It happened in 1979 when my editor Aroon Purie India Today called me at 6 in the morning and ask me to fly down to Amritsar to do an on the spot story on Khalistan movement. I reached office, collected advance and contacted Congress MP of Amritsar Raghunandan Lal Bhatia. Luckily, he was in Delhi and was flying back home the same day. We flew together and he gave a low down on the ground reality in Punjab. Obviously, it had a Congress tinge but I could sift chafe from the grain. We landed in two hours and I headed towards Golden Temple.
Thus holiest shrine of Sikh faith is adjacent to the historical Jalianwala Bagh. Bhatia wanted me to stay at a five-star hotel at his expenses but I politely excused myself because I wanted to be at the action theater. Khalistan movement had become a big headache for Indira Gandhi government and she was toying with her options. Having defeated Pakistan and creating Bangladesh, she was emboldened to take the biggest challenge of her life. She was aware of the consequences which was reflected in one of her speeches: " I am ready to shed the last drop of my blood to save the sovereignty of India.
Bhatia had suggested that I should approach Bhai Amrinder Singh who was the president of All India Sikh Students Federation and right hand man of Bhindrawale. Luckily, he was there in Guru Ramdas Sarai, the guest house complex of Golden Temple. He turned out to be a friendly person.
He believed that any media publicity was good publicity for his movement and that too from India Today which had a high degree of credibility. He was civil and polite but maintained a respectable distance on day one. advised me to move around in the city and meet local Akali, Congress and Jan Sangh leaders. It was a sound suggestion. I spent the day in the holy town. Sikhs had forced a ban on smoking and drinking in the city. Hindus and Sikhs were divided on the Khalistan. The atmosphere was visibly tense.
I returned late in the evening and found Amrinder waiting for me. He had arrangements for me to sleep on the terrace. I was a little apprehensive but the self-acquired confidence in being a media person from Delhi allayed my fears. We started talking and didn't realize how the time flew. He gave me a comprehensive picture. He was neither complacent, nor casual. Factual but laced with sympathy for his cause. He advised me to go to Mehta Chowk, the traditional headquarters of Bhindrawale from where he was baptized as a saint. I hired a taxi and reached Mehta Chowk in a couple of hours. Amrinder had phone some people. They took me around. and tried to brainwash me about the level of intensity of their movement. They were almost convinced that Khalistan was round the corner. I was told that one Sikh youth from every Sikh family had joined the movement.
I vaguely dropped a bolt from the blue. Are they being trained across the border in Pakistan. They were not ready for this question and gave me an evasive reply. But there was some truth in that. It was obvious. I performed all those rituals which were expected from a faithful. I made right kind of noises about the role of ten Sikh gurus while fighting against the Moughal rulers. It brought me closer to the Bhindrawale camp followers. I returned the same evening with a better perception about the movement.
I felt that Hindus were apprehensive about Khalistan. They were apprehending a kind of bloodshed. Indira Gandhi was still weighing her pros and cons. One of her fears was what would be the reaction of the Sikh soldiers in the Indian army. Will they revolt. How the Sikh police and para military forces react. She didn't want a backlash. Last but not least she had placed a Sikh to Rashtrapati Bhawan. She was her Home Minister before being kicked up to the top job. How would she react. Will all this lead to a civil war. It was different from her strategy against Pakistan because Muslims of India were not openly for Pakistan. But Sikhs were a different ball game. They had been nursing this desire that if Muslims can get a nation why not Sikhs. That was at the root of Khalistan movement.
Two more days passed. I was getting impatient for my final kill. My assignment was to interview Bhindrawale. At last the zero hour. Amrinder Singh woke me up, past midnight and asked me to get ready for departure. I asked him where and for what. He just smiled. I was scared for the first time. But I had little choice. I changed into formal and got down in the waiting car. Amrinder was sitting next to me in the back seat. One of his associated was in the front.
I repeated my query. Where we were heading to. He said to meet Santa ji. That is how Bhindrawale was addressed by all and sundry. He was the last word in the Khalistan movement hierarchy. It was a pitched dark night. No moon in sight. There were few street lights. Fewer traffic was moving. Once in a blue moon. I didn't know the topography. An unfamiliar state, people, movement and uncertain future.
