1st September the Deputy Commissioner in an open meeting declared it to be his policy to turn out all Hindus and Sikhs from the district. . A regular time-table for this purpose was fixed, and parwanas were issued to the lower officials. Such an open declaration of policy left no doubt in the minds of the Muslim goonda elements as to their complete immunity from official action which they would have for anything done against Hindus and Sikhs.

A Sikh Captain, P. S. Grewal was shot dead by Muslim National Guards at Pai Khel railway station. No police action followed this murder.

Regular attacks on trains started after this. Hindus and Sikh passengers were combed out of trains, murdered and thrown on the platform, or along the railway track. No one checked these activities.

Non-Muslim railway employees were murdered in large numbers. The Brahman station master of Shah Alam railway station was forcibly converted, and later on shot dead when he refused to swallow beef.

A Sikh railway employee of Doratta was murdered along with his whole family.

At Kundian railway station, as many as 72 Hindu railway employees and passengers were killed.

Kundian, Harnauli, Pipla, Kullur Kot and Bhakhar were attacked in the first week of September. The number of Hindus and Sikhs killed in these various places is:-

Kundian
...
...
...
100
Harnauli
...
...
..
2,500
Pipla
...
...
...
600
Bhakkar Tehsil Total
...
...
...
6,000
Abawali
...
...
...
120
Kullur Kot
...
...
...
150

From Harnauli about 500 women and girls were abducted. The wounded were brought to the Government Hospital at Mianwali. The Muslim civil surgeon told Hindu and Sikh wounded that she would dress their wounds only if they got converted to Islam. Relief workers from among non-Muslims were repeatedly attacked and killed by Muslim mobs under the very nose of Pakistan Military.

In Darya Khan 1,500 Hindus were forcibly converted.

In Isa Khel the Deputy Commissioner got 25 Hindus besieged who were murdered by Muslim mobs. Later 50 Hindus were put under arrest. No Muslim was arrested.

In Sohla Wasti Sikhan of Bhakhar Tehsil, on 5 Sawan (beginning of September) a large number of Hindus and Sikhs were killed. 113 Hindus were forcibly converted and some women were abducted.

A Hindu-Sikh refugee train, which left Mianwali on the 13th October, was repeatedly attacked on the way between Kundian and Wan Bhuchran, at Sargodha and Shahdara. On the wav the refugees suffered acutely for lack of water, which was not given to them. Muslims sold it to Hindus and Sikhs at ten rupees a tumbler.

In Haidarbad Thal Area in Tehsil Bhakar, from the 25th August onwards villages Sadhwala, Manakera, Khin, Main, Dhinana, Wiri, Karloowala etc. were besieged and Hindus and the few Sikhs forced to quit their homes after great sufferings and being subjected to loot.

Wan Bhuchran was attacked on the 4th September. The Hindus approached the authorities for protection and were given assurance of safety. The mob nevertheless attacked the town that very night and arson and looting went on the whole night, A Hindu, who escaped from the besieged town at great risk, informed the district authorities at Mianwali. Military arrived, but did little except driving away the raiders. No loot was returned.

JHANG

Attacks on Hindus and Sikhs began all over the district of Jhang near about the 24th August. Sikhs and Hindus were harassed, murdered and besieged in every town and village. Gurdwaras were almost everywhere burned, such as at Nanaksar and Chund.

In Mandi Shah Jiwana Sikhs and Hindus were looted on a large scale. In village Chund the Gurdwara where Hindus and Sikhs had collected for shelter was besieged. Ultimatum was given to them by Muslims to embrace Islam or face death. Hindu and Sikh women finding all hope of succour or safety gone, immolated themselves on funeral pyre to escape dishonour at the hands of Muslims. The men fought back the invaders and had 375 out of their total of 450 killed.

Population proportions in Jhang.
Muslims
...
...
...
82.61%
Hindus
...
...
...
15.80%
Sikhs
...
...
...
1.49%

BAHAWALPUR STATE

This state lies south-west of the Punjab, running along the rivers Sutlej and the extension of the Chenab, and borders on the Province of Sind. It had a minority of Hindu and Sikh population, and is ruled over by a Muslim Nawab. This state acceded to Pakistan.

After the establishment of Pakistan murder, loot and abduction were let loose on the Hindus and Sikhs of this state. Sikhs were almost all colonists, who had, like Sikhs in Lyallpur, Montgomery, Jhang and Multan, made the land productive through their hard labour. They were cut down in every village. The state authorities far from protecting them, only abetted their destruction.

At Bhattian in Rahim Yar Khan district 4000 Sikhs were collected from the surrounding villages with promises of safety by the state police. On the 23rd September, they were attacked. Out of this 4000, only 660 survived. 700 women were abducted. Looting of Sikhs’ property went on everywhere.

Hindus too, who as a class were prosperous, were looted and murdered everywhere. In the capital of the State, all Sikh and Hindu officials (who were not many in the civil list) were put under arrest without any cause.

In a press note the Ministry of States, Government of India, stated on December 3, 1947.

“The non-Muslim population of Bawalpur state, according to the 1941 census, was 2, 40,000 which, allowing for normal increase. is now estimated at about 2,70,000.”

“Of these between 70,000 and 80,000 recently had to leave the state as a result of the disturbance, the number left behind being stated to he in the neighbourhood of 70,000. This leaves over 100,000 unaccounted for.”

These 100,000 “unaccounted” for Hindus and Sikhs are the unfortunate ones who were hunted down by the Muslim mobs, Military and Police, and murdered for no other reason except that they were Hindus or Sikhs.

JHELUM

The devastation which occurred in Jhelum district in March, 1947 has been told of earlier. Very few Hindus or Sikhs were left in the countryside. They had either come down east, or had collected in refugee camps. The towns had been comparatively safe up till August. But on the establishment of Pakistan, things began to take an ugly turn for Hindus and Sikhs.

Towards the end of August, all Hindus and Sikhs in Rohtas and Sanghoi were put to death. Some women and girls were also abducted. All this was done with the active planning of Muslim Leaguers and the Police.

The total non-Muslim population of village Mirpur in Pind Dadan Tehsil was murdered, only 2 children having escaped. Vahalee wag razed to the ground, and its population burnt alive.

Hindus and Sikhs at Khewra were attacked, and forced to leave for India, after suffering losses in life.

In Pind Dadan Khan town there was large-scale murder of Hindus and Sikhs.

The refugees trains which left Jhelum district were attacked several times on the way to India and a heavy toll bf Hindu and Sikh lives was taken. One train was attacked on the 19th September between Pind Dadan Khan and Chalisa. Here heavy loss of life occurred. A further attack was made at Harbanspura, where however the timely active intervention of a British officer drove away the assailants. At Lahore, 200 of the wounded were carried out of the train, and most of them were systematically finished.

Another train left on the 24th September. This was attacked at Kamoke, where about a thousand Hindus and Sikhs were killed, and a large number of girls and women were kidnapped.

The town of Jhelum was attacked on the 25th September. Here the planning of the attack was done by the Pakistan Military. In Govindpura Mohalla, the centre of Hindu-Sikh population, about 700 Hindus and Sikhs were shot dead. People were dragged out of their houses and killed. Women were molested and many abducted. No evacuee from Jhelum was allowed to take out more luggage than he could carry on his head. Forty truck loads of Hindu-Sikh property were looted by Muslims from the railway station of Jhelum.

In the month of November, Hindu and Sikh girls brought by Pathan raiders from Kashmir were sold in the bazars of Jhelum.

MULTAN AND MUZAFFARGA

The happenings of March, 1947 in Multan have been narrated earlier. Whatever Hindus and Sikhs were still left in that district, were mopped up after the establishment of Pakistan.

On the 26th September, a Muslim mob fell upon Makhdumpur Jaura. Here 1,500 Sikhs and Hindus were killed, and 150 women were abducted.

On the same date Rampur, in Kabirwala Tehsil was attacked. This was a Sikh village. All Sikhs to a man were killed here. Children were not spared. The women immolated themselves to escape dishonour at the hands of the Muslim marauders.

In the refugee camp of Mailsi 2,000 Hindus and Sikhs were shot dead in the beginning of October. The assailants were Pakistan Military. Later, at Mailsi railway station, another 200 were shot dead by them. The refugee train which carried the survivors of these attacks was also attacked several times on the way to India.

Chaks 571, 561, 563, 565, 566 etc. in Tehsil Vihari were attacked on the 31st August and the residents, mostly Sikhs, turned out of their hearths and homes in a destitute state. Their foot caravan was attacked several times on the way by Muslim mobs. They were safe from these attacks only when Indian Military got to know of them and escorted them to India.

In Chak 80 in Tehsil Shujabad, on the 11th September, 6 Sikhs were killed. The rest were turned out in a destitute state.

