Operation Bluestar: From the pedestal to pedestrian heap... FROM A NOT TO BE PUBLISHED PIECE ON ARMY ASSAULT ON HARMANDAR SAHIB , THE NEED FOR A CLOSURE AND SELECTIVE INTERPRETATIONS OF JUST AND HONOURABLE PEACE (These are just two extracts from a larger piece, not meant for newspapers . This privides a just a partial perspective on an inclusive approach to the issue. Will post more extracts tomorrow to provide a balanced perspective.. ) ....... The kaleidoscopic shifting of social and political images and interpretations of Operation Bluestar, this most talked about event in independent India, reflects the widespread national confusion on the handling of the Punjab problem by Mrs Indira Gandhi. From the high pedestal of being described “a proud moment for national unity and integrity and a most patriotic, brave and militarily neat operation”, the army assault on Harmandar Sahib has slipped miserably to be counted, even by the country’s elite army generals, as strategically a blunder, militarily an operational disaster, politically unscrupulous, foolish and untenable.” Most of these Generals and other strategic and political experts are non-Sikhs. Here is an opportunity for social scientists and policy makers alike. There is need to convince the Sikh community that it is not alone in seeing the army assault as a tragic blunder and the significant and responsible non-Sikh voices share their pain and their view. Here is what could well turn out to be a historic opportunity for the final social reconciliation. An appreciation that the Sikh wounds relate more to the martyrdom of the “spiritual dome” and damage ot the holiest of the Holy Sri Harmandar Sahib than to the painful and bloody battle between armed militants and the armed forces may eventually lead to a saner appreciation of the sacredness of the Sikh wounds. And that could well just be the desperately needed breakthrough for a closure .
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:56:52 +0000
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