1984 Remembered: Cartoonist Draws on 25 Years of Impunity after Sikh Massacre
By Jaisal NoorNovember 24, 2009 | Posted in IndyBlog , Jaisal Noor | Email this article
In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms in Northern India, Sikh-American cartoonist Vishavjit Singh has created an exhibit titled, “When A Big Tree Falls.” The exhibit consists of 23 cartoons, including 19 that have never before been displayed. Singh is the founder of the popular political cartoon website www.sikhtoons.com.
It is commonly known that the October 1984 assassination of Prime Minster Indira Gandhi came at the hands of her own Sikh bodyguards. The exhibition deals with the less well known aftermath. Gandhi’s assassination sparked four days of ethnic cleansing, with Sikhs and their identifiable turbans and long hair becoming easy targets for retaliation. That members of my family survived to tell the tale is likely the only reason I am aware this ever took place. Amnesty International calls the episode, “A national disgrace,” referring to the Indian police who orchestrated much of the killings and authorities who did nothing to stop them.
At least 3,000 were killed in Delhi alone, with countless of thousands more injured and raped. The assassination of the Prime Minister came admist alleged human rights abuses and violence between separatist Sikh movements and the Indian Army. In June of that year, “Operation Bluestar”, was launched on the Golden Temple, Sikhism most important religious site . Thousands were slaughtered, including many civilians .
Its personal for Singh too. His family had made Delhi their home, and were saved only by a combination of courageous intervention on the part of Hindu neighbors and his family living in a government-owned housing complex. Through drawings and text, his cartoons weave a powerful narrative of the massacre, a rigged Indian justice system and a silent and complicit Indian media. Not even the appointment of the first Sikh Prime Minster is enough to turn the wheels of justice. As the exhibit caricatures, after offering an official apology to the Sikh community, the current Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a Sikh audience its time for the Sikh community to, “Move on.”
The artist titled the exhibit, “When A Big Tree Falls,” after the first half of quote spoken by Rajiv Gandhi, in the immediate aftermath of the massacre. Rajiv was Indira’s son and was sworn in as Prime Minister after his mother’s death. The quote continues, “The Earth shakes a little.” And despite the killings, Rajiv’s Congress Party won a record-setting landslide victory in elections held in the same year.
So far, the Indian government has launched ten investigations, resulting in only 25 convictions. Human Rights Watch notes that, “No senior government officials or politicians have been prosecuted despite evidence of their roles in the atrocities.” The events and aftermath are inseparable from my identity. However for most Americans, and perhaps many in the Sikh Diaspora, the only death of note in 1984 in India was that of Indira Gandhi’s. Singh offers an insightful and creative way to remember those who were not as fortunate to survive.
Sikhtoons exhibit runs through Nov 28th at New Century Artists Gallery at 530 West 25th St (between 10th and 11th ave.) For details visit http://www.sikhtoons.com/nycexhibit.html
15 Responses to “1984 Remembered: Cartoonist Draws on 25 Years of Impunity after Sikh Massacre”
November 24th, 2009 at 9:19 am
As a Sikh who grew up in America, I found the Sikhtoon compelling. Right now we still face the 9/11 backlash of mistaken identity. If it were not the efforts of Vishvajit and other Sikhs, we would forget the more startling danger of the past. Some wounds cannot be healed over time, especially for Sikhs who have been the victims in India. I appreciated the chronological timeline of the art pieces, which carried the motion of the events seamlessly. The art was more potent without being an artifact. Some atrocities are too grand to be expressed in words; some photographic images are too haunting and overwhelm us with emotions that we cannot truly comprehend them. The toons were the perfect medium to express the horror of 1984. One such piece was of a timeline scale of Indra Gandhi’s assignation. It illustrated how the mourning stretched to a monument. Everything beneath and associated with it were crushed.