Muzaffargarh is an outlying district to the west of Multan. Here the Muslim proportion in the population was about 87%. Terrible massacres of Hindus and Sikhs occurred in this district, which was dominated by fanatical Muslim Pirs, rabid Muslim Leaguers and big feudal Muslim landlords, who flourished on the ignorance and easy impressionability of the Muslim masses around them.

On a conservative estimate. 10,000 Hindus and Sikhs were killed in this district.

Gurmani, Basti Navin and Patti Bhanwali etc. were places on which attacks started on the 9th September. Here all Sikhs and Hindus were forcibly converted by Muslims. The converted people, even the grown-up ones were circumcized and were forced to partake of beef. They were compelled to marry away their daughters to Muslims.

When these Hindus and Sikhs were later being evacuated to India, their train was attacked by Muslims near Kahna Kachha (Lahore district). The assailants were driven off by the Indian Military escort.

In Basti Sikhanwali, on the 10th September, 800 Sikhs and Hindus were killed.

The Deputy Commissioner of Muzaffargarh sent for Hindu notables, and warned them not to harbour or shelter any Sikhs as the latter had in any, case to be thrown out of Pakistan. This was about the middle of September.

At Kot Adu, on the 10th September, 1,400 people, mostly Sikhs, were killed. In this carnage women and children were not spared.

In Gobindpur, Alipur and Badra false assurances of safety were given to Sikhs. 150 Sikhs of Gobindpur were shut up in a building, which was set oil fire, and all were burnt alive. 20 women were abducted (August 19).

In the Tehsil of Khanewal in Jahanian and Mian Channu areas all Sikh villages were attacked. In Chak 107/15L half a dozen Sikhs were killed. The Gurdwara of Multan Cantonment was besieged. Hindus in Multan were forcibly converted on a large scale.

GUJRAT

The district of Gujrat lies between Gujranwala and Jhelum. Although large-scale wiping out of Hindu and Sikh populations had occurred in Rawalpindi and Jhelum districts from March, 1947 onwards, yet the district of Gujrat as a whole had remained more or less quiet. That was perhaps because after the experience of Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Multan and the fear of Hindu-Sikh reprisals in the Eastern districts of the Punjab, the Government had tightened up security measures and large military forces were sent to the Western part of Punjab for keeping order. Anyhow, such steps were taken as kept the Muslim League elements in Gujrat under proper check.

Trouble, however, began immediately after the establishment of Pakistan, when mass murder of Sikhs and Hindus began in Sialkot, Wazirabad, Gujranwala and other parts of central and western Punjab. The district of Gujrat was particularly badly situated from the point of view of Hindus and Sikhs. It had no easy route of escape into Kashmir State, as Sialkot had. Towards the West of it the entire Hindu and Sikh population had been evacuated or murdered in the March riots. So, in towns and villages fanatical, League-directed Muslim mobs, Pakistan Military and Police fell upon Hindus and Sikhs, as usual murdering, burning, raping, looting and abducting.

Lala Musa, which is an important junction on the Delhi-Lahore-Peshawar main line, became the scene of Muslim League operations on the 18th August.

The technique adopted was the raising of a false cry that Sikhs had attacked Muslims. The entire town was blockaded by Muslim mobs from the town and the countryside with the help of Pakistan Police and Military. A vigorous attack was started against Hindus and Sikhs. Looting and arson occurred on a large scale. The loss of life was comparatively less. One of the features of this attack was that three big Gurdwaras in the town were set on fire, and their inmates were burnt alive. Hindu and Sikh women were molested by Pakistan Military. The train which carried Hindu and Sikh refugees from Lala Musa to India was stopped near Shahdara (Lahore) and a number of these refugees were killed.

Attack on the village of Murala, which has a well-known Sikh Gurdwara and is the home of Mahant Prem Singh, M.L.A. started as early as the 14th August, the day on which celebrations were going on in Karachi to receive the Crown of Pakistan for Mr. Jinnah from the British Viceroy. Here Muslims played a confidence trick. They got hold of all the valuable possessions of Sikhs on the pretext of guarding them from being looted. These valuables were, of course, never returned. A number of Sikhs of Village Dhalla were persuaded to come together into one house by Muslims, the reason given for such a step being that this was necessary for their safety. This house was then locked, and the trapped men, women and children left to burn inside the house which was set on fire. All were burnt alive inside. Those who tried to escape were caught hold of, thrown on the burning heap and finished in this way. On the 18th August which was the day of Id, the Dera of Murala, seat of Mahant Prem Singh and held in reverence by Sikhs, was attacked. 400 Sikhs and Hindus had taken shelter inside this Dera. All of them would have been butchered but the intervention of some Muslim notables of the area, personal friends of Mahant Prem Singh, turned back the attacking mob. The besieged, like all other Hindus and Sikhs of the area, went into the Refugee Camp at Gujrat in a destitute state. The station master of Kharian and 5 Sikhs were killed at Kharian railway station. Some Sikhs were also killed in the village of Loharian.

Jokalian and Mitha Chak and other places in this area began to be attacked on the 18th August. Muslims of this area had given assurance of safety on the oath of the Koran to their Hindu and Sikh neighbours. On the 18th August, however, the well-known technique of raising a false alarm of attack by Sikhs on Muslims was employed and the Muslims of the area were incited to attack Sikhs. Stabbing of individuals and harassment continued for some time.

On the 3rd September Muslims from about 60 surrounding villages gathered at Jokalian for attack. The number of this mob was about 20,000. The Gurdwara of the place, where Sikhs had collected for shelter, was attacked, and in one hour 800 Sikhs including women and children, were killed. Later almost the entire remaining Sikh population was killed also. The volume of Guru Granth Sahib was tom and desecrated. Looting continued for 3 days.

After Jokalian, the Hindus and Sikhs of Mitha Chak were given the ultimatum either to embrace Islam or to face death.

People of some forty villages were forcibly converted. (A list of these villages is included in the appendix containing summary of attacks).

The Hindus of village Ghanian were threatened by Muslims with dire consequences if they made common cause with the Sikhs. This left the Sikhs altogether friendless, as their number was already very small (about a dozen in all). Finding the situation grown desperate, these brave and unbending Sikhs killed their womenfolk with their own hands. After this the men gathered in a house, set fire to it and perished in the flames. The Muslims after the Sikhs had been finished, fell upon the Hindus who had so unwisely put trust in their promises, killed several and abducted sonic young women. These incidents occurred round about the 21st August.

Bharowal was attacked on the 17th August. Here a general massacre of Hindus and Sikhs occurred. Out of a total Hindu-Sikh population of 1,200 only 123 survived. Looting took place after this massacre on a very large scale.

Mandi Bahauddin is an important trading centre of Gujrat district. Here Muslim military came into operation early. Sikhs were taken out of their houses, bayoneted and otherwise tortured and forced to embrace Islam. The refugee camp established here was run on barbarous lines by the Muslim officials, and no torture and indignity was spared to the Sikhs. Piteous appeals for removal from this camp to India continued to come from Sikhs to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the East Punjab Government and the Government of India.

At Dinga, a fairly large town, 3,300 Sikhs were killed.

In villages Shadiwal Kalan and Shadiwal Khurd, while Hindus were forced to accept Islam, all Sikhs were killed. These occurrences took place on the 18th and 19th August.

The Sikhs of Mangat, an important village were attacked on the 5th September. They gave a very stiff fight to the invaders and were later all evacuated to Mandi Bahauddin Refugee Camp, from where they were evacuated to India.

Hindu-Sikh refugees from Gujrat district, numbering 2,000 were being evacuated to India in trucks. Obstruction was placed in the way of these trucks near Kunjah bridge. The Indian Military escort accompanying these trucks fired on the Muslim assailants, cleared the point of obstruction and dispersed them (September 9). Later, these trucks were again attacked in the Mozang area of Lahore.

In Kotla Kasim Khan, on the 27th August a Muslim mob of 4,000 attacked Hindus and Sikhs. Many houses were burnt, 70 Hindus and Sikhs were killed and 30 were wounded. Even women and children were not spared, and were ruthlessly cut to pieces.

Kunjah, in Tehsil Phalia, was attacked towards the end of August. Here a large number of forcible conversions took place. Hindu and Sikh houses were forcibly occupied by Muslims. The Gurdwaras and their inmates were burned in flames. Not a single Sikh of this place was left alive.

SARGODHA

In this district attacks on Hindus and Sikhs began in March, 1947. On the 26th March news came of serious and widespread attacks on Hindus and Sikhs in various places in this district. These attacks were not yet on the scale on which they occurred in Rawalpindi, but they still were serious. Earlier on the 11th March, Muslims attacked Mansehra but were dispersed.

On the 14th March attacks on Hindus and Sikhs and Hindu and Sikh shops were made in Khushab. Three Hindu Sadhus were murdered.

