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Khālistān (East Punjabi: ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ), official title Sikh Republic of Khalistan, was the name given by Jagjit Singh Chauhan, to a proposed nation-state based on theocratic principles.[1]. . It was instigated by a few Sikh leaders who believed they, like Muslims of Pakistan, Sikhs too should get a new state. The Sikhs had an independent state with Lahore as the capital until 1849 until it invaded British territory and was therefore conquered. Under the Treaty of Amritsar the state was to restored to the Sikhs once Duleep Singh attained the age of 21. [2]
'''Khālistān''' (East {{lang-pa|ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ}}), official title '''Sikh Republic of Khalistan''', was the name given by [[Jagjit Singh Chauhan]], to a proposed nation-state based on theocratic principles.<ref>[http://www.khalistan.net/Map_of_Khalistan.html Website of Paramjit S. Ajrawat]</ref>. . It was instigated by a few Sikh leaders who believed they, like Muslims of [[Pakistan]], [[Sikhs]] too should get a new state. The Sikhs had an independent state with Lahore as the capital until 1849 until it invaded British territory and was therefore conquered. Under the Treaty of Amritsar the state was to restored to the Sikhs once Duleep Singh attained the age of 21. <ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2242/is_1618_277/ai_68157986</ref>


Since some separatist Sikh leaders only claim territory that is part of India while ignoring the fact that Lahore (which is now in Pakistan) was the capital of the independent state and also do not claim any territory in Punjab province of Pakistan that houses some well known sikh religious shrines, it is seen as anti-india movement by other sikh leaders who claim an Independent Khalistan should also include territory that is part of the Punjab province in Pakistan along with Lahore as its Capital.
Since some separatist Sikh leaders only claim territory that is part of India while ignoring the fact that Lahore (which is now in Pakistan) was the capital of the independent state and also do not claim any territory in Punjab province of Pakistan that houses some well known sikh religious shrines, it is seen as anti-india movement by other sikh leaders who claim an Independent Khalistan should also include territory that is part of the Punjab province in Pakistan along with [[Lahore]] as its Capital.


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 19:15, 16 March 2008

Sikh Republic of Khalistan
Flag of Khalistan
Flag
Anthem: Deh Shiva Bar Mohe
Official languagesPunjabi and English[citation needed]

Khālistān (East Punjabi: ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ), official title Sikh Republic of Khalistan, was the name given by Jagjit Singh Chauhan, to a proposed nation-state based on theocratic principles.[1]. . It was instigated by a few Sikh leaders who believed they, like Muslims of Pakistan, Sikhs too should get a new state. The Sikhs had an independent state with Lahore as the capital until 1849 until it invaded British territory and was therefore conquered. Under the Treaty of Amritsar the state was to restored to the Sikhs once Duleep Singh attained the age of 21. [2]

Since some separatist Sikh leaders only claim territory that is part of India while ignoring the fact that Lahore (which is now in Pakistan) was the capital of the independent state and also do not claim any territory in Punjab province of Pakistan that houses some well known sikh religious shrines, it is seen as anti-india movement by other sikh leaders who claim an Independent Khalistan should also include territory that is part of the Punjab province in Pakistan along with Lahore as its Capital.

History

Main article: Khalistan movement


In 1971 Jagjit Singh Chauhan, the founder of the movement, visited Pakistan to attempt to set-up a Sikh government. He then visited USA at the invitation of his political supporters. On Oct 13, 1971, he placed an advertisement in the New York Times proclaiming an Independent Sikh state.

Supported by the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence[3][4] agency,the movement reached its peak during mid 1980s under Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. It then slowly ebbed out, primarily due to the loss of popular support. The movement also hindered economic investment, became increasingly militant, and threw Punjab into a state of anarchy with increased levels of terrorism. The movement was also countered by stern and often ruthless counter-terrorism operations conducted by the Indian Army and the Punjab Police led by KPS Gill which caused the deaths of many innocent people[5].

File:Khalistanollars.jpg
Proposed 'Khalistani' Currency

After the bombing of Air India Flight 182 that claimed the lives of 329 Canadian civilians over the Irish Sea (the worst aviation terrorist attack before September 11), support for Khalistan lessened to a large extent[6][7]. Two of the accused in the case, the Sikh separatists Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri were found not guilty for lack of admissable evidence and released, while a third accused Inderjit Singh Reyat was sentenced to ten years after pleading guilty.[8] [9][10]

Geography

According to the Khalistan web-site:

The geographical boundaries of Khalistan will include current East Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pardesh, part of Rajasthan and small part of Uttar Pardesh. River Ravi on the west and river Jamuna on the east will be some of the boundary lines between Khalistan & Pakistan, Khalistan & India respectively. In the north, part of Himalayan range and in south, part of Thar Deset will make the geographical boundaries of Khalistan. (Source: http://www.khalistan.net)

This would make the proposed region Hindu majority [11]. Paramjit Singh Ajrawat states that Khalistan will be a theocratic state with Sikh ethos and ecumenical principles will make some of the fundamentals of Khalistan's constitution. During the dusturbances in 1988, thousands of Hindus had fled Punjab[12] when more than 50 of them were killed by Sikh militants.

References

  1. ^ Website of Paramjit S. Ajrawat
  2. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2242/is_1618_277/ai_68157986
  3. ^ Jaffrelot, Christophe (2004). A History Of Pakistan And Its Origins. Anthem South Asian Studies. Anthem Press. p. 127. ISBN 978-1843311492.
  4. ^ Shah, Mehtab Ali (1997). The Foreign Policy of Pakistan: Ethnic Impacts on Diplomacy, 1971-1994. I.B.Tauris. p. 23. ISBN 978-1860641695.
  5. ^ Human Rights Watch; Time for India to Deliver Justice in Punjab]
  6. ^ Another book written by acclaimed investigative journalist Salim Jiwa titled 'Margin of Terror': A Reporter's Twenty-Year Odyssey Covering The Tragedies of the Air India Bombing, gives an eye-witness account of the terrorist bombing of Flight 182 and appears to be more in line with the findings of Canadian Law Enforecement.
  7. ^ Salim Jiwa, Donald J Hauka (2006). 'Margin of Terror (book). Key Porter Books. p. 288. ISBN 1552637727. {{cite book}}: Text "Margin of Terror - A Reporter's Twenty-Year Odyssey Covering The Tragedies of the Air India Bombing'" ignored (help)
  8. ^ Sentencing Inderjit Singh Reyat
  9. ^ In 1989 Canadian journalists Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew in their book Soft Target propounded a conspiracy theory that the Government of India could have staged the attack to portray the separatists in bad light. This book was later viewed by the official Commission of Inquiry in Canada as a work of fiction based on the events surrouding Flight 182 especially after the plead of guilt by Inderjit Singh Reyat
  10. ^ Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182 TERRORISM, INTELLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT – CANADA’S RESPONSE TO SIKH TERRORISM http://www.majorcomm.ca/documents/dossier2_ENG.pdf DOSSIER 2)
  11. ^ A Demographic Case Study of Forced Migration:The 1947 Partition of India Authors: Hill K, Seltzer W, Leaning J , Malik SJ, Russell SS4, Makinson C, http://paa2004.princeton.edu/download.asp?submissionId=41274
  12. ^ Thousands of Hindu Workers Flee Punjab as Sikhs Step Up Violence NEW YORK TIMES Published: May 24, 1988 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE1DD1E3FF937A15756C0A96E948260

Sources

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