I thought of calling home to share my anxiety but better counsel prevailed and I kept it to my return. There was no point in talking to my colleagues at India Today. It would have sent wrong signals. A reporter is like a soldier on the front. His job is to fight and leave the rest to his destiny. It was the rarest of the rare movement of my decade old career. I had never done such an assignment. But it was going to be a prized possession in my memory.
I don’t remember for how long we were travelling. I tried to make a small talk to Amrinder. He was game. We shared our life anecdotes. He was committed to his cause. He gave no clear reply to the basis of his faith that it would succeed. He didn't want to think or comment about it. He was dedicated follower to Bhindrawale. He knew that nothing was sure or certain. But, it was one-way passage. The turn- around was not allowed. Amrinder told me that I was the Delhi reporter who had dared to come for this job. He reassured me there was nothing to worry. Perhaps he could read my face.
Suddenly, the care came to a halt. He gestured me to get down. We wereon a barren roadfsie. The car was parked nearby. And we started waiting for Godot. We knew this Godot. I had seen his picturesin national media. I knew quite a few things about him. His background, history and I had visited his base camp at Mehta Chowk. I was getting restless. It was not the days of mobile phone. Ther was no way in which we could come to know about Santa ji.
After about an hour or so, Amrinder spotted a bus coming in our direction. He and his friend waved it sto spt. He asked me to board the bus. I was hesitant but gathered courage and go in. the inside view was terrifying. The bus was full of young Sikhs flashing bare swords. There was no non-Sikh. Amrinder asked me to move up front. I was almost pushed to the front seat and I recognized my subject, my target, my lead story hero. I folded my hands and bowed before him uttering Satshri ASkal Santa ji. He murmured in reply and fixed his gaze at me from top to bottom and bottom to top. Then asked me to come and sit next to him. Amrinder took a seat behind us. Poochh, kake ki poochhna hai? ( Yes lad, shoot your questions). I introduced myself and the purpose of my visit. He smiled. It was an infectious smile. I shot my first volley:
" What are you fighting for?" ( On hearing this question all the sword wielding Sikhs took one step forward and looked at Santa ji. They wanted a signal to take care of me. But Amrinder waved them to go back. I was mortally nervous but composed myself)
"Khalistan. Assi Khalistan chahne han * We want Khalistan)."
But you have Punjab. It is also a Sikh majority state.?
"No it is not. Half of them are Hindu pundits. Congress plays games with us. Sikhs lay down their life in the wars. What do they get in turn. It is affecting our agriculture. We feed your country but get nothing in return."
But we are a democracy. Form a part. contest elections, form a government and get what you want.?
"That Pandtani (Indira Gandhi) will not give us anything. She is holding all the cards close to her heart."
But how can India be divided. That way, we will be returning to pre-Independence days when we had 584 states ?
" But you agreed to create Pakistan. Why not Khalistan?
Do you think, you will win this war for Khalistan?
At the moment, we are fighting. It is a holy war. Did Bhagat Singh knew that India won't be free, if he is hanged. Same way, I don't know, if there will be an outcome in my lifetime, but I will lay down my life. I know one day Pandtani will finish me.
And why are you training your men in Pakistan.?
"I am not sending anybody to Pakistan but if these boys cross border, get arms, it is their choice."
But it is anti-national?
How it is anti-national? We want our nation.
Do Hindus of Punjab and the rest of India want that?
Not all Muslims wanted Pakistan. 18% are still in India. Hindus can live in Khalistan.
Can you fight Indian army with your trained men? Why are you putting the life of so many young people at stake.
"Sikhs have done a lot for Indian army. They will support us."
Are you not heading towards a genocide?
"I am educated like you. Please tell your people to give us our rightful share from India. Otherwise they will be responsible for the consequences.( He waved to Amrinder that enough was enough.I folded my hands and thanked him with a satsri Akal)."
No comments:
Post a Comment