Vishavjit’s imagination expressed how a Sikh truly feels and his creative creations give the Americans, both Sikh and non Sikhs, an impassioned perspective. Often in India, most Bollywood movies make fools and caricatures of Sikhs. It was great to see the toons reduced the true villains to absurdity. I feel Vishvajit, one of the very few Sikhs, understands the true nature of art and the power it can yield. The atrocities of 1984 demands recognition and this kind of an exhibition not only sheds light but also breathes life to the voices of the victims.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Indian Army’s attack, and destruction of Akal Takht
(highest seat of ‘authority’ among Sikhs) —
part of Sikhs’ holiest shrine, the ‘Golden Temple’ –
enraged the community so much that
cries and slogans like ‘Indira Gandhi Murda-Bad’, (wishing death to her}
were loud and common in Sikh protest demonstrations all over the world
It was commonly believed that
some Sikh was going to kill her. sooner or later.
Anticipating that, the goons among Congress party leaders, in Delhi and Haryana,,
made plans for such a retaliation that Sikhs would remember for all times to come.
Soon after Mrs Gandhi’s assassination, on October 31,
pre planned pogrom was put into practice
and thousands of Sikh men, women and children were massacred.
True, the Sikhs would remember this for all times to come — come November 1, its
anniversary would kindle a fresh wave of anger — especially because the known culprit leaders
have gone without punishment.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Like November 1 last, demands would be made, loudly, on every anniversary , for justice, till
culprits are punished, and victim families are fully rehabilitated.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Action against the 1984 Riot Accused Would Be Speeded Up- Chidambaram
ONLY WORDS
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091216/jsp/opinion/story_11866489.jsp
The 1984 Massacre of Sikhs
The Guilty Of Engineering and Abetting the 1984 Massacre of Sikhs Be Prosecuted After the Investigation in the Pending Cases
Was the then entire government machinery not to be held responsible and guilty of engineering and abetting the 1984 massacre of Sikhs, the State- Sponsored Violence against Sikhs and be prosecuted under section 120-B of IPC etc after the investigation in the pending cases?
Or
Are all the criminals responsible for the `genocide of Sikhs’ or the `State-Sponsored Violence’ against Sikhs not be allowed to take the plea in defence of the then PM (Rajiv Gandhi) who almost rationalized the killing,”?
Or
Was the then PM Rajiv Gandhi not the main accused for the `genocide of Sikhs’ or the `State-Sponsored Violence’ against Sikhs?
Or
Whether in case, the main accused (Rajiv Gandhi) stands killed by a ‘Human Bomb’, the other co-accused, who remained the part and parcel of the then entire government machinery, responsible for the `genocide of Sikhs’ or the `State-Sponsored Violence’ against Sikhs, were exempted in the investigation or can not be prosecuted after the investigation in the pending cases, now?
Because, the justice is being denied, intentionally and deliberately, as experienced, then, under the circumstances, every possibility could to be seen as impossibility in India.
An Opinion by:
Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana
www.sikhvicharmanch.com
http://newsblaze.asterpix.com/cy/2423251/?q=Sikh+Vichar+Manch&c=59522a18e9f211de938a0019b9c9a7e6
December 18th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Whether Shiromani Akali Dal has ever decided to launch Gurdwaras Reform Movement again?
Whether Shiromani Akali Dal organized on December 14, 1920 at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib has ever decided to launch Gurdwaras Reform Movement again, to play the important role in the social, political and religious life of the Sikhs as well as of the Punjabis or has it been abandoned?
Did Shiromani Akali Dal celebrated the day and other similar days in the Sikh History being reminded, now and then, and taken the oath on December 14, 2009 at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib to do so?
Today in the Sikh History
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/21767/143/
(2)
Ludhiana firing victim’s son to join Punjab Police
News: Impact of the comment! Were they all not in field, to divide Sikhs for the political reasons with the support of the central agencies?
