Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
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|---|---|
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| Born |
Jarnail Singh Brar
2 June 1947 |
| Died | 6 June 1984 (aged 37) |
| Cause of death | Killed in gunfight during Operation Blue Star |
| Monuments | Gurdwara Yaadgar Shaheedan, Amritsar |
| Occupation |
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| Era | Around 1984 |
| Organization | Damdami Taksal |
| Title | Sant |
| Movement | Dharam Yudh Morcha |
| Spouse(s) |
Pritam Kaur
(m. 1966; |
| Children | 2 |
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (born Jarnail Singh Brar; June 2, 1947 – June 6, 1984) was a religious leader in India. He became a key figure in the Khalistan movement, which sought a separate Sikh state. However, he himself did not openly ask for a separate state.
He was the 14th leader (called jathedar) of the Damdami Taksal, an important Sikh religious group. He supported the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, which asked for more rights for Punjab. He became well-known after a clash between Sikhs and another religious group in 1978.
In 1982, Bhindranwale and a political party called Akali Dal started a peaceful protest known as the Dharam Yudh Morcha. Their goal was to get the Indian government to agree to demands based on the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. These demands aimed to give Punjab more control over its own affairs within India. Many people joined this movement, hoping for things like more water for farms and the return of the city of Chandigarh to Punjab. Some Sikhs were unhappy with the economic, social, and political situation at the time. Over time, Bhindranwale became a strong leader for Sikhs who felt their rights were not being met.
In 1982, Bhindranwale and his followers moved into the Golden Temple complex, making it their main base. He began to settle disagreements and solve problems for people, almost like a "parallel government" in Punjab. By 1983, he and his followers had strengthened the Akal Takht, a holy Sikh shrine within the complex. In June 1984, the Indian Army launched Operation Blue Star to remove Bhindranwale and his armed followers from the Golden Temple complex. This operation led to many deaths, including Bhindranwale's.
Bhindranwale is still a debated figure in Indian history. The highest Sikh religious authority, Akal Takht, calls him a 'martyr'. Many Sikhs, especially in rural areas, saw him as a powerful leader who stood up against the Indian government. However, many other Indians saw him as a symbol of an extreme and violent movement.
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Early Life and Family
Jarnail Singh Brar was born on June 2, 1947, into a Jat Sikh family in Rode village, Moga District. His father, Joginder Singh Brar, was a farmer and a local Sikh leader. His mother was Nihal Kaur. Jarnail Singh was the seventh of eight children. He started school at age six but left five years later to help his father on the farm.
At 19, he married Pritam Kaur. They had two sons, Ishar Singh (born 1971) and Inderjit Singh (born 1975). After Bhindranwale's death, Pritam Kaur and her sons moved to Bilaspur village. She passed away in 2007 at age 60.
Becoming a Religious Leader
In 1965, Jarnail Singh joined the Damdami Taksal, a religious school near Moga, Punjab. He studied Sikh scriptures, history, and theology for a year. After his studies, he returned to farming and got married. However, he kept his connection with the Taksal and continued his studies under Kartar Singh, who became the new head of the Taksal in 1969. Jarnail Singh quickly became Kartar Singh's favorite student.
When Kartar Singh Khalsa died in a car accident in August 1977, he chose the 31-year-old Bhindranwale as his successor. Bhindranwale was formally elected the 14th jathedar of the Damdami Taksal on August 25, 1977. He took the name "Bhindranwale" and received the religious title of "Sant." He then dedicated himself fully to the Taksal's work.
As a religious teacher, he traveled to villages, giving powerful speeches and reading from Sikh scriptures. He encouraged young Sikhs to follow the path of the Khalsa (baptized Sikhs) and to live a simple life, rejecting practices like dowry. He also spoke out against declining moral values. Many young Sikhs were drawn to his focus on fighting for Sikh causes. Bhindranwale never learned English but was very good at speaking Punjabi. His speeches were shared on audio cassettes in villages. He also became skilled at giving interviews to the press, radio, and television.
From 1977 to 1982, he traveled widely across Punjab and other parts of India, preaching the Sikh faith in gurdwaras (Sikh temples). Large crowds came to hear him speak. He encouraged Sikhs to observe their religious duties, including wearing the traditional Sikh symbols like the turban and beard. People began asking him to help solve their social problems, and he started holding meetings to settle disputes. His decisions were respected, which made him very popular. He was also known for his ability to quote religious texts and connect historical events to the present.