Trouble in the district continued, so that according to a news-item of the 11th July, the Muslims of Khushab were fined Rs. 50,000 for their continued attacks on Hindus and Sikhs. Many villages in this area were collectively fined for the same offence-the fines ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,000.

After July, for some days there was a comparative lull in this district. On the establishment of Pakistan, however, on the 16th August attacks on Hindus and Sikhs began again with full vigour. Trains running between Malakwal and Shorkot and Malakwal and Bhera were attacked and Hindu and Sikh passengers were looted and murdered. In the villages ultimatums were given to Hindus and Sikhs to embrace Islam or die. And in many cases the threat to kill was carried out on refusal to get converted. Even the converted were in many cases killed. Those who were not killed obstructions were placed in their way to be evacuated to India when Indian Military came to evacuate them. 325 such forcibly converted persons were found in Bandial alone.

In Bhalwal Tehsil, Bhera witnessed several stray murders of Hindus. In Lillani 10 Hindus were killed. 150 Hindus of Gondpur were murdered by order of a Sub-Inspector of Police, whose party looted all their belongings.

In Miani, which was attacked on the 10th September, 600 Hindus and Sikhs were murdered and 36 women were abducted. The estimated value of property looted is 50 lakhs.

From August 28 on up till about 10 days, Padhrar, Warcha, Jabbi, Khohri, Mitha Tiwana, Addi Kot, Girot, Mirpur and Thatta Shah Jamal were attacked. Hindus and Sikhs were killed in fairly large numbers and their belongings taken away. In several places young girls and women were abducted. In Mitha Tiwana 59 men were murdered and 17 girls were taken away.

Hindu and Sikh evacuees were not permitted to carry more than Rs. 15 each plus a few scanty belongings, such as the bedding of the season and a tumbler. No clothes other than they were wearing were permitted to be carried by them.

In Shahpur and Sargodha Tehsils incidents of murder and loot on varying scales occurred in almost all towns and villages.

A large number of those who were forcibly converted were compelled to marry away their daughters to Muslims, so that the girls so married and their families may not evacuate to India.

Residents of Chaks 45, 46, 19, 20, 26, 15, 37, 42, 44, 30, 36 etc., mostly Sikhs, were forced to quit their homes in a destitute state and they sought shelter in the Gujrat relief camp. The number of evacuees from these Chaks was about 9,000. Their evacuation was complete by the first week of September.

On the 27th August in Bhera several Hindu and Sikh shopkeepers were stabbed. Stabbing of Hindus and Sikhs continued for several days by moving parties of Muslim goondas. The Malakwal Hindus and Sikhs there forced to quit their homes after several cases of killing.

In Chaks 38B and 29 (both in Sargodha Tehsil) a large number of Sikhs were killed by the Muslim Military.

In Khiyali on the 16th August, a large number of Hindus and Sikhs were killed.

50,000 Sikh refugees from Sargodha were attacked at Tarakabad railway crossing in Lyallpur, with the active instigation of the Muslim Military escort. Many Sikhs were killed although they put up good resistance against their assailants

it is nice that PM Manmohan Singh Kohli has apologised for the killings of app 3,000 Sikhs (please correct me) in 1984. He needed to but when is a politician or minority leader going to apologise to the Hindus of this country for -

1. 1985 Bombing of Air India's aircraft that took off from Toronto to India but never reached our country. The main accused 2 Vancouver based Sikhs have not convicted yet.

2. 1993 Mumbai Bomb Blasts organised by Mumbai Muslims and Pakistani based Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar. 257 killed and 713 injured.

3. Prior to the 1984 Sikh killings thousands of Hindus before and after that were killed by Sikh terrorists. My friend's Bua's (father's sister) husband was killed by Sikh terrorists in Punjab.

4. Blasts that rocked Mumbai in 2002-03, acc to India Today 71 killed, 332 injured.

5. Tens of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee their homeland.

Compared to that Gujarat toll was at best 726 of which nearly 100 Hindus were killed. Read A Lavakare article excerpts-

http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jun/09arvind.htm
"The truth is different even by the very very 'secular' standards of The Times of India. Thus, one week after the most bloody riots broke out, that newspaper's Bharat Desai reported on March 7, 2002, that the toll stood at 677. The report stated that nearly 100 people, most of them Hindus, were killed in police firing.

On April 28, 2002, when the frenzy was almost doused, Sanjay Pandey of that same newspaper reported that 726 people in all were killed; of this number, we were told, 552 were Muslims and 168 were Hindus including, never forget, the 58 kar sevaks charred in a railway bogey. Reporter Pandey reiterated that in the first month of police firing the Muslims killed were 40 while Hindus so killed were 60. So much then for the 'Hitleresque pogrom' of Narendra Modi."

it has to with Justise

THe 2 Sikhs who were charged with the aircraft bombing are under custody, unlike the congress leaders who started the 1984 riots are in power right now

The Militants of the 1984 period were all killed off, along with 250,000 other innocent Sikhs from 1984-1992. Most people say that the Delhi riots killed 6,000 SIkhs. And you need to know the Hindus killings which comprised less than 30% of the casualaties were started after 1984. But no doubt they were wrong and unjust, and the people did get punished. As i also said before, there were classes of these Militants, the once that hunted innocent Hindus, these people were being controlled BY Pakistan, and then there were the Militants that were rightfully fighting for Punjab's rights, which to this day are still violated.

The 1984 congress leaders who started the riots were never tried or punished, and they are still in power. Many people have still not been tried for the Gujrat Riots. apologies are given to those that feel justise has down been done to them. And with congress coming in power, and the PM apologizing, it was more a political thing, than anything else.

But no doubt apologizies need to be given to those hindus too.

And also you should not post articles for the unjustise done to the Sikhs and Hindus in P-Punjab, for the situation was the same in I-Punjab. Muslims were abused on the same level there too.


try to watch the movie Hawayein, gives a very accurate discription of the 1984-1992 period.

What did your father's sister's husband do? you said he was killed? what was his job? or was he killed as a bystander.



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One evening a boy of three was out for a walk with his father. There was also an elderly man with the father. Chatting they walked on and went beyond the village. Green crop delighted the eyes. The elders were walking along the edge of a field. Not hearing the footsteps of the boy, the father looked back. The boy was sitting on the ground and seemed to be planting some thing. The father became curious.

"What are you doing?" said he.

"Look, father, I shall grow guns all over the field" was the innocent reply of the boy. His eyes shone with the strong faith that guns would grow in the field. Both the elders were struck with wonder at the little boy's words.

The boy was Bhagat Singh who later fought like a hero for India's freedom and sacrificed his life.

Harry, don't worry, justice will be served to all.
Ravi, don't worry, I will personally make sure that justice is served to Pakistan and Pakistanis. What bloodshed they did to establish their fake nation. What a brutal inhuman idea to have a Partition. It was practically ethnic cleansing, all Hindus and Sikhs killed.
Funny thing, people look at India and Pakistan from a "neutral" prism, whereas Pakistan shouldn't even deserve this "neutral" prism, because they have been barbaric, in the secular India, Muslims had the choice in most of the place.

http://india_resource.tripod.com/hist-2nation.html

My mind is in a more chaotic state than usual. It's the result of a periodic affliction, under which spells I suffer greatly but emerge none the wiser. I'm wondering, could the current virus lead me to new ideological plains? See, after the Kamala Das episode, I had "words" with my sikh friend. It began with his expressing admiration for her courage to forsake all for Love, and continued through sizzling attacks which had nil to do with the dippy dame, and ended with light spanking. All in all, very stimulating, indeed. And educational, too. For I unexpectedly got a glimpse into a mindset I never associated with Sikhs -- that of the minorities. MY sikh?! I quietly died.
I've always been baffled by the large chunk of hatred by sikhs towards hindu nationalists. It's as easy to delete the trash from the Sens and Nambiars (label them "pinko"), as from the Khans. But, sikhs?! I just couldn't fathom why they hated me to death, and why there should be more of those who hate me. To my mind, Sikhs just couldn't be all that goes by the Indian aberration known as "secularists." They form nearly 33 per cent of the Indian army, and I couldn't see them as stupid, limp-wristed wimps. I liked them, and so they had to like me. Therefore, each hate mail was a personal breach of faith.

Now I find that I never knew them at all... Of course, I made the classic boo-boo of bunching different individuals under one tag, and I'm doing it again by ascribing one Sikh's thoughts to the lot -- but that's how things work in the real world. Here are my findings: Sikhs believe Sikhism to be a very distinctive minority religion of India. Sikhs detest me because they see me as a symbol of a majoritarian threat to their identity... When I finally managed to drag this out of my reluctant Sardar, I was too shocked to react, let alone rebut.

