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.
90 Responses to “From Children to Adults-1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Victims”
Amazing pictures and stories –
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.
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.
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."
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."
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
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.
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.
[…] 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.
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.
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…
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.
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
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
…time to realize that we all have only one religon UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD AND LOVE
…time to realize that we all have only one religon UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD AND LOVE
I feel shame on us (Hindu) when i read and show this article and enger to congress party. in our army 80% are shiks and we did this non-sense act. this is price of one motilal nehru house. why shoule we win this congress party. As a Hindu i will decide that i have never vote to congress party. My father also told me that he was calcutta and give sheltter to so many shikhs. By this communication mode i ask to all people of india why this shikhs should not demanded Khalistan. this shiks are part of hindu and this congress party alwyas aganist the hindu.
I feel shame on us (Hindu) when i read and show this article and enger to congress party. in our army 80% are shiks and we did this non-sense act. this is price of one motilal nehru house. why shoule we win this congress party. As a Hindu i will decide that i have never vote to congress party. My father also told me that he was calcutta and give sheltter to so many shikhs. By this communication mode i ask to all people of india why this shikhs should not demanded Khalistan. this shiks are part of hindu and this congress party alwyas aganist the hindu.
There will never be justice in India..Sikhs are a minority who are in real life poles away from the Khalsa principles…
There will never be justice in India..Sikhs are a minority who are in real life poles away from the Khalsa principles…
I am so much disturbed with the Government and its working that even after 62 years we are still hating each other.we dont have faith,reason the government is the ultimate base for spreading baseless reasons behind every community.Our government never sees present conditions they just deal for the future.In India no one can ever receieve justice.In India Humanity has died 62years before.And every one is egoistic.Even having a Sikh PM sikh are facing problems of jobs.Sikhs should get reservation for atleast 20 years so that what happened 26 years before can be compensated upto certain extent.
I am so much disturbed with the Government and its working that even after 62 years we are still hating each other.we dont have faith,reason the government is the ultimate base for spreading baseless reasons behind every community.Our government never sees present conditions they just deal for the future.In India no one can ever receieve justice.In India Humanity has died 62years before.And every one is egoistic.Even having a Sikh PM sikh are facing problems of jobs.Sikhs should get reservation for atleast 20 years so that what happened 26 years before can be compensated upto certain extent.
our country is hindu's sthan they only want hindu to live here and hindi to be spoken
our country is hindu’s sthan they only want hindu to live here and hindi to be spoken
i don't know why they don't give punishment those killers who r responsible that riots.one thing is clear govt hate sikhs but we know how to take justice.VAHE GURU JI KA KHALSA VAHEGURU JI KI FATHI.if any body want to see a movie based on 1984 riots plz come singh sabha gurudwara sahib havloock road southall on saturday 7 pm
i don’t know why they don’t give punishment those killers who r responsible that riots.one thing is clear govt hate sikhs but we know how to take justice.VAHE GURU JI KA KHALSA VAHEGURU JI KI FATHI.if any body want to see a movie based on 1984 riots plz come singh sabha gurudwara sahib havloock road southall on saturday 7 pm
We need to revisit history ….before 1849 there was Maharaja ranjit singh ji khalsa empire….when east india company came, alongwith the whole of Hindustan , this khalsa raj also became a colony of the britsh….before india became independent..we were offered a separate sikh state by the british, just like pakistan,which our so called leaders like master tara singh( who originally was a hindu) alongwith false promises from nehru and gandhi that sikhs would be allowed to have a separate independent territory with special rights and freedom in Independent India betrayed the whole sikh community…
So, Punjab( erstwhile khalsa empire of maharaje ranjit singh) was never an integral part of India…so as a matter of fact India was liberated from british empire bur khalsa empire of maharaja ranjit singh is still a colony if India…
also constituition of india was never accepted by sikhs but it was forced on us….
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE BUT KHALISTAN
We need to revisit history ….before 1849 there was Maharaja ranjit singh ji khalsa empire….when east india company came, alongwith the whole of Hindustan , this khalsa raj also became a colony of the britsh….before india became independent..we were offered a separate sikh state by the british, just like pakistan,which our so called leaders like master tara singh( who originally was a hindu) alongwith false promises from nehru and gandhi that sikhs would be allowed to have a separate independent territory with special rights and freedom in Independent India betrayed the whole sikh community…
So, Punjab( erstwhile khalsa empire of maharaje ranjit singh) was never an integral part of India…so as a matter of fact India was liberated from british empire bur khalsa empire of maharaja ranjit singh is still a colony if India…
also constituition of india was never accepted by sikhs but it was forced on us….