His Role in Politics
Many people believe that in the late 1970s, the Indian National Congress party tried to use Bhindranwale to divide Sikh votes and weaken their main rival, the Akali Dal. However, this idea has been debated. According to some reports, after the Congress party returned to power in 1980, they found that Bhindranwale could not be easily controlled.
Bhindranwale did not seek any political office for himself. He was smart enough to use both the Akali Dal and Congress parties to his advantage. He addressed rumors that he was working for Congress, saying that his actions were different from the Akalis, who he claimed had ties with Congress.
Bhindranwale did not have much respect for the traditional Akali Dal leaders. He believed they had become corrupt and had moved away from the strong, warrior-like principles of the Sikh faith. He felt they had failed to support Sikhs during the 1978 clashes. He was described as having "strong beliefs" and "unwavering dedication." He refused to be controlled by powerful figures in the Akali Party or by the government. People who helped him rise to fame were often disappointed when he refused to follow their plans. He had a great ability to gather large crowds, and his powerful speeches overshadowed other leaders.
Bhindranwale's main goal was to strengthen Sikhism. He used the Congress and Akali Dal parties to achieve his aims. The Akali Dal had lost support because they focused on political alliances instead of Sikh needs. This led to the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, which was meant to win back Sikh support.
The Damdami Taksal had a history of criticizing government policies. Kartar Singh Khalsa, Bhindranwale's predecessor, had openly criticized Indira Gandhi's strict "Emergency" rule in 1975. He also helped pass a resolution in 1973 condemning the Sant Nirankaris. When Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale became leader, he continued this strong stance against injustice.
Clash with Sant Nirankaris
On April 13, 1978, a convention of the Sant Nirankari group was held in Amritsar. Bhindranwale and other orthodox Sikhs considered the Sant Nirankaris to be against Sikh teachings. The Golden Temple priests had already declared them enemies of Sikhs in 1973.
From the Golden Temple, Bhindranwale gave a powerful speech, saying he would not allow the Nirankari convention to happen. A group of about 200 Sikhs, led by Bhindranwale and Fauja Singh, marched to the convention to stop it. An armed clash broke out between the two groups. Several people were killed, including two of Bhindranwale's followers and eleven members of another Sikh group. This event brought Bhindranwale into the public eye and into the political world.
Sikhs reacted with large protests. The Akal Takht, the main Sikh authority, issued a religious order telling Sikhs to stop the Sant Nirankaris from growing and to avoid social ties with them.
A criminal case was filed against 62 Nirankaris, including their chief, Gurbachan Singh. However, all the accused were later found not guilty in January 1980, with the court saying they acted in self-defense. Orthodox Sikhs saw this as a conspiracy to harm the Sikh religion. Bhindranwale then spoke more strongly against those he saw as enemies of Sikhs. Groups like the Babbar Khalsa and Dal Khalsa were formed after these events. Under Bhindranwale's influence, more people joined the Khalsa.
In the years that followed, some killings occurred in Punjab. On April 24, 1980, the Nirankari chief, Gurbachan Singh, was killed. Bhindranwale was accused of being involved in the conspiracy to murder him. He stayed in the Golden Temple, reportedly to avoid arrest. However, the Home Minister of India later announced that there was no evidence against Bhindranwale, and he was cleared. Bhindranwale then said that the killer of the Nirankari chief deserved to be honored.
Support from Young Sikhs
Bhindranwale's message was very popular among educated young Sikhs in rural areas. Many of these young people faced unemployment, even after college, because of problems in the economy. The Akali Dal party was seen as not addressing their concerns. Bhindranwale's message appealed to them, especially as he spoke about civil rights and those who had been harmed in protests.
The All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), formed in 1943 to attract young Sikhs, had become disorganized. But under Amrik Singh, who became president in 1978, and with Bhindranwale's support, the AISSF became a powerful force again. Its membership grew from 10,000 to over 100,000. The AISSF and Bhindranwale were also united in being against Communist ideas.
