Operation Blue Star in the History of India: 40 Years Later

Development of the Punjab crisis by the early 1980s along with separatist activities aimed at the secession of Punjab and establishment of an independent Khalistan state in the North-West of India prompted the central government headed by Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) to go to the length of sanctioning an army operation codenamed Blue Star in early June 1984. Its aim was to remove the militants headed by charismatic Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (1947–1984) who had taken cover in the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) complex in Amritsar. Hundreds of civilians, mostly Sikhs, fell victims to the operation Blue Star, parts of the temple complex were severely damaged, and unique manuscripts and books were destroyed in fire. In the collective memory of the Sikhs, this tragedy is sometimes interpreted as teeja ghallughara (‘third massacre/carnage’) or genocide of the followers of Guru Nanak (1469–1539), the founder of Sikhism. With June approaching, every year the tragic events of 1984 become part of India’s news feed representing an important argument in the rhetoric of political parties and communities.