There are about 18 million Sikhs in India, comprising 1.8 per cent of the population. They form 62.95 per cent of Punjab's 20 million people while... Screw stats, here are vignettes of what attracted me. 1860: Baba Ram Singh, leader of the Namdhari movement, raising the banner of revolt against the British regime... 1913: The founding of the Ghadar Party in SF to liberate India from the British yoke... Udham Singh's defence of his assassination of Lt Gov Michael O'Dwyer: "He wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him"... 1942: Their taking the lead in Netaji's Indian National Army for the liberation of India, with Gen Mohan Singh organising the Sikhs of Malaysia against the British... 27 October, 1947: "The British Indian Army transformed into the Indian Army, with the first Sikh regiment arriving in Srinagar to save it from the marauding tribesmen sent from across the border by Pakistan"...

But that ain't the point. While arguing, I'd said: "Why would I even blink if my daughter wanted to marry a Sikh? There'd be no cultural or religious disparity she'd have to face." Which had brought forth the Hinduism-wants-to-swallow-our-identity line... Thing is, Hindus are conditioned to regard Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism as "panths" or sects. My folks told me that the elder son would become a Sikh while the younger remained Hindu; that the Gurus were devotees of Ram and Krishna; that the Marathi sant-poet Namdev's hymns are included in the Granth Sahib; that, prior to the tenth Guru, there was no separate name for the followers of Guru Nanak and they were considered a part and parcel of Hinduism; that Guru Govind Singh gave the name "Sikh" to those who were willing to fight the tyranny of the Mughals. I was taught that Hinduism is a generic name given to all the faiths which have roots in India and believe in Parmatma (God), Prarthana (prayer), Punerjanma (reincarnation), Purushartha (Karma) and Prani Daya (kindness to all living beings). Sikhism believes in all...

So my Sardar said, "We believe in martial traditions; we do not believe in a caste system; and we most certainly do not worship idols." And I wondered, is the Kshatriya not martial? Is there no caste among Sikhs? One of the greatest modern Sikh leaders, Master Tara Singh, petitioned the GoI to provide special benefits to Harijan Sikhs! He was also one of the founding members of the VHP! At a meeting in Bombay on August 19, 1964, Tara Singh declared, "Sikhs and Hindus are not separate. Sikhs will survive only if Hindus survive. Sikhs are part and parcel of the Hindu Society. Guru Govind Singhji brought in Gurumukhi the wisdom and philosophy from our scriptures and Puranas. Are we going to give up this heritage?"

And as for idol worship, what few understand is that Hinduism is monotheistic as well as catholic. Parmeshwar, or Brahmatma, is the pivot, the godhead, into which Man will merge on achieving moksha. Its catholicity lies in allowing Man to think for himself and find his own path to moksha. Hinduism has its icons -- like Islam has the Ka'ba -- which are only a means of concentrating the mind. Sikhs worship the Granth Sahib and pictures of the Gurus -- aren't they icons? Till Durgayana Mandir was built, Durga's idol was worshipped in the Harmandir Saheb!

I wondered, when did this wedge of irreconcilable differences get driven between Hindus and Sikhs? What are the roots of Sikhism...? Here are some stanzas from the Gurus and the Guru Granth Saheb:

* Taha hum adhik tapasya sadhi / Mahakal kalika aradhi ~ Guru Govind Singh
(There I worshipped and did penance to seek Kali.)

* Ram katha jug jug atal / Sab koi bhakhat net Suragbas Raghuver kara / Sagri puri samet Jo en Katha sune aur gaave / Dukh pap tah nikat na aave ~ Guru Govind Singh
(The story of Ram is immortal and everyone should read it. Ram went to heaven along with the whole city. Whoever listens to or sings His story, will be free of sin and sorrow.)

* Kahaiya Hinduan daro na ab tum / Im likho pathon dil sain Guru Nanak ki gadi par / Ab hain Tegh Bahadur Unko jo Muhummadi kar lihoon / To ham hain sab sadar Arya Dharma rakhak pragatiyo hain ~ Guru Tegh Bahadur
(Hindus, do not fear, Guru Tegh Bahadur is Guru Nanak's successor. If Muslims bother you, I'll take care of them. For I am the protector of Hinduism.)

* Tin te sun Siri Tegh Bahadur / Dharam nibaahan bikhe Bahadur Uttar bhaniyo, dharam hum Hindu / Atipriya ko kin karen nikandu Lok parlok ubhaya sukhani / Aan napahant yahi samani Mat mileen murakh mat loi / Ise tayage pramar soi Hindu dharam rakhe jag mahin / Tumre kare bin se it nahin ~ Guru Tegh Bahadur's reply to Aurangzeb's ordering him to embrace Islam.
(In response, Shri Tegh Bahadur says, My religion is Hindu and how can I abandon what is so dear to me? This religion helps you in this world and that, and only a fool would abandon it. God himself is the protector of this religion and no one can destroy it.)

* Sakal jagat main Khalsa Panth gaje / Jage dharam Hindu sakal bhand bhaje ~ Guru Govind Singh.
(The Khalsa sect will roar around the world. Hinduism will awaken, its enemies will flee.)

What's more heart-breaking is the new-found empathy between certain Sikhs and Pakistanis. How could a "Sang Sabha" of Sikhs -- at Lahore -- listen to the Jamaat-e-Islami say: "Do not consider yourselves alone in the fight for freedom. All the Muslims of the world are with you." Have they so soon forgotten the Hindu and Sikh corpse-laden trains from Pakistan? In June, N S Malik wrote about the training of Paki soldiers: "To Pakistan's army, 'the only good Indian is a dead Indian,' and the funniest item of the Pagal Gymkhana in their cantonments is the beating given to a sickly looking man depicted as a Sikh, a symbol of India. Children and adults are blindfolded and made to take a stick and hit this effigy. The audience gets fantastic fun out of it." Such Sikhs are the progeny of the clergy of the Golden Temple, led by Arur Singh, who had honoured the massacring Gen Dyer by declaring him a Sikh, on condition that he renounce one cigarette a year...

I've been told that Sikhs feel "betrayed badly by India." Or, "I can't understand how they can fight for that country or wave the flag merely because they were born there." Or, "Do you expect them to stand up for India if they had seen their near ones die?" Look at it this way: There's Papa, Mama, Big Brother, Little Brother, Sister. One day, Big Brother badly beats up Little Brother for being naughty. So Little Brother throws stuff around, does considerable damage and leaves home. Next, he calls Mama "that woman," and demands a share of the estate on the threat of blowing up the family... I'm sorry, but I spit on this type.

The Blue Star fiasco cost India many brave jawans since they were ordered to minimise the destruction of the Golden Temple and thus were unnecessarily exposed to militant fire. However, the crux is: The Sikh community itself bears as great a share of the blame as Mrs G and the Congress. For they turned a blind eye to the militants holed up in the/ gurudwara and who ventured out to murder and create mayhem at will. As one of my Mallus had said, "If Guruvayoor or Sabarimala were being used in such a manner, I'd be the first to cheer along a military action to flush out the bastards."

I'm sick of hearing about how Sikhs feel aggrieved by the 1984 massacres. If they're so aggrieved, how and why did 62.95 per cent Sikh Punjab vote Congress...? Did Balasaheb or Rajju Bhaiya lead the rioters in Delhi? Did Hindus murder Sikhs -- or did the acolytes of the Nehru-Gandhis...?

And, of course, the pinkos... Vijay Prashad, an assistant professor of International Studies at Trinity College, Hartford, and a member of FOIL, wrote about the Tenth Hindu Conference in NYC, where a resolution was passed urging "all the Hindus of the world to act in a broad and nationalistic manner rising above their personal beliefs and creeds, parochial languages, and provincial and sectarian considerations such as Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamilian, Telugu, Bengali, Jains, Sikhs, etc." Prashad's note: "The VHP offers the Hindu (and Sikh and Jain!) migrant an easy task: give money for work in India, to help those Hindus who are in 'distress'."

A Singh, professor at RI College commenting on a book on Tipu Sultan: "...surely most of butchering of Sikhs in the 18th cen took place at the hands of invading Muslims or Moghuls, but many Hindu rulers and/or Hindu ministers, for example, of Sirhand and Lahore governors were effectively responsible for much violence against the Sikhs. But we tend to evade or suppress these facts to present Sikhism as an anti-Islamic tradition allied unambiguously with Hinduism." What to say?

