Compromise After 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
by The events that led up to the Anti-Sikh Riots and the events that took place after the riots and the compromises made after the conflicts between the Sikhs and the Hindus.
On November 1st 1984 mobs took to the streets all over India to find and kill innocent Sikhs1. The mobs were well armed and tore through Sikh homes and businesses burning Sikhs and Sikh property alike. The riots went on for four days in which nothing was done to stop the violence. The police stood to one side as mobs killed mercilessly. In fact, some of the police personnel at the time went from a spectator’s role to active participation in the riots themselves. Some police personnel armed the mobs with weapons such as iron rods, kerosene and petrol. If Sikhs tried to defend themselves the police would arrest them on exaggerated charges and take them to jail. Some non-Sikh people tried to stop the riots and formed the Nagrik Etka Munch (Citizens United Front) but they were stopped by the police when they tried to lead a protest marches.
By November 4th the riots were quelled by the Indian Army but due to the delay in orders to send the troops 2,733 Sikhs had already been killed and thousand had been left homeless. Many people believe that the number of deaths reported by the government was greatly understated because the riots went on continuously for four days in multiple cities and states all over India. Obviously after so many people had been killed and so much injustice had been done there was a strong feeling of animosity between the Sikhs and the Hindus who composed the majority of the ruling Congress party of India. After such turbulent events and violent emotions people would think that more Sikhs would try and break away from the Indian republic. But compromises were made by both sides and the process of healing relations between the Sikhs and the Republic of India began.
The dissatisfaction of the Sikh community has its roots in the times of WWII2 when the Sikhs were promised an autonomous3 state within India by the top leadership of the Congress party. The Congress party at this time was fighting for an independent India. Independence from the British occurred on August 14, 1947 but India stood divided in two states. The area with the Muslim majority was given the name Pakistan and the area with the Hindu majority was continued to be known as India. The Sikhs at this time were expecting the now ruling Congress party to give them an autonomous state within India. Nehru4, who was the Indian Prime Minister at the time, did not honor his promise to the Sikhs for an autonomous state. This led to the widespread distrust and outrage in the Sikh community against the Congress party.
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