Bhindranwale was suspicious of wealthy Sikh leaders, believing they could not be trusted by a movement based on religious principles. He saw their lives as a threat to the distinct identity of Sikhs. He believed this path needed to be corrected, along with other trends that he felt weakened the Sikh community.
In May 1981, the AISSF led a protest against tobacco and other harmful substances in Amritsar. Police clashed with Sikhs on May 31, leading to several Sikh deaths and increasing tensions.
The Murder of Lala Jagat Narain
On September 9, 1981, Lala Jagat Narain, the editor of the Punjab Kesari newspaper, was killed. He was known for supporting the Nirankari group and had written articles criticizing Bhindranwale. His newspaper was also seen as promoting conflict between Hindus and Sikhs.
Punjab Police issued an arrest warrant for Bhindranwale in connection with the editor's death. Bhindranwale was on a religious tour in Haryana at the time. On September 14, 1981, police tried to arrest him. While Bhindranwale moved to another location, the police fired at his followers, looted their belongings, and burned their religious texts. Bhindranwale and other Sikh leaders said that police had also looted homes and burned buses belonging to the Damdami Taksal that contained copies of the Guru Granth Sahib.
Clashes with police in Chando Kalan resulted in at least 11 deaths. The burning of his sermons angered Bhindranwale, who then stayed in his fortified Gurdwara at Mehta Chowk. At this point, Bhindranwale turned against some senior Congress leaders he had been associated with.
Arrest at Mehta Chowk
Police surrounded the gurdwara at Mehta Chowk. Bhindranwale agreed to surrender on September 20, 1981, but only after speaking to a large crowd of his followers. Many prominent Sikh leaders were present. Bhindranwale gave a speech declaring his innocence and criticizing the government. He received support from almost all senior Akali leaders. He then surrendered peacefully. After his arrest, agitated Sikhs clashed with police, leading to 18 deaths.
In the days following his arrest, there were other violent incidents in Punjab, including shootings and a plane hijacking. The Akali Dal leadership publicly supported Bhindranwale, who was the most popular Sikh religious leader in Punjab at the time. India's Home Minister, Giani Zail Singh, announced that there was no evidence against Bhindranwale in Lala Jagat Narain's murder. On October 14, 1981, Bhindranwale was released. After his release, he continued to lead a strong nationalist movement.
Bhindranwale's arrest and release made him even more respected among Sikhs, especially the youth. He became more outspoken against the Congress government, which tried to harass and detain him and other Sikh leaders several times in 1982.
The Dharam Yudh Morcha
The Anandpur Sahib Resolution and the 1978 Ludhiana Resolution focused on economic and political issues. They called for an end to the central government's control over Punjab's river waters, better prices for farmers, and other demands. These issues were very important to the rural Sikh population, who supported them. Other demands included keeping the ratio of Sikhs in the army, protecting Sikhs outside Punjab, and making Punjabi a second language in states with many Punjabi speakers.
In 1982, the Akali Dal launched the Dharam Yudh Morcha (righteous campaign) with Bhindranwale's cooperation. Their goal was to gain more control for Punjab. The movement began with many Akali volunteers getting arrested.
As Bhindranwale became more influential, the Akali Dal decided to work with him. The Akali leaders had promised to continue their struggle until the Anandpur Sahib Resolution was accepted. Bhindranwale reminded his audiences that the Akali leaders had signed the Resolution and could not go back on their word.
Despite the Resolution asking for more state control within India, Indira Gandhi and the central government saw the Sikh demands as a step towards separation. This made it harder for moderate Sikh politicians. Thousands of people joined the movement, hoping for solutions to their problems, like more water for irrigation and the return of Chandigarh to Punjab. By October 1982, over 25,000 Akali workers had been arrested.
Protests and Government Response
The main issues of the Dharam Yudh Morcha included stopping the digging of the SYL Canal (which would divert water from Punjab), redrawing Punjab's borders to include Punjabi-speaking areas, returning Chandigarh to Punjab, and giving the state more control over its own affairs. The most important demand was for Punjab to control its river waters, as over 75% of the state's water was being sent to other states.
In April 1982, the Akali Dal started the Nehr Roko Morcha (struggle to stop the canal) to prevent the digging of the SYL Canal. This protest had massive support from Sikh farmers. In July, Bhindranwale moved to the Guru Nanak Niwas guest house in the Golden Temple complex for security. He joined his movement for the release of his arrested followers with the larger Akali movement.