Clash makes Panthic bodies close ranks
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/clash-makes-panthic-bodies-close-ranks/555243/
Punjab Police attack Sikhs in Punjab
http://sikhsangat.org/2009/12/punjab-police-attacks-sikhs-in-punjab/#comment-2269
Impact! Were they all not in field, to divide Sikhs for the political reasons with the help of the agencies?
Who are not with the government?
They may say or claim that they are with the centre or state, politically one and the same thing? Were they all, former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, president of SAD( Amritsar), Simranjeet Singh Mann, president of Delhi Sikh Gurdawara Management committee, Paramjit Singh Sarna, Damdami Taksal head, Baba Harnam Singh Dhuma, Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwala, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib of Dal Khalsa and Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi of Sant Samaj etc, not in field, to divide Sikhs for the political reasons with the support of the agencies and always politically and financially benefited directly or indirectly so?
Gurpreet Singh son of Darshan Singh rightly accepted the government job in police, and thereby, gave a strong message to the opportunists that such death would never be cashed by anyone mischievously.
And, now, in return, in the present situation, the leaders of the various organizations may withdraw their announced financial assistance.
Earlier Comment by
Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana
www.sikhvicharmanch.com
http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com/Punjabi/Dharam%20ate%20rajniti-Sikh%20Katleam%20Chaurasi%20de%20doshian.htm
December 19th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Justice T S Doabia (retired) Said He Would Conduct His Enquiry in Ludhiana Police Firing at Delhi Itself
Why the demand of Judicial inquiry only in Ludhiana? What about the probe in the Politics of Injustice like in the issues of the Politics of Poverty and the Idleness in India, as was the investigation also lingering on in the 1984 Massacre of Sikhs.
Did ever similarly asked by DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna etc to Justice T S Doabia (retired) or to any other panel to probe into the guilty of engineering and abetting the 1984 massacre of Sikhs, the State- Sponsored Violence against Sikhs, and yet, are required to be conducted and the accused have to be prosecuted under section 120-B of IPC etc along with the pending cases?
Arenât the demand and the Ludhiana police firing inquiry the part of Indian dirty politics and eyewash?
By Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana
December 20, 2009
December 21st, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Punjabi Tribune, Chandigarh Punjab Tuesday, 22 December 2009 Page-3
Police and Civil Administration Responsible For Ludhiana Incidents
Tribune News Service, Chandigarh, 21 December 2009
A Report prepared by the Team of Professors of Universities arrived from New-Delhi
The following questions are required to be answered in the larger interest:
1. When the migrant labourers had been out of control, then, only the police, not in sufficient strength available on the spot, and the civil administration took the help of locals irrespective of any party, group, or sect etc to control them violently?
2. Was the violence avoidable or did it happen purely due to mismanagement and the law and order problem?
3. Under the circumstances, whether the violence between the locals and the migrants were of different nature than as usually arranged or incited by the politicians for the political reasons in other parts of India like the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat and the Sikhs massacre in 1984 etc in India?
4. Whether the report distinguishes the facts clearly or not?
In absence of the answers to the questions, the report could prove a disastrous for the peace loving and law abiding Indians.
Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana
December 22, 2009
December 26th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Identify The Sikhs, Who Is Who?
By Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana
It was very positive and the encouraging step for Sikhs that âPanj Piarasâ comprising former Jathedars of Takhts and granthis, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Giani Kewal Singh, Prof Manjit Singh, Giani Charan Singh and Giani Narinder Singh submit Darshan Singhâs clarification on his controversial remarks to Jathedar, Akal Takht, Giani Gurbachan Singh on 25 December 2009 to avoid any friction in and or division of Sikhs and for the permanent solution of the issues of the community which must be sorted out by forming a religious panel.
Whoever was participating in burning effigies etc due to factionalism and divides Sikhs, was worthy to be called a Sikh?
Was it not the behaviour of all politically motivated Sikhs, divided on the lines of factionalism within Sikhs at the instance of anti-Sikh forces or of their own reasons?
Were the only non-party and the non-politically motivated Sikhs not true Sikhs now?