Since May 1941, pinkos have advocated the multinational theory. A CPI resolution classified 16 Indian nations (Pathans, Punjabis, Sikhs, Sindhis, Hindustanis, Tamils, Kannadigas, Malayalees etc) and stated that each should be granted the right of secession. Bhindranwale convinced thousands of Sikhs -- one of the most industrious and prosperous groups -- that India made slaves of them, and the Intellectuals stressed that because they had been wronged, they have the right to separate. The destruction of the Babri by Hindus is "vandalism," but the terrorism of Khalistanis and Kashmiri Muslims is a "resurgence of sub-nationalities." They set the stage -- and the Sikhs danced. What a tragedy.....

well, first Guru Nanak gave the SIkhs the name Sikh, not Guru Gobind Singh. The Definition of a " Sikh is the disciple of Nanak" Guru Gobind Singh gave the Sikhs the name " Khalsa"

And it was Guru Nanak that said, i am not Hindu nor Muslim. Stating Sikhism is sect of Hinduism is quiet wrong, for yes it does contain many verses from Hindu holy books, but yet if you look in the Guru Granth, you will also see verses from the Quran and the preaching of Allah. The reason Ram is listed many times in the holy book, it beacuse he is taken as the one GOD.

The main aim of Sikhism is not to spread the its message around the world, not to make people convert but it is to meet GOD. IT says as Humans this is our only chance to meet GOD.

Guru Nanak through Guru Gobind told the Sikhs to consider themselves as a different reliion from both ISlam and Hinduism, half the verses in the Guru Granth Saihib try to establish this fact. IF one looks into Sikh religion, it was affected by Sufism the most. Sufism survived back then due to SIkhism. The foundation of the Golden Temple was layed by a Sufi Muslim.




you know to give you a honest opinion. You know how your saying Muslims are creating a friction between Hinduism and Sikhism, I think your trying to do exactly the same, create a friction between Sikhism and Islam. You post articles of how the Sikhs feel betrayed by the 1984 event, but ur forgetting that this lead to the death of 250,000 SIkhs, I am pretty sure you know about the disappearances in Punjab, the tortures by the police, would you like pictures? and you also stated that Jawans died trying to minize the damage well if the Army wanted that, they would not have brought Tanks. Well this is not the fault of Hindus, but Sikhs themselves. After all 4 out of 6 generals that devised the attack were SIkh.

Another thing i would like to ask, WHy has there not been a SIkh Chief of Army to this day.

How about make no friction amongst anyone, since we are all Indians? How about that, stop trying to make an anti-Islamic alliance!!

http://india_resource.tripod.com/hist-2nation.html

"WHy has there not been a SIkh Chief of Army to this day."

what kind of argument is that?

if manmohan is pm some sikhs say he is not a real sikh because he accepted a hindu decision.if there is no sikh army chief,then that is also because of some "hindu discrimination".hindus are in peculiar situation.its like damn if u do,damn if u dont.man(i think ur a boy) get out of it.
by ur defination even i can complain that there is no andhra chief of staff(in reality there are two of them),or andhra chief of navy or what ever it is.
chief of army staff selection is based on merit and seniority,not on religion.

rofl, now i will provide you with something, that will prove about the discrimination. GIve me a sec, i have posted this before.

Here it is, but first let me say something, i dont know nor have i heard anything about Manmohan singh being a fake sikh or whatever, i have no hard feelings against him nor do i regret him becoming a PM, he became one not because he was a SIkh, but because he was qualified.

Now, at the origins of the India Army Sikhs made 80% of army, after partition, Sikhs made 30% of the entire Army, 30% man and no Chief of Army, rofl......., How many Sikh generals have been there???? How many times have the Sikh Regiments of the Army been number 1 in hierachy order. Many

" When India was partitioned in 1947, the exodus of Muslim troops resulted in the raising of proportion of Sikhs in the army dramatically - to 30 percent. This predominance irked those in the ruling party who inherited the mantle of the Raj. The home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel vowed to cut down the Sikhs’ strength in the army in line with their population. Patel is also believed to have decreed that no Sikh shall be appointed chief of the army staff. There is no denying the fact that, despite five decades of republican democracy, India has had several outstanding Sikh generals but never a be-turbaned chief of army staff. "

Now what do you have to say for that? IF you want i can also provide the link from where i got that from, i had posted this before in the Asian pacific forum so i got it from there. Like you said there have been 2 Andhra chief of Army, now what regiment do Andhra people represent. For the Sikh regiment is the most decorated, has the most battle honors, the most medals, has fought in more places than any other regiment, it is considered the most Elite regiment of the Indian Army, yet there still has been no army chief of staff. if this type of merit is not enough well then.... you can conclude your own conclusion

well harry i can post n mumber of articles about discrimination of hindus in ranjit singhs army.even during terrorism times when hindus were butchered by sikh terroirists,they was not even a murmer by so called moderate sikhs.all they are doing were blaming hindus for everything.even today just tell me why has been there no hindu chief minister of punjab till now.

"well harry i can post n mumber of articles about discrimination of hindus in ranjit singhs army.even during terrorism times when hindus were butchered by sikh terroirists,they was not even a murmer by so called moderate sikhs.all they are doing were blaming hindus for everything.even today just tell me why has been there no hindu chief minister of punjab till now."


Ranjit Singh's army discriminating Hindus, yes, discriminating in the Army, no, for there were very few Hindus in the army, they bearly ever fought with the other Punjabis. only the Muslims were in the Army in Large numbers. The army also discriminated againts Muslims in NWFP too, so what is your point there??? the Leaders never discriminated, Ranjit Singh ordered the Koh-e-noor to be given to a Hindu Temple, he also outlawed the butching of cows, when cow is not held sacred in the Sikh religion. He gave money to Temples so the religion could progress.

When Hindus were butchered by Sikh terrorists it led to their dimise, i think you forget almost all the Militants were killed off, even the ones that were fighting for the right cause, it led to the formation of Shiv Sena in Punjab, it led to the death of 250,000 Sihks.

Why has there been no chief Minister of Punjab? a question has a hindu ran, i am not aware of this? But its funny you compare the Army to the Political culture, to very different things, has there been a Muslim CM of Gujrat??? its the same question, CMs are picked by votes Sikhs are majority of course a Sikh wins.

Now army is a different story, as i said before, Sikh Regiment, the most decorated, has the most battle honors, the most medals, considered the most elite Regiment in the Army, like you said before CHief of army is picked by Merit yet, if this is not enough then i dont know what is.

Now one thing you need to understand Ravi is that i am not blamming your everyday Hindu, but the Hindu Nationalists. Why dont you admit that one place where there is suppose to be no discrimination, that being the army, there is, and it is Hindu Nationalism. I provided the fact that the leaders stated they would not let there be a Sikh army Chief of staff, why dont you provide me with something stating there would never be a Punjab Hindu CM, you shouldnt talk for Punjabi Hindus for they love Punjabi Sikhs, the 1984 period they both suffered, and if you did not know Hindus too fought along side Sikhs in the Militant movements,

But since we are talking about discrimination, lets talk, i like this sort of stuff,

I am pretty sure you know about the current SYL ( water-share) situation, what are your views on that.

I really hope you dont see be as a anti-Hindu person, for i am only anti-extremism, I support the Sikh Militants that were fighting for Punjab's right, not the ones that wanted to Kill Hindus, i dont know if you know this, but these Militants were specifacally told by a Pakistani general to kill as many Hinds as possible.

harry,


"Ranjit Singh's army discriminating Hindus, yes, discriminating in the Army, no, for there were very few Hindus in the army, they bearly ever fought with the other Punjabis. only the Muslims were in the Army in Large numbers. The army also discriminated againts Muslims in NWFP too, so what is your point there???"



the point is discrimination is discrimination,whether its against a single person or against 100 persons.that tells the mentality of ranjit singh towards hindus.




"the Leaders never discriminated, Ranjit Singh ordered the Koh-e-noor to be given to a Hindu Temple, he also outlawed the butching of cows, when cow is not held sacred in the Sikh religion. He gave money to Temples so the religion could progress."



oh! really.well then compare these with what hindus gave sikhs.we never thought u people as different.we always thought u as one of us.but what did u gave in return-terrorism.





"When Hindus were butchered by Sikh terrorists it led to their dimise, i think you forget almost all the Militants were killed off, even the ones that were fighting for the right cause, it led to the formation of Shiv Sena in Punjab, it led to the death of 250,000 Sihks."


they should be killed.what do u expect to do to the terroists.garland them?and what kind of right cause are u talking about.seperate punjab dominated by sikh taliban.




"Why has there been no chief Minister of Punjab? a question has a hindu ran, i am not aware of this? But its funny you compare the Army to the Political culture, to very different things, has there been a Muslim CM of Gujrat??? its the same question."



yes a hindu did ran for chiefministership.but the sikh extremists made such a fuss,that the poor man has to drop the idea.his was given death threats and his relatives kidnapped.now dont say its only a political thing.that says lot about sikh extremists attitude towards hindus.
and yes my friend there has been a muslim chief minister of gujarat,not once but twice.mohd.shearali(1970s) and salim bohra(1980s)




"Now army is a different story, as i said before, Sikh Regiment, the most decorated, has the most battle honors, the most medals, considered the most elite Regiment in the Army, like you said before CHief of army is picked by Merit yet, if this is not enough then i dont know what is."



well coas is picked not on the merit of their regiments but on the individual merits.