Other protests included blocking roads, work, and railways. Most of these protests ended peacefully, except for one road blockade where about 20 protesters were killed by police firing.
The Dharam Yudh Morcha officially began on August 4, 1982. Bhindranwale and other leaders were persuaded to lead it under the Akali Dal. The movement gained momentum, and over 100,000 protesters were arrested. The central government seemed unwilling to solve the issues fairly. They often framed the protest as a religious conflict rather than a movement about political, economic, and territorial issues.
Police Actions
The police in Punjab had a history of acting with a lot of freedom. They would often arrest many suspects and hold them for long, aggressive questioning, sometimes leading to deaths. People had little faith in police investigations.
Under the excuse of keeping law and order, the government's police actions, including false encounters and killings in police custody, increased. Many people began to believe that these actions were meant to harm Sikhs and distract from the real issues. Bhindranwale spoke about false accusations against Sikhs and claimed that many arrested Sikhs were killed. He also mentioned the burning of buses with Sikh scriptures and Sikhs being unfairly treated on trains.
Out of 220 deaths during the first 19 months of the Dharam Yudh Morcha, 190 were Sikhs. Bhindranwale was particularly upset about police actions and the killing of Sikhs in what he called "false encounters." He criticized the government for treating Hindu and Sikh victims differently. He also criticized the press for not reporting police actions fairly.
Police actions and attacks on Sikhs by other groups led to retaliatory violence by Sikh youth. There were assassination attempts and plane hijackings.
Negotiations between the government and Akalis often failed. In November 1982, the Akalis announced more protests in Delhi during the 1982 Asian Games. During this time, Sikhs traveling to Delhi were stopped, searched, and humiliated, which made them feel even more alienated. Anti-Sikh riots in Panipat in February 1983 led to Sikh deaths and damage to Sikh temples, with police doing nothing.
Bhindranwale became a very important Akali leader. He insisted on the full implementation of the Anandpur Resolution. A disagreement grew between him and Longowal, the Akali leader. Bhindranwale criticized the government for rewarding hijackers who supported Congress while punishing Sikh protesters who did similar actions for their cause.
Media Coverage
Bhindranwale expected reporters to misrepresent him. He saw the media as controlled by the central government and gave interviews mainly to reach other Sikhs. He became the focus of media criticism for any violence in Punjab, while police actions often went unreported. He once said, "Even if a fly is killed in Punjab, it is blamed on me." He denied having anyone killed and said his strong statements were always in response to provocations.
Bhindranwale also pointed out that Hindu politicians who made threatening statements against Sikhs were not charged, while Sikhs were. He noted that Sikhs were being removed from police and military forces in large numbers.
Many killings that happened between December 1983 and June 1984 were due to personal disagreements or other groups not connected to Bhindranwale. Even radical Sikh groups denied responsibility for bus killings or desecrations and condemned them. Bhindranwale stated, "It suits the government to publicize me as an extremist, thus making an excuse to frustrate the just cause and the legitimate demands of the entire Sikh community and Punjab state."
A report by journalists in February 1984 criticized the tendency to blame all crime in Punjab on Sikh extremists. There was also significant government interference in information given to the media. Some believed that a system of fear was used to convince India that Sikhs could not be trusted.
Growing Unrest
The unrest against the central government grew because the demands of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution were not met. Sikhs felt disappointed with the democratic process and feared for their religion in a Hindu-dominated state. The government's failure to address these problems led to increased militancy.
On February 8, 1984, the Akalis held a successful strike to show their strength and commitment to peaceful protest. However, talks for a settlement were sabotaged by more anti-Sikh violence in Haryana. On May 25, 1984, Longowal announced another protest to begin on June 3, the same day Operation Blue Star was launched.
It became clear that the government would use military force rather than a political solution. Bhindranwale told people to be ready for a confrontation. He had a group of devoted followers who served as his bodyguards. Bhindranwale encouraged all Sikhs to buy weapons and motorcycles instead of televisions, believing that baptized Sikhs should also be weapon bearers for defense, as taught by Guru Gobind Singh.
Bhindranwale's call for Sikhs to keep weapons was often misunderstood by the press. He explained that he never told people to kill Hindus. As Indira Gandhi used the term "extremists," many Sikhs were removed from police and military forces.