Identify the Sikhs, who is who? Also read, the Sikh Vichar Manchâs an analysis about âThe Political Conferences at Shaheedi Sammelanâ as under:
The Political Conferences at Shaheedi Sammelan -An Analysis
FATEHGARH SAHIB: The Sikh Vichar Manch was of the view after assessing and analyzing the political conferences at Shaheedi sammelan on the historic occasion of 305th martyrdom day that the congress or any other party through the central agencies shall not play to field and use seriously their spineless and non-poisonous snakes, so-called Panthic leaders against the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Badals in the coming Shiromani Gurdawara Parbhanbdak Committee (SGPC) elections.
There is possibility of mutual internal adjustment i.e. friendly match with âPanthic leadersâ on a few seats to project the image that the SGPC elections held in a very healthy atmosphere and is the result of mature democratic process.
The government of India stands exposed badly for adopting mean and deceptive tactics also in religious matters and for the reasons, neither seems in a mood to vitiate the religious atmosphere nor would be now appreciated as a vitiator in Punjab.
Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana-Sikh Vichar Manch
Dec 25, 2009 9:01 AM
www.sikhvicharmanch.com
Who Knows Who Is Who? What an Indian Politics?
http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com/Religiou%20Politics-Who%20is.htm
January 14th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
NEW RELIGIOUS APPROACH:
Hate Speech Can Be Countered with Truth, Leadership
Promoting Respect for Religious Differences
Freedoms of Religion and Speech Are Indivisible, Interdependent
Free Speech Must Be Balanced Against the Rights of Others
Feature: Protecting Religious Freedom Without Limiting Free Speech
Uncomfortable Free Speech Part of Religious Freedom
THE ARTICLES-PROTECTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WITHOUT LIMITING FREE SPEECH
The spirit of the articles-The articles seem written, are idealistic in nature, sacrificing the line of religious conservatism, fundamentalism, ignorance in order to enhance the mutual understanding for peaceful living with religious freedom of free speech without coercing opponents to change or convert, hurting the individual and the collective sentiments of human beings, provided they made to understand the expressions of the articles in right spirit to practice the terminology in reality as positively appears from the titles of articles on the first look itself.
Comments by Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana-Sikh Vichar Manch
January 16th, 2010 at 3:08 am
For the, who believe in the pre-ordained order of the Lord of will
POEMS IN PANJABI
http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com/Poetry-End.htm
End and Pre-In Print to Happen
(For the, who believe in the pre-ordained order of the Lord of will)
PRE- DECIDED TO HAPPEN
(For the, who believe to resolve themselves)
By Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana-Sikh Vichar Manch
January 19th, 2010 at 11:48 am
SC rejects plea for separate religious identity for Sikhs
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/SC-rejects-plea-for-separate-religious-identity-for-Sikhs/569032
Comment:
Subject: It is always proper to exhaust administrative course first for administrative action before approaching the courts.
Whether the petition was filed for amendment to Article 25 of the Constitution challenging its validity for implementing the recommendation of a commission to delink Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism from the Hindu Marriage Act or only for the correction of procedural mistake on the ground that Sikh community which is issued birth certificates under the Hindu law faces an uphill task to explain to the immigration authorities across the globe that the community is different from the Hindus?
Without going through the full text of the judgment, commenting vaguely shall not be fully justified.
As it appears from the remarks of the Supreme Court, âit could not entertain the subject as it had to be looked into by an appropriate authority in the governmentâ, it seems, the matter is involved of correction of procedural mistake, left at the discretion of the authority, not specified.
It is always proper to exhaust administrative course first for administrative action before approaching the courts.
Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana
January 19, 2010
www.sikhvicharmanch.com
January 24th, 2010 at 3:19 am
Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale was captured alive by Indian Army and was killed latter
The International peace loving Human Rights Organizations and the world communities to get the Rule of Law implemented must intervene for justice in this case.
Were the Martyr and the Victim Theories Taught and Given by “Some Powers” to Publish?