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE BUT KHALISTAN
The riots are shameful part of history but it negs the question, did current Prime Minister Manhoman Singh face personal danger during the 1984 riots? He was Governor of the Reserve Bank at the time. Was he given special protection?
The riots are shameful part of history but it negs the question, did current Prime Minister Manhoman Singh face personal danger during the 1984 riots? He was Governor of the Reserve Bank at the time. Was he given special protection?
Sher : If you have reached the age of adulthood and you are still not aware of these 3 facts :
1) Punjab was a completely independant, sovereign Sikh nation before the British made it part of India.
2) Pakistan made an offer to the Sikhs to side with them….
3) Nehru countered that offered with his famous assertion that he "saw no reason why the Sikhs should not experience the glow of freedom in an automonous Punjab"
What that promise was…was that if the Sikhs sided with India the Punjab would be given autonomy.
I suggest, therefore, Sher, you do a little research and read the actual promises made by Nehru, It was these (false) promises…i.e 'lies' that swayed the Sikhs towards siding against Pakistan.
At first one wonders what low opinion the Indians must have for us Sikhs to blatantly lie to us. But that question is answered when we remember how the Indians butchered and raped 10,000 Sikh men, women and tiny babies in just one night in just one city. For a nation that butchers so easily lying was not difficult at all.
Sher : If you have reached the age of adulthood and you are still not aware of these 3 facts :
1) Punjab was a completely independant, sovereign Sikh nation before the British made it part of India.
2) Pakistan made an offer to the Sikhs to side with them….
3) Nehru countered that offered with his famous assertion that he "saw no reason why the Sikhs should not experience the glow of freedom in an automonous Punjab"
What that promise was…was that if the Sikhs sided with India the Punjab would be given autonomy.
I suggest, therefore, Sher, you do a little research and read the actual promises made by Nehru, It was these (false) promises…i.e 'lies' that swayed the Sikhs towards siding against Pakistan.
At first one wonders what low opinion the Indians must have for us Sikhs to blatantly lie to us. But that question is answered when we remember how the Indians butchered and raped 10,000 Sikh men, women and tiny babies in just one night in just one city. For a nation that butchers so easily lying was not difficult at all.
beUnitedsinghsikh wrote:
.There was certain anti instruction to congress by BJP & RSS, to kill sikhs @1984 . Well pushed & pressurize to congress by anti RSS & anti BJP to do all that. Well planned & mastermind by Bjp played of double game with congress & sikhs. BJP played big game to stay in power in centre around 1984. BJP did others small misleading outcomes to confuse peoples & manipulate peoples, but some of cardinal & sophisticated people did find out , what was the real game behind this scenario. You see is, now what’s occur in Gujarat in 1992, meant to say Babri masjid breakdown & shoot down 3000+ Muslims by BJP. Asking why? Due to stay in power in Gujarat always, that was bjp mindset back in days. Same was in1984 in centre government stay in power by bjp. Congress is too fool, BJP is too smart for anything . Because bjp & rss they are world top class , high class hindu running bjp & by RSS. You cannot imagine what there mindset & game plans are.
.
THINK BEYOND THAT WHAT WAS REAL FACTS & FIGURES. WHO COULD REALLY DO THIS . THEY ARE OPEN IN INDIA THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THEY WANT. WHO ARE LEADERS OF HINDUATVA HERE IN INDIA. IF THEY CAN WELL PLAN & MASTER MIND SET. WHY NOT U THINK MORE, 3 STEPS AHEAD.,???
Thanks for revealing your ideas. Something is that scholars have an option between government student loan as well as a private education loan where it can be easier to opt for student loan debt consolidation reduction than through the federal education loan.
I was in Canada and watched on the news what was happening in Delhi at that time. It makes your blood boil. How can a human being do this to another human being.
Let me tell you something. I had a cousin. She was one when her father passed away. They were uprooted from the Pakistan's side. Suffered through that partition. She grew up, married, moved to Delhi. Had three childeren. Two boys and a girl. Her husband and son was burned alive; right in front of her eyes. Second son escaped.