Some Sikh leaders criticized Bhindranwale's presence in the Akal Takht complex. However, the police reportedly did not check trucks bringing supplies for the temple, even though one truck was found with guns and ammunition.
Militant groups later lost public support when some members joined for money rather than for the cause of a separate Sikh homeland. These groups were accused of crimes like assassination and bank robbery. The Babbar Khalsa group was opposed to Bhindranwale's initial strategy of joining the Akali protests. They focused more on Sikh religious life than politics. The rivalry between the two groups grew, but Bhindranwale eventually became seen as the head of the movement.
Moving to the Akal Takht
In July 1982, at the start of the Dharam Yudh Morcha, the President of Shiromani Akali Dal, Harchand Singh Longowal, invited Bhindranwale to live in the Golden Temple complex. On July 19, 1982, Bhindranwale moved into the Guru Nanak Niwas guest house with about 200 armed followers. He became known for settling people's problems quickly and fairly, which made him even more popular. He led his campaign from the guest house and gave interviews to international media.
On April 23, 1983, a police officer was killed as he left the Harmandir Sahib compound. The government blamed militant groups, but all Sikh groups, including Bhindranwale, denied involvement and condemned the incident. Longowal suggested a government conspiracy was behind the murder. Bhindranwale also called it an attempt to harm the Sikh movement.
The CRPF (a central police force) was sent to Punjab during President's rule. They fired on the Golden Temple in February 1984, which increased distrust among Sikhs. When General J S Aurora visited the Golden Temple in December 1983, he saw no defensive preparations. But when he visited again in February 1984, after Bhindranwale had moved to the Akal Takht, he saw some sandbags. He later believed that professional defenses were built between March and June by Shabeg Singh, a retired military officer who joined Bhindranwale.
It was reported that some militants were hiding in Sikh temples. However, the central government later said they could not enter the temples for fear of hurting Sikh feelings. After President's rule was imposed, violence increased. Anti-Sikh mob violence in Haryana in February 1984, which killed eight Sikhs, provoked more retaliations.
The law and order situation worsened. While the Akalis continued their peaceful protests, other armed Sikh groups, like the Babbar Khalsa and Dal Khalsa, sometimes clashed with police. A secret government group was also trying to divide the Sikh movement. Bhindranwale always carried a revolver and encouraged his followers to be armed. However, a police officer stated in December 1983 that Bhindranwale's worst offense was "harsh speech."
Organizations like the RSS and BJP called for military intervention. Members of Parliament also demanded Bhindranwale's arrest. Fearing arrest, Bhindranwale moved his headquarters to the Akal Takht complex on December 15, 1983. This move was supported by Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president of the SGPC, but opposed by Longowal. The high priest protested this move as disrespectful, but Bhindranwale was allowed to relocate. By December 1983, Bhindranwale and his followers, including retired military officers, had fortified the Golden Temple complex with sandbags and light weapons, preparing for a possible attack.
After Operation Blue Star, Lieutenant General J S Aurora noted that the weapons found were not very sophisticated, mostly light machine guns and two rocket launchers. He believed most weapons were either from misplaced drops during border wars, issued by the government for security, or from Punjab's long-standing trade of unregistered guns.
Views on Khalistan
Bhindranwale did not openly support Khalistan, but he often stressed the separate identity of Sikhs. He used the word 'Qaum' (nation or people) when referring to Sikhs. In a speech in March 1983, he said that Sikhs were a distinct nation.
In a BBC interview, Bhindranwale stated that if the government agreed to create a separate Sikh state, he would not refuse. He said Sikhs would only choose a separate state if they were discriminated against or if their distinct Sikh identity was threatened. He also warned that if the Indian government attacked the Golden Temple, it would lay the foundation for an independent Sikh state.
In his final interview, Bhindranwale said that "Sikhs can neither live in India nor with India." He added that it might be possible if they were treated as equals, but he doubted it. Kuldip Brar, who led Operation Blue Star, later claimed that intelligence sources believed Bhindranwale was planning to declare Khalistan independent with support from Pakistan.
Later information from a former intelligence officer suggested that the intelligence agency itself helped create the "Khalistan legend." He stated that there was no real Khalistan problem among Sikhs abroad, and that the agency created posts to counter non-existent activities.