The Khalra Mission Organization (KMO) was legally right in the larger interest to get registered FIR that Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale was captured alive by Indian Army and was killed latter and KMO also obtained and produced the Post Mortem report of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale to further corroborate the story of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale captured alive and was killed latter.
Who taught to draw a line between Martyr and Victim to stress ridiculously that the demanding and inquiry or ‘justice’ for him is fundamentally incorrect and for rejecting all claims that Sant was captured alive by Indian Army and was killed latter?
The story titled as,” Former RAW officials claim regarding death of Sant Bhindranwale contested by eye-witness” was purely a planted story by projecting so-called eye-witness as usual, was the practice at the instance of “Some powers” in such cases to hush up the case and the FIR filed by ‘the Khalra Mission Organization (KMO)’ at Amritsar.
The International peace loving Human Rights Organizations and the world communities to get the Rule of Law implemented must intervene for justice in this case.
Submission by
Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana
January 24, 2010
www.sikhvicharmanch.com
Refer to read in detail:Thanks
Former RAW officials claim regarding death of Sant Bhindranwale …
February 6th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
NSA must have few executive tasks: Chidambaram
In the Context of News above:
Internal security should come under political oversight: PC
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/internal-security-should-come-under-political-oversight-pc/576455/
“The only way that I could know what is going on, what happened and what did not happen, was to exercise political oversight over every agency that is concerned with security”.
Summary
“Some organisations are acting at the behest of central agencies and have been spewing venom against the SGPC and the Sikh high priests. ………..” said SGPC Chief.
Thereby, he is made to send a message, intended only propaganda that Indian states take independent decisions?
Otherwise, it was an open reality to the knowledge of all concerned that ‘Let’s talk, India tells Pak -Proposes foreign secretary-level dialogue; Islamabad nod awaited’ is only a cover up and an eye wash, actually the talks being held between the top ISI official of Pakistan and the top intelligence official of India, responsible for terrorism and the policy decision making respectively.
Soon, the talks will be held out of Pakistan and India, under the supervision of some responsible world power matter, apparently US.
Would there be any further chance to doubt or misconception for the Indians and the outside world to live in darkness about meaningful “Some Powers” in the so violently and politically united India?
February 6, 2010
www.sikhvicharmanch.com
February 18th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
The wisest, but a Very Painful Reaction of a Lady - Sikh Massacre 1984
Sometimes sufferings and mental pains make a person more wiser than the intellectuals, the politicians, the social and human rights activists shedding crocodile tears, announcing for rewarding, paying the compensation, punishing the guilty etc at the instance of the Indian cruel “Some Powers”
Similar was the wisest, but a very painful reaction of a lady, gone through the untold sufferings and mental pains for 25 years after Sikh Massacre-1984:
Sikh victims’s kin seek strong punishment for Sajjan Kumar
One of the victims of Sikh Massacre as a common lady on TV was rightly reacting to the Sajjan Kumar’s drama see: Sajjan Kumar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and said, it is only a show and publicity stunt like the Dramas ended of H.K. L. Bhagat see: H. K. L. Bhagat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Jagdish Tytler see: Jagdish Tytler - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Balbir Singh Sooch, Advocate, Ludhiana
February 18, 2010
November 24th, 2009 at 1:25 am
What is the role of “some powers” in the unitary form of Indian system???
Can any CM in India order the probe or do the justice against the wishes of “some powers”?
Farooq stirs massacre ghost
Union minister Farooq Abdullah today created a flutter by claiming that “some powers” had prevented him from probing the massacre of 35 Sikhs at Chattisinghpora in 2000 on the eve of Bill Clinton’s visit to India.
‘Some powers didn’t want Chattisinghpora investigated’
Guru Tegh Bahadar And The Perfect Human Being
http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com/Religiou%20Politics-Guru%20Tegh%20Bahadar%20And%20The%20Perfect%20Human%20Being.htm