From Children to Adults-1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Victims
I was just forwarded the link to a photo essay which speaks volumes for children who grew up in the shadows of the 1984 riots in Delhi. Photographer Sanjay Austa has shared pictures and stories of young men and women whose fathers and husbands were killed during 1984 and how the events of that year transformed their lives.
They were in their mothers stomach, just delivered, toddlers or school going children in 1984 when their fathers, uncles or siblings were butchered in the anti-sikh riots in Delhi which left almost 3000 sikhs dead. These children were suddenly wrenched out from their cosy family life and hurled into the world of neglect, apathy and abuse. They grew up in the shadow of the riots, struggling between going to school and making a living. Their fathers were killed and their mothers either remarried or were so busy working to eek out a living that the kids were virtually forgotten. 25 years on they have grown up into young men. Some wayward due to the neglect , others unemployed due to lack education, and yet few others transformed their lives by sheer grit and determination. These are their stories. [link]
Manjeet’s mother , Harjinder Kaur had four children during the riots. Her daughter was only 10 days old. But after the riots she could not take care of her baby and she died. Every year during the anniversary of the riots gloom descends over her. She cannot believe the perpetrators of such violence still roam free.
Rajinder Singh was 10 years old when his father was killed in the 1984 anti-sikh riots in New Delhi. Rajinder was hiding in his neighbour’s house with his six siblings. His father was advised to cut of his hair but he refused. He hid in his house in Nandnagri but the mob found and killed him on Nov 1. He was also a ricksha-puller.
Paramjit Kaur’s mother was 7 months pregnant with her when her father was killed in Sultanpuri. She says she cant see her mother grieving so never asked her about her father. Her mother was newly married and with their son dead her in-laws didn’t want her. However her grandparents have been fighting with her mother for their share in the governments compensation after her father’s murder.
Interjeet Singh was 7 years old when his father was killed. He along with his two brothers and two sisters hid in their neighbors house. His father and mother stayed in the home thinking the sikhs were being butchered in the streets only. But on November 2 a mob attached their house in Raghu Nagar and killed his father. His father was an ironsmith and they destroyed his shop along with his house.
To view more of this photo essay, click here.
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Amazing pictures and stories -
My heart goes out to these families. It's heartwrenching to see the pics. 25 years later it still seems so raw. The Congress-Indian Govt who organized and perpretrated these diabolic crimes will never provide justice since they are the criminals. A good amount of blame also goes to the Sikh community. It's downright pathetic that we can place gigantic gold domes on gurdawaras but could not muster the resolve and resources to rehibilitate a few thousand women and children. Downright pathetic.
Yup, Thats a problem, with each group caring about its own gold dome. Almost feel like political and religious bodies like SGPC/Akalis, etc. dont care.
These killings were orchestrated to "teach people a lesson", and that is why justice is being denied ….
Most people living in Panjab and overseas were not directly impacted and the issue has been on the back burner and not front and center.
wtf man its pathetically sick of your mind saying the sikhs shud be blamed aswell , we dont need ur heinous comments about or on anything , i wish it happened to ur community aswell and how wud u'have felt wid me saying the same idiotic thing u said !!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is how the dictionary interprets the word. RIOT :: "a noisy, violent public disorder caused by a group or crowd of persons, as by a crowd protesting against another group,"
The word "riots" was deliberately used by Indian Government propaganda machines to underplay the severity of the Government sponsored mass murder, rape and pillage of the tens of thousands of innocent Sikhs . There was NEVER any riot as it was a genocide planned and executed by the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Hindu leaders. with full support of ENTIRE Hindu establishment.
I can understand our enemies playing the public relations game, but it pains me to see that our own Sikh leaders, activist and other good intentioned people also fall for this trap. The only definition to describe the events of 1984 are" Mass murders, massacre, or genocide."
Yes, i think the [mis]use of "riots" is a well established fact now. The title here was simply used as the photographer had used it to provide credit to his work. Nonetheless, your point is extremely well taken.
How can we fathom The One
Who, in an instant,
Reduces a king to a pauper;
And, in the blink of an eye,
Fills the lowliest with splendour!
GGS, M5, 499:13
Thanks for sharing this with us.
I agree with Teg. Pogroms or Genocide are more befitting words to use, riots just undermines everything our Sikh brothers/sisters faced.
I agree our brothers and sisters were killed mercilessly it was worse than genocide
[...] 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Waiting for Justice.” Our readers have previously argued against the use of the word “riot” and suggested that “genocide” is the more [...]
With the passing of anniversary, this issue starts moving away from the spotlight. This is where we need our Gurudwaras/management teams (SGPC) to provide a co-ordinated response (Taking care of victims, relief and rehab., etc). Why should responses to such events be left to NGO's (HS Phoolka,Ensaaf,etc.).
It is in every Gurudwara/sangats self interest to do this, because no one can predict when/where disaster will strike next.
Hi, I was growing up in Punjab when 1984 happened. And 25 years later, it seems that time has not moved..justice is still just a dream for the families of 4000 odd people who died. I started a facebook group called `Justice for 1984 victims-Now' in the hope that somehow collective voices could come together to protest against what happened or find a way together to make difference but no one seems to be interested in events that happened so long ago. The apathy is staggering even though the fact is that if we don't come together in large numbers to speak out against what happened, the horror could come home again.
It is time to help the victims to find healing and closure because they have lived without any for too long.
While victims are getting lip service, here are the people getting real services –
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/punjab-govt-bus...
May Waheguru give peace and strength to all the families and survivors of 1984.
waheguru ji jk khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh
hun aao sadi fouj bhi tayar ho gai ye O bhi delhi mei har gali har mohalle mei RAJ KAREGA KHALSA yaad rakhna