Today they call it riot. I say it was mass murder. Would they be punished. Oh, yes. One day they all have to face God. You better believe it. Would any compensation bring any peace. No! Let this shame stick with them for ever and ever. She would not want any money. She would want her son and her husband and her life back.
Thank God she is no longer with us. Till the dying day she was asking for them two. Shame. Hang in shame. Live in shame. Die in shame. Face death in shame. Face God in shame. HE will turn HIS back on them. I know it and I feel it.
May those who died in pain be in God's care ALWAYS. We shall pray for them. They will remind Indians that this great country was once given a bath with blood of the innocent. May that land never forgive the doers.
congress is totally corrupt party, i request all Indians never vote to such a party who had killed thousands of innocent people in 1984.
Every one gives his/her view nobody actually wants to help the peoples who suffered that mass killing.Every one today is busy in his/her personal life,they dont care about the pain of the survivors.
If you will look at the face of the daugters,sons,wife,parents of the deceased, they are just appealing to their Sikh brothers & sisters to please raise their voice with them for justice.
Today if you will remain quiet it can be happened again,and God knows it can be with me or you.So dont remain quiet raise your voice.
a very shameful act against humanity,against mankind.those who became victim of this bears no comparison in the world as it was heartbreakining,tearful.
insaan ki hatteya karne wala na hindu hai na sikh woh sirf ek janwar hai jiski na soch hoti hai na dil……… indian log isiley duniya k sabse bade mahamurakh mane jate hain……….. khud ko sikh muslim hindu or cristion sab kehte hain par sala koi insaan nahi banta………….. muje sharm aa rahi hai khud ko indian kehte hoy…………..
I am a hindu by ancestral connection,people say the 1984 massacre was a hindu-sikh riot n hindus were responsible for it but i being a hindu have never felt any kind of hatred towards any sikh……..rather i feel the 1984 event should be justified as a genocide created by the congress party with the help of its HIRED GOONS!!!!
i was in calcutta at that time,there was a groccery shop,owned by a sikh uncle,at a stone’s throw from our house,i used to go there often to buy bread,milk n other household stuffs n in return the uncle(dadu,as we used to call him)gave me small toffees as a gift,i shared a cordial relation with him……..on 1st of november,1984,i went to summon some tea from the shop & infront of me some congress goons came and cut his palms off……on that day i lost an integral part of my soul(my believe in humanity,love,peace,trust)which i did never get back…………so it is not only the sikhs bt a lot of people(irrespective of their religion)lost that day……
I recall watching a 'Panth Time' discussion from a Gurdwara on the Sikh Channel a few months ago. In it, a member of the bhatra sikh community in England stood up and said most Sikhs don't care about the suffering of the orphans and widows in Delhi because 99% of the victims of the anti-Sikh massacres there were members of the lowly bhatra community. He said if it were jatts or khatris that had been massacred, there would not be a destitute colony of sikhs in delhi right now. He has a point. The rich khatri sikhs of Delhi are still spending obscene amounts on party's while their fellow sikhs sit in pain and poverty just a few miles away and the jat sikhs, whether in Jalandhar, London or Sacramento, still spend like spendings going out of fashion, collecting BMW's and unessesary 9 bed montster houses.
Our concern seems to be limited to blaming the Indian without us having to bother to do anything ourselves. So….lets look at things from the Indian's point of view. He is not blind. He can see that you don't care that much …so why the hell should he ?
SUCH A HATRED AGAIST ONE COMMUNITY.SHAMEFUL, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT AS A REWARD FOR LAYING OUR LIVES FOR FREEING INDIA. BHAGAT SINGH YOU WOULD BE CRYING THERE ,SEEING THE PLIGHTOF SIKHS IN INDIA.
I was very small when i heard about some of our relatives moving to Punjab because of violence. I heard from our parents how shops of sikhs worth million rupees of stock were set to fire, women were raped, hairs were forcibly cut by some arrogant group.
may waheguru guide our sikh leaders to provide the needful to the victims not to beg hand in front of government.
when we did not accept the akal takht made by govt., how the help of govt. in this case can be accepted??????
I have posted many comments on this regard but no Indian newspaper such as Times of India, Indian Express, The Hindus and The Hindustan Times published it online. I think India is worst country in the matter of freedom of speech and public opinion. I posted the comments that on what basis India call itself largest democracy in the world. On one hand the leading Hindu parties exercise indirect dictatorship. They crush week and mionorities all the time. They are worst example of partial behaviour against race and religions. Sikh families who lost innocent family members in 1984 riots (or Hindu terrors) can never forget their dear ones even after death. The girls who were mercilessly raped can never forget that pain. While this party say that forget about it. They can forget but who have gone through that terror can never forgive these wicked minded people.