"Now one thing you need to understand Ravi is that i am not blamming your everyday Hindu, but the Hindu Nationalists. Why dont you admit that one place where there is suppose to be no discrimination, that being the army, there is, and it is Hindu Nationalism."

harry i also want u to understand that i am not blaming u everybody sikh but sikh extremists.it really puzzles me when u accuse the army of hindunationalism.il tell u a thing.if the army really wants to become a hindu nationalist one,nobody neither the muslims,christians or the sikhs,either inside or outside could stop it.it is to the army's credit that they seperated religion from the services.in the us every new recruit in the three servises has to take a oath on the bible,whether he is a christian or not.but in india we dont have such rules.milatary tradition makes it mandatory not to have long hairs or turbans.but keeping in view of sikh sentiments the three servises exemted u people .





"I provided the fact that the leaders stated they would not let there be a Sikh army Chief of staff,......"


i never saw what u provided.i would love to see that.



"you shouldnt talk for Punjabi Hindus for they love Punjabi Sikhs, the 1984 period they both suffered, and if you did not know Hindus too fought along side Sikhs in the Militant movements,"


what! hindus fought along with sikh terroists.boy i would like to see that.could u please provide a link or book or paper reports or anything.i am really curious.harry i would like u to understand that i am not against sikhs in general.my point is just like u percive alleged discrimation of sikhs by hindus,i also persive discrimination of sikhs towards hindus.

harry,


"I am pretty sure you know about the current SYL ( water-share) situation, what are your views on that."



well i am not an expert on this issue.but il tell what i know. there was Rajiv Gandhi-Longowal accord on the same issue. According to the accord dated July 24, 1985, the Punjab and Haryana Government were to build SYL canal. As a matter of fact more than Rs 650 crore were spent on the project. More than 90 per cent portion of the canal that fell in Haryana was completed but the 10 per cent portion of the canal falling with in Punjab could not be completed as a result canal could not become functional.The dispute is over Haryana's share of the Ravi and Beas river waters and the construction of a 306 km canal from Punjab to Haryana to carry the waters of the Sutlej river to the Yamuna river.


Punjab says the two issues are linked and unless the Ravi-Beas dispute is resolved, it will not complete its end of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.

The Haryana Government approached the apex court by filing an original suit under Article 131 of the Constitution. It was alleged that the river water was being allowed to go to Pakistan by the Punjab Government by not completing the portion of the canal falling with in its jurisdiction.but farmers in punjab have been agitating against the court verdict to complete work on a stalled canal to provide river water to Haryana.the state government has refused to comply with court verdict saying diverting water would compromise the interest of its farmers.Farmers in Punjab form an influential pressure group in the country's granary and have strongly opposed the sharing of the river, saying ground water levels were at an all-time low and diverting anymore water would lead to acute scarcity. Punjab has been delaying the construction work for more than a decade. Most of the 306-kilometre long canal has already been completed. Once fully constructed, it would carry 3.5 maf (million acre feet) Sutlej river waters from Punjab to irrigate Haryana's parched plains in the Yamuna river basin.

The SYL dispute originates in the distribution of rivers in the region.

While Sutlej and Yamuna pass through Punjab, they do not pass through Haryana, which was till sixties a part of Punjab and both formed part of greater Punjab till 1947 when it was partitioned between India and Pakistan.

Haryana sought a court order seeking construction of the canal linking the two rivers to irrigate parts of the state.




now this is my solution.not just for syl dispute but for all water disputes in our country.


water is a prime natural resource, a basic human need and a precious national asset. Planning, development and management of water resources need to be governed by national perspectives. Yet when it comes to implementation of the spirit of this policy, regional and parochial interests take precedence over national interests.

The Cauvery row between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is only one example of a crisis situation being politicised with an eye on the vote bank. The Ravi-Beas sharing of water between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan involving construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal, is another. At a recent meeting — despite a Supreme Court order — the Punjab Chief Minister, Amrinder Singh, simply refused to complete the construction of the SYL canal which will carry water to Haryana, disputing the share of water allocated to Punjab.

There is a view that the situation in punjab was allowed to slide to gain political mileage. The punjab politicians eagerness to face contempt petitions in the Supreme Court may afford them another opportunity to become "a martyr to the people's cause". Otherwise, it is hard to imagine that the State's political leadership — with the unanimous backing of Opposition parties — cannot prevail upon its people to keep peace. After all, it is not as if the water was going to another country, although it must be said here that inter-country treaties on water — even with Pakistan — have worked much better than inter-State agreements.


While States have in the past been cagey about centralisation of water resources — water being a State subject under the Constitution with States having riparian rights over rivers — suddenly, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have demanded nationalisation of river waters. The demand seems to be prompted by the problems each of these States is facing in water sharing with its neighbour and will not bring any short-term relief. In the past, while Tamil Nadu had cautioned against "the tendency to encroach upon the powers of the States", Andhra Pradesh had invoked the Sarkaria Commission recommendations for greater decentralisation during discussions on the Central Guidelines on Inter-State Sharing of Waters. Only Haryana had proposed nationalisation of rivers. Similarly, there was no agreement on the setting up of River Basin Organisations. It is obvious that water-deficit States will seek alternatives rather than face shortages.

While the only immediate solution is for the States to initiate a dialogue on distress sharing, in the long term the Centre has begun to look at the option of linking rivers for equitable distribution. Recently, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) under the Union Ministry of Water Resources made a presentation to the Prime Minister on its proposal for inter-linking rivers. The proposal calls for linking the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers over a 35-year period at an estimated cost of Rs. 50,000 crores. The idea is to transfer water by gravity, build dams for storage, construct canal systems, pump water through lift irrigation and so on.



In fact, after the sharing of the Yamuna waters was worked out between Delhi, Haryana and Punjab during V. C. Shukla's tenure as Union Water Resources Minister, there has been no political settlement of similar issues. Consequently, more issues are being taken to court. The Cauvery issue, the Sardar Sarovar Project and the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal have all been taken to the Supreme Court when the Executive failed to deliver.

Recently, Goa has sought the setting up of a tribunal to resolve the issue of diversion of the Mahadayi waters by Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh has sought a second tribunal for the Upper Krishna Project (Phase II) involving Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The issue of tribunals taking years to decide water-sharing disputes between States also needs attention. To avoid tribunals seeking extension, it is felt that a single tribunal with expertise on water issues could be set up to resolve inter-State disputes.

As another alternative, the Centre is looking at setting up River Boards for regulation or development of an inter-State river or river valley. The Tungabhadra River Board between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, with all its inherent weaknesses, is said to be working well.

There are others who have suggested that the right way to resolve water sharing issues is to focus on watershed development, conservation of rain water and water harvesting.

The important thing is to make optimal use of the existing projects, maintain traditional water harvesting projects, recharge ground water and involve the people at every stage. Formation of water users associations and the success of decentralised projects taken up by NGOs need to be replicated.

States need to take a hard dispassionate look at the demand and supply position of water availability and create awareness among the farmers about the need for diversification to less water-intensive crops.

The services of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute and the Indian Council of Agriculture Research should be commissioned for this.

The problem today is that there are few really independent water resources experts if the numerous ex-Water Resources Secretaries with their bureaucratic, anti-people approach, doubling as "experts" are to be discounted. The need of the hour is to raise an independent team of experts on water resources, weather, agronomy, agriculture, environment and NGOs to go into the entire gamut of what would be the best model of development of water resources for equitable distribution and optimal use.

"I provided the fact that the leaders stated they would not let there be a Sikh army Chief of staff,......"

i never saw what u provided.i would love to see that."

This is the quote taken from Global Security, you can ask any member here to validate the authencity. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/rgt.htm

" When India was partitioned in 1947, the exodus of Muslim troops resulted in the raising of proportion of Sikhs in the army dramatically - to 30 percent. This predominance irked those in the ruling party who inherited the mantle of the Raj. The home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel vowed to cut down the Sikhs’ strength in the army in line with their population. Patel is also believed to have decreed that no Sikh shall be appointed chief of the army staff. There is no denying the fact that, despite five decades of republican democracy, India has had several outstanding Sikh generals but never a be-turbaned chief of army staff. "










"you shouldnt talk for Punjabi Hindus for they love Punjabi Sikhs, the 1984 period they both suffered, and if you did not know Hindus too fought along side Sikhs in the Militant movements,"


what! hindus fought along with sikh terroists.boy i would like to see that.could u please provide a link or book or paper reports or anything.i am really curious.harry i would like u to understand that i am not against sikhs in general.my point is just like u percive alleged discrimation of sikhs by hindus,i also persive discrimination of sikhs towards hindus."

