While it is a great idea to celebrate the birthday of Patel, the architect of India, who was thus far politically ignored, the other significance of this day cannot, and should not be ignored. 31st October 1984 is also the day riots erupted against the Sikh community. If Patel is the architect of the modern Indian state, the Sikh is the most recognised symbol of it. The Sikh presence in the field of economics, science, literature, music and industry is far out of the proportion than their 1.5% demographic, but before 1984, their contribution in the armed forces, sports and agriculture was beyond ordinary. They formed a large majority in these fields, contributing so massively, that the stereotype of an Indian in Hollywood movies became a large turbaned guy with a fierce expression (James Bonds Octopussy comes to mind immediately). All that changed after 1984. Sikh contribution to armed forces dwindled, but still remains way out proportion for their small population. Sikh migration to MP, Tehri and Rajasthan regions that had created a sea of green and yellow in places that had only seen the brown of sand and rock dwindled too. Hardy Punjabi farmers instead began migrating to California, Canada, Australia, and even South America and Georgia in the Caucus, where they worked their magic with the lakhs of hectares of farmland they bought. The Sikh loss of confidence is Indias loss, and we are poorer without it. Can the sacrifices that the Sikhs made for this country be forgotten so easily? If the BJP claims to be a nationalist party, the claim cannot be complete without keeping the interests of the very community that was formed to protect the dignity of ancient Indian culture in the first place. Justice for Sikhs. Justice for 1984.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:02:35 +0000
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