I have also watched that no one in parliament is willing to hear the matter of 1984. They can not have peace with thier own people how they can establish peace with Pakistan and China. (It does not mean that Chinese and Pakistanies are better than Indians, they might be more worst and racist). Sikhs own this land as much as Hindus own. Difference was that Hindus did not follow teaching of Sikh gurus 400 years ago while some followed their teaching and become Sikh. If Sikhs at that time demanded for Khalistan, it was because they were always made fun and not treated well in this country. What government did to them? Divided the Punjab into 4 parts so that Sikhs can not get big share of land. While this country has been land of Saints what they have learned from their teaching. Did Indian Saints teach killing and mercilessness towards other human if they wear different cloths or different skin than us.
Amitabh bachan was friend of rajiv Ghandi and used his famous image among crazy illiterate people to agitate. We can understand the reason he was supporting congress. While this actors mother was Sikh. Bachan is clever man who always escape from all wrongdoings. PM Rajiv in 1984 said, "once a mighty tree falls, it is only natural that the earth around it shakes". But when earthquake or any natural disaster like Tsunami, comes, it doesn’t see your religion and race—it kills all alike. When earth shake it treats everyone women, men, children, black, white, animal equally.
I think these all newspapers are basically for Hindus. It was not riot but it was Hindus terror in the form of terrorist activity. hindus brutal behaviour towards Sikhs from starting agitate them to have their own land. Sikhs are very famous for being the best host, humourous, free minded and kindness. What they did wrong? They just raised their voice to be seperated because they were biased by Hindus. Sikhs never want seperate land they are peaceful, that is what Guru Granth Sahib ji teach. To love and kind towards all living beings. Why Sikhs then took this step? Because of Hindus ill treatment towards them.
A former minister and a Bajrang dal leader and many others were convicted today for Gujarath riots.
There was discussion in CNN IBN how congress ministers used threat on Police chief to suppress cases against congress ministers. http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/286640/the-last-word…
Why do you hate Hindus so much? Have you forgotten that Hindus family saved life of many Sikhs in 1984. Common Hindu man does not hate Sikhs. It is only Hindu activist parties, who generate haterdness among people and create divisions among land and people. All sikh Gurus were also Hindus. There was no Sikh religion 400 years ago. People who accepted teaching of GuruNanak dev ji called Sikhs. It is also written in the GuruGranth Sahib ji, “Mera oopdesh chohon varno ko snjha” . It’s meaning is that His teachings are for all the people of world, whoever want to accept it. All Hindus, Sikhs, Mulims, Christians are allowed to read this Holy book. Guru Granth Sahib ji is not a property of any group of people, despite it is not insulted. It was insulted only once in 1984 when it was burned. Ou God is One and He is Love
in 1984 Indira terrorised Sikhs. she spread the fake and false news all around the globe that Sikhs are terrorsits and gandis are patriots. She attacked holy shrine of Sikhs which was founded by our Sikh gurus on the day when many pilgrims were collected, to save country. While her purpose was solely to kills Sikhs and extingusih this religion. Sikh activist target should be those people who killed and raped many innocent people, burnt their houses and businesses and killed our sant sipahi sardar jarnail singh bhindrawala in 1984 without any crime on their part. He was fighting for freedom of rights for Sikhs. He said many times that "I believe in God and against any killing". If anyone want to survive, they must adopt the path of truth otherwise they will be killed like terrorist Indira and dictator rajiv.
Sikhs own Indian land as much as hindus own. Sikhs must demand Indian government to ask Pakistan to give land of Punjab(divided in Pakistan in 1947) back to Sikhs. Because Sikh gurus were born in that part of Punjab. Nehru, when divided India into 2 parts, he ignored feelings of minority Sikhs and gave very precious land of Sikhs to muslims. Sikhs who lives there are not happy with Muslims who killed all Sikhs Gurus and forced them to eat meat in that time. Ghandis are responsible to lose Sikhs that part of land and now they should be responsible to take it back from Pakistan. They can not ignore minorities. This land belongs to all and everyone has same right to have their own part.