I havent found out anythong online yet, but go rent the movie Hawayein. http://hawayein.indiatimes.com









"When Hindus were butchered by Sikh terrorists it led to their dimise, i think you forget almost all the Militants were killed off, even the ones that were fighting for the right cause, it led to the formation of Shiv Sena in Punjab, it led to the death of 250,000 Sihks."


they should be killed.what do u expect to do to the terroists.garland them?and what kind of right cause are u talking about.seperate punjab dominated by sikh taliban."


Well rofl 250,000 Sikhs were not Terrorits, infact 90% of them were innocent. And its funny how you say they should be killed, yet i have never heard anyone say the same about the 1984 killers. Funny dont you think, they still remain in power.












"the Leaders never discriminated, Ranjit Singh ordered the Koh-e-noor to be given to a Hindu Temple, he also outlawed the butching of cows, when cow is not held sacred in the Sikh religion. He gave money to Temples so the religion could progress."



oh! really.well then compare these with what hindus gave sikhs.we never thought u people as different.we always thought u as one of us.but what did u gave in return-terrorism."

oh really, i might have forgotten but please tell me what has Hinduism given Sikhs, Sikh have given lives upon lives to protect Hinduism, the 9th Guru of Sikhs sacrificed his life for Kashmiri pundits, Ranjit Himself outlawed Cow-Slaughter in Punjab, He himself threatened to invade Sindh if they didnt stop the killings of Hindus.






Funny dont you think, Sikh terrorits were killed, which is a very good thing, yet the Congress leaders that started the riots of 1984 are still in power.
Funny dont you think people like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel hove vowed to let there be no Sikh Chief of Army.
And Funny dont you think that, what hindus have given to Sikhs, a tiny Punjab, it was Punjabi Hindus that stated their langauge being Hindi when infact they did not even speak Hindi, and this led to the division of Punjab, which has still has not been ratified to this day.


Well thats that,


and now to the SYL issue, well technically, if we follow rules according to the Indian constituion, only states that can get the Indus valley water are Punjab and Kashmir, HP, Huryana and Rajastan are all non-ripparian states. But since the terrible usuage of underground water, this has led to severe water Shortage in Punjab, and if things remain the same water-levels of Punjab will drop by 75% by 2050. This will have sheer economic impact on India.


I have a question maybe you know about this cuz i am confused on this, you know how India has planned to link the Ganga and Bhamputra basins, is the Indus Basin included as well, cuz they usually say they want to link all of Indias rivers, but by linking the rivers of the Indus basin wouldnt that void the Indus water basin treaty.

Ravi, look here, Harry is a patriotic Indian, and he along with all Sikhs doesn't support Khalistan. What he is also against though, is the backlash against Khalistan, where innocent people were attacked.
Don't go off name-calling innocent patriotic Sikhs as Khalistan collaborators, India would be in civil war in that case. Harry is defending not the Khalistan movement, but the Sikhs who were killed in the retaliation against Khalistan.

Every part of India has anti-national criminals. Yet, that doesn't give the government the right to target the entire community due to 2 criminals from that community.
Tomorrow, if the Naxals from Andhra killed Manmohan Singh or Abdul Kalam, and then, the government of India started a massive pogrom on Andhras as a whole, how would you feel? You never sympathized with the Naxals anyway, but now, you are being targetted for what a few in your community had done.
Not only that, all the Khalistanists lived in UK and Canada, imagine how you would feel if you were singled out for the crime of those that aren't even citizens of your country.

http://india_resource.tripod.com/hist-2nation.html

"This is the quote taken from Global Security, you can ask any member here to validate the authencity. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/rgt.htm

When India was partitioned in 1947, the exodus of Muslim troops resulted in the raising of proportion of Sikhs in the army dramatically - to 30 percent. This predominance irked those in the ruling party who inherited the mantle of the Raj. The home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel vowed to cut down the Sikhs’ strength in the army in line with their population. Patel is also believed to have decreed that no Sikh shall be appointed chief of the army staff. There is no denying the fact that, despite five decades of republican democracy, India has had several outstanding Sikh generals but never a be-turbaned chief of army staff. "


harry, we dont know who actually wrote that article.there was no name of the author,what are his credentials etc.when we are talking about sensitive issues its better if we are clear on all things.he could be a foreiner who is ignorant about our milatary history.or he could be an foreiner or an indian who simply took it from some of the arm chair writers of their era.even simranjit sing mann,the sikh exteremist who gave a list of demands to the indian govt including the one related to the armed forces never gave this argument to support his things.






"I havent found out anythong online yet, but go rent the movie Hawayein. http://hawayein.indiatimes.com"


my friend i can give tens of movies which give different opinions on the same issue.for example mira nair's "earth-1947" and kamal hassan's "hey ram" give opposite views on the same issue.that does not mean that both are right.film makers have their own pre-conceived opinions.the nature of the film itself is to give their respective opinions.most of the films including indian ones are historically speking incorrect.never give a flim as an evidence to prove ur point.











"Well rofl 250,000 Sikhs were not Terrorits, infact 90% of them were innocent. And its funny how you say they should be killed, yet i have never heard anyone say the same about the 1984 killers. Funny dont you think, they still remain in power."


how can u say that 90 percent of them are innocent.do u have any argument to prove that.having large numbers does not mean that majority of them are innocents.if u go to pakistan then the number of terroists or terrorist symphathisers excced million.that does not mean that maqjority of them are innocent.all 250,000 may not be terrorists,many may be terrorists and the remaining terrorist synphathiseres.but i do agree that there are innocent killed in the cross fire.but to say that 90 percent are innocent is streaching it too far.comom harry i myself heard many times people(all of them hindus) asking death sentaence to all the people involved in 1984.
again the point comes to this.why did the sikhs in the first palce allowed the terrorists to use their sacred places as a sanctuary.and then when the army tries to clean it up,then blame the army.










".....tell me what has Hinduism given Sikhs, Sikh have given lives upon lives to protect Hinduism, the 9th Guru of Sikhs sacrificed his life for Kashmiri pundits, Ranjit Himself outlawed Cow-Slaughter in Punjab, He himself threatened to invade Sindh if they didnt stop the killings of Hindus."


i can give u tons and tons of pages on what hinduism has given to sikhs.but doing that only diverts our topic.as far as sikhs protecting hindus,fair enough.but hindus also protected sikhs on many occasions,in fact more than sikhs protecting hindus.even in now famous 1984,its the hindus who protected the sikhs from the congress goons.
as far as ranjit singh is concerned,its no great thing when u urself discriminate hindus in ur own army and then say that u will do this and that.






"Funny dont you think, Sikh terrorits were killed, which is a very good thing, yet the Congress leaders that started the riots of 1984 are still in power."

funny dont u think that its the sikhs themselves who voted the congress to power and then blame the congress again.




"Funny dont you think people like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel hove vowed to let there be no Sikh Chief of Army."

this is exactly what i am disputing.patel never said that statement.please provide link.with the authors name, of course.not some unknow foreign websites.



"And Funny dont you think that, what hindus have given to Sikhs, a tiny Punjab.....,"

tiny punjam.if hindus were not there u would be like ur counterparts in pakistan where a muslim,an isi general is the head of spgc,where u have ask the govt permission to teach ur culture and religion.i can go on and on.



"it was Punjabi Hindus that stated their langauge being Hindi when infact they did not even speak Hindi, and this led to the division of Punjab, which has still has not been ratified to this day."


if the punjabi hindus wanted hindi as their language,then what the hell is the problem with the sikhs.its like when the hindu nationalists say that sikhism is part of hinduism,then u protest.u say ur different.fair enough.the same is the case with punjabi hindus.they say their language is hindi not punjabi.ok.fine.let them have it.







"I have a question maybe you know about this cuz i am confused on this, you know how India has planned to link the Ganga and Bhamputra basins, is the Indus Basin included as well, cuz they usually say they want to link all of Indias rivers, but by linking the rivers of the Indus basin wouldnt that void the Indus water basin treaty."


thats exactly nand gopal commision is looking at.technically and practically india has the point.but diplomatically pakistan has the advantage.my guss is india will follow the same strtegy with pakistan which it is following towards nepal in the mahakali project.not to be hegemonic but at the same time use it as a pressure tactic.

Well whatever, your stuck on your views and i am stuck on mine,

but bunny you say that the Hindus ask for the death Penatly for the Sikh Militants, well did you know the Human Rights Group in India did a reasearch and stated that there are 52,000 Sikh Political Prisioners in the Indian jails and none have recieved any kind of Trail.( just put this line in google and you will get tons of articles on it), What do you say to that?, and its funny that no one but Sikhs have ever said Sajjan kumar and Jagdish
Tytler should get the death penalty for the 1984 riots, lol, in fact i dont thing anyone has still been Punished, arent you amazed, rofl.

You can also put the like 250,000 Sikh killed, and it will show you who were innocent and who were not, not tell me how mnay Hindus were killed, now belive even if one Hindu was killed, it is a bad thing, but i would like to know your viewpoints for you seem to say that Hindus were a greater victim of this period.


