We, your fellow volunteers, have taken it upon ourselves to enlighten the world about the events of 1984. We are focused on uniting all the branches within our community and promoting an awareness of the human rights abuses that afflicted innocent Sikhs at the time. “This is our history. How can we preserve it? How can we share it with the rest of the world?” “Why is it that the world knows all about the Nazi Holocaust, but no one knows about the massacre of innocent Sikhs in 1984? Is it because the Jews have made an effort to tell everyone?” We, as the next generation have to promise each other, that we will keep this passion of justice alive and never forget it. If we forget 1984, it will be a crime hidden within itself.

As the Vatican is central to Roman Catholics, Mecca to Muslims, Harmandar Sahib is a central gathering place for the Sikhs. Akal Takht Sahib, the building that faces the Harmandar Sahib, is the parliament of the Sikhs. In 1984, both were attacked along with dozens of other Sikh temples across Punjab. Even though the Sikh community rebuilt the Akal Takht the scars still remain within our community. The only thing that saved the Sikh religion during and after the attacks was the guiding light, the scripture enlightener, Guru Granth Sahib. So long as the Sikhs are connected to the Guru, no one can destroy them; but if we are separated from the Guru, we loose. Remember: the enemy can only win if we leave our Guru. In unity lies our strength. We are committing to keeping these memories alive and never forgetting them, as they are of the utmost significance for the future and history of the Sikh community.

June 5, 1984. News of the attack on the Holiest shrine of Sikhs the Durbar Sahib of Amritsar, popularly known as the Golden Temple stunned the world. What would drive the Indian army to attack a place of worship? “The army went into Durbar Sahib not to eliminate a political figure or a political movement but to suppress the culture of a people to attack their hearts, and to strike a blow to their spirit and self confidence.” – Joyce Pettigrew

Innocent people were killed during and after the attack including women and children, and throughout the Punjab and India, Sikh shrines were set ablaze, their congregations slaughtered, and in many cases burned alive

Sikhs around the globe were hit hard, regardless of the degree of their religious observance or interest in the politics of Indian government. After nearly two decades, the wounds are still fresh for those who have been affected by this tragedy. Let us not let their voices be lost to pages of history. The most important center of the fifth largest religion in the world had been attacked, and how adeptly they had managed to plan it: barring the international press and human rights groups from the province in advance of the assault, concealing the enormity of it, and later trying to justify it

The intentions of the so-called “Operation Blue Star” were clear as crystal to me, even 25 years later. It was meant to create the semblance of national unity by creating a national enemy. Under the ruse of preserving the “integrity of India”, was a pretext to consolidate political power by launching a war against this enemy. In laymen’s terms you create fear in the average person by creating an enemy, and protecting them against it.

Last year, for the first time, the so-called moderate and fundamentalist members of the community and all Sikh organizations in BC came together as one to remember the genocide of 1984. This year a lot of preparations have been made to organize yet another successful event. Please come out on the evening of June 6th at the Vancouver Art Gallery 750 Hornby Street. There will also be other events leading up to the evening of June 6th for a full schedule please visit www.84humanrights.org. For any questions or inquiries, email: info@84humanrights.org

PLEASE JOIN US:

Main Event:

CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL MEMORIAL :: Lest We Forget :: 1984

Vancouver Art Gallery
Map & Directions
Transportation and food provided. Please contact your local Sikh temple for free transportation.

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki fatheh!