Would you like articles on how Kashmiri Muslims and Sikhs overpowered some Indian Army Soldeirs from burning down a Gurudawara?, would like articles on how Gurudawaras were burned in 1984 by Hindu mods, tell me has a Hindu Temple ever been burnt or demolished by Sikhs?




And about the Army entering the Golden Temple, I dont know if you know but the GOlden in Punjabi is called the Akal Thakt, Thakt meaning a throne, and it is by religous that no foriegn army, other that pretaining to Khalsas can enter the Golden Temple, In India to this day it is Illegal for the Police to enter the Goldern Temple. You do you know what happened to Nadir Shah's Army when they attacked the Golden Temple they were all Killed, so were Ahmed Shah's army. Its a rule that if any forign army enters the Gurudawara every Sikh come to arm to punish them. Now why was Bhindrawale allowed, again i tell you go read speached made by Bhindrawale to see what he was talking about, i have already told you about the 2 militant classes. Bhindrawale was a Khalsa Sikh, and by religious doctrine it was ok for him to be in the Gurudawara, now most Siksh agree that once things esclated Bhindrawale should have left the Golden Temple Complex, it was his fault that is was attacked.

"...... well did you know the Human Rights Group in India did a reasearch and stated that there are 52,000 Sikh Political Prisioners in the Indian jails and none have recieved any kind of Trail."


that does not prove anything harry.for example the cheif of jaish-e- mohammed was not even prosecuted when he was released for the exchange of civilians.but that does not mean he is a innocent.it only that because of the long delay of judicial process in our country,the terrorists are kept in prison for long time so that they are not free and commit crimes again.












".. one but Sikhs have ever said Sajjan kumar and Jagdish
Tytler should get the death penalty for the 1984 riots, lol, in fact i dont thing anyone has still been Punished, arent you amazed, rofl"



harry read the manisfasto of bjp and rss.it may be amazing and suprising also that the only people other than sikhs that are demanding the death sentence to the people responcible of 84 are the so called "hindu nationalists".the left and liberals havent even uttered a single word when both tytler and kumar are given congress tickets.its only the bjp which carried out a silence march before parlimernt house to protest against these decisions.yes,i am amazed that they are not punished.but i am also amazed how some people give intellectual support to the terrorists.and remember that the terrorists who kiled innocent peoiple are also roaming freely.and in abroad how they are openly campaining against india.



"....i would like to know your viewpoints for you seem to say that Hindus were a greater victim of this period."


its not the question who has more suffered.both hindus and sikhs suffered.but what i am objecting is rationalising all the terrorist actions in the name of "supporting right things".for example i can give hundred reasons why the terroists kill people but the fact reamins that what they are doing is absulutely wrong.
if the sikhs have the right to take guns for whatever reason then does not the hindus have the right to take gun and retaliate.then what would it look like? the question is not who suffered more.its about the principles.


"ould you like articles on how Kashmiri Muslims and Sikhs overpowered some Indian Army Soldeirs from burning down a Gurudawara?, would like articles on how Gurudawaras were burned in 1984 by Hindu mods, tell me has a Hindu Temple ever been burnt or demolished by Sikhs?"

according to the official home ministry more than 350 hindu temples are destroyed by the sikh extremists.i am not even mentioning the temples(hundreds of them) destroyed in the rural villages.in the rural areas dominated by sikh extremists,entire hindu populations are forced to flee.i can give u hundreads of personal testimonies.



"it is Illegal for the Police to enter the Goldern Temple. You do you know what happened to Nadir Shah's Army when they attacked the Golden Temple they were all Killed, so were Ahmed Shah's army. Its a rule that if any forign army enters the Gurudawara every Sikh come to arm to punish them."


look i can understand the importance of golden temple to sikhs.but again the same question comes.if itsa so sacred thenm why the hell the sikhs allowed the terrorists to take shelter in that place.not one day not two days but for four years.the army did not directly came and attacked.there was lot of consultations gone into it.first the sikh elders went inside and tried to persuad
the terrorists to surrender.but the terrorists refused.then the govt said that if thjey surrendered then they would be pardoned.again the terrorists refused.then again the sikh elders went inside and tried to appeal religiously saying that the terroristsa re making the palce impure.but the terroristsa begin to justify the action by appealing to the solidarity of all sikhs.it is only after all options failed and three jawans arekilled by the terrorists firing that the army launched operation blue star.



"why was Bhindrawale allowed, again i tell you go read speached made by Bhindrawale to see what he was talking about, i have already told you about the 2 militant classes. Bhindrawale was a Khalsa Sikh, and by religious doctrine it was ok for him to be in the Gurudawara, now most Siksh agree that once things esclated Bhindrawale should have left the Golden Temple Complex, it was his fault that is was attacked."


i am really amazed how ur defending a terrorist like brindanwale.i not only listened to his speaches but also read his books.they are completely hostile to hindu religion and india.he may be a khalsa sikh but he is also an enemy of the state.the law is same for all whether he is a khalsa sikh or who ever it is.

@ harry singh:

you were/are from multan? i didnt know that. are you a decendant of one of those sikhs who migrated to india after the partition?

anwyays, you said that it was also among the muslims a tradition to convert their first born into a sikh. well, not really. my family was from india before the partition. my grandfather was born in soniput india, and i forgot where my other 3 grandparents were born. it has bever been a tradition among the muslims to convert their first borns to sikhs, as otherwise my grandparents would have known of such a tradition. but then again, i may be wrong, and you may be right.

@ ravi,

well all those stories aout hindies and sikhs, and hwat happened to them after the partition are very sad indeed. but it must be remembered that such things also happened to the muslims. many of the people in my family were massacred at the hand of those hindues and muslims, and i have just as much hatred and anger in my hart as you have in yours. my own relatives were slaughtered at the hand of hindues, who tried to forcefully convert them, and when they didnt agree, their throats were sliced.

my grandparents have witnessed such horific incidenst, where whole train loads of muslims going to pakistan were slaughtered. that is why today, pronbably the people who have the most love for pakistan are not those who were born there, but those who grew up in india, and came to pakistan.

and unlike what was shown in bollywood movies, where i remember in one specific movie where they tried tyo show that all mohajirs are treated as second grade citizens, well thats not true. after the partition the mohajirs were helped by the local population and the government alot. their needs were priorities of the government.

@ bharat rakshak,


"Harry, don't worry, justice will be served to all.
Ravi, don't worry, I will personally make sure that justice is served to Pakistan and Pakistanis. What bloodshed they did to establish their fake nation. What a brutal inhuman idea to have a Partition. It was practically ethnic cleansing, all Hindus and Sikhs killed.
Funny thing, people look at India and Pakistan from a "neutral" prism, whereas Pakistan shouldn't even deserve this "neutral" prism, because they have been barbaric, in the secular India, Muslims had the choice in most of the place."

what justice do you speak of? why not try and serve justuce to those millions of muslims who were also massacred in india? but then again, you are too full of your govewrnmental propagandas to look at the things as it is in reality. you still belive that nothing like this happend to the muslims in idnia after the partition. the truth is that you live in this imaginary world where all the good is india and all evil is pakistan. if you want to serve justice, try and sere it two ways. try and also bring hose hindue fanatics who sluaghtered a large part of my grandparents family. try and re-imburse my family for all their property that was burned to the ground by your, all good and secular, hindu and sikhs. so dont speak of justcice, especially not someone as narrow minded and full of propaganda as you.

You fool, have you heard of the Bilkis Bano case and Best Bakery case. Kindly read the frontpage of a newspaper before rambling out about Muslims being discriminated against in India.

http://india_resource.tripod.com/hist-2nation.html

hey bharat, enough with trying to convince pakistanis that pakistan is not a legimitate nation. enough with giving the same link over and over again. i have given my arguments on this topic, and have no appetite for arguing on the reason pakistan was created.

get it in your mind: PAKISTAN'S AND ITS PEOPLE'S ANSWER TO A UNITED INDIA IS NO. we dont want to unite with india. we want to be a different nation, and will always remain independent. thank you very much, but no thanks.


now, what about what. were the hindus and sikhs who kiled the muslims goin to pakistan brought to justice. i dont think so. so dont go on shouting about justice. justice will only be done once those hindus and sikhs who massacred so many muslims after partition are brought to justice, and vice versa. if not, and you still talk aout only pakistani muslims who massacred hindus ansikhs as the only criminals, than you do not a a right to talk about justice and history.

Extremo just like all Hindus didnt convert there firts son to Sikhs, Muslims did not either, it were only some tribes of the Punjab that did. And out of the 10 Million people that were displaced during Partition 2 million were Sikhs that migrated to India, that was the half the Sikhs population in the world at that time. My ancestory is actually more close to Lahore and Sialkot.