Journalist Khushwant Singh wrote that much of the support for Khalistan grew after the attack on the temple, which many Sikhs saw as a deep offense to their religion.
Negotiations Before the Operation
- Amarinder Singh, a politician close to Indira Gandhi, met with Bhindranwale in 1982 to try and arrange meetings with Indira Gandhi. However, these meetings never happened, possibly due to interference from intelligence agencies. Amarinder Singh continued to try and negotiate with Bhindranwale and Longowal until the army operation. He believed Bhindranwale's main goal was to ensure Sikhs were treated fairly and equally in India.
- Days before the attack, government representatives met with Bhindranwale in a last effort to avoid the army operation. Bhindranwale agreed to talk if Sikh youths who had been arrested were no longer treated harshly by the police. He also wanted a statement from Gandhi promising to solve Punjab's problems through discussion. Bhindranwale warned of a strong reaction from the Sikh community if the temple was attacked. The government representative believed Bhindranwale was "grossly misunderstood" and that the operation could have been avoided if he had been treated with honesty.
- On the 30th anniversary of the operation, journalist Rajinder Puri said that the operation was unnecessary because Bhindranwale had agreed to a settlement a month before. Puri had met Bhindranwale and Longowal and found that they agreed to terms acceptable to the government. However, Indira Gandhi never responded to Puri's efforts. Puri stated that Bhindranwale had never demanded Khalistan but would not refuse it if offered.
- Indian politician Subramanian Swamy also met Bhindranwale multiple times and believed he never demanded Khalistan. Swamy claimed that the USSR was behind a misinformation campaign that led to Operation Blue Star, with the help of some Indian politicians. He stated that the KGB fabricated documents to make it seem like Pakistan was supporting Khalistan. Swamy believes that the 1984 operation was a result of this misinformation.
Government Actions Leading to Operation Blue Star
Planning for Operation Blue Star began long before Bhindranwale moved to the Golden Temple complex in December 1983. The army practiced the attack on a model of the Golden Temple for over 18 months. Over 125 other Sikh temples were also attacked at the same time. According to General S.K. Sinha, the operation was not a last resort but had been considered by Gandhi since 1982.
The government made detailed plans for a military action while pretending to be open to negotiations. Six additional army divisions, including special commandos, were sent to Punjab by May 1984. Negotiations with Bhindranwale failed because he insisted on the full implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution.
On May 26, the SGPC president informed the government that he could not convince Bhindranwale and that Bhindranwale was not under anyone's control. Since Gandhi did not want to implement the Resolution and feared losing Hindu votes, and the Akali Dal also feared losing power due to Bhindranwale's growing influence, their interests aligned. Facing an imminent army action, Bhindranwale said, "This bird is alone. There are many hunters after it."
The army action in Punjab began on June 3, 1984. Punjab's borders were sealed, and movement within the state was stopped. Water and electricity to the Golden Temple were cut off. The main attack began on June 6, resulting in many deaths, including pilgrims, women, and children. The operation caused 700 army casualties and 5,000 civilian deaths.
Death
In June 1984, after negotiations failed, Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi ordered Operation Blue Star. This Indian Army operation took place between June 1 and 8, 1984, to remove Bhindranwale and his armed followers from the Harmandir Sahib complex in Amritsar, Punjab. Bhindranwale was killed during the operation. Army officers and soldiers noted the bravery of Bhindranwale's followers who died fighting.
According to Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Brar, who led the operation, Bhindranwale's body was identified by several agencies, including the police and intelligence. Bhindranwale's brother also identified the body. Pictures believed to be of Bhindranwale's body have been published in books. BBC correspondent Mark Tully also reported seeing Bhindranwale's body at his funeral.
In 2016, The Week magazine quoted former members of India's intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, saying that they had killed Bhindranwale during Operation Blue Star.
Legacy
Cynthia Keppley Mahmood wrote that Bhindranwale never learned English but was very good at Punjabi. He was skilled at television, radio, and press interviews. She also stated that "those who knew him personally uniformly report his general likability and ready humour as well his dedication to Sikhism". She added that he is seen very differently by his supporters (who call him a hero) and his critics (who call him an extremist).
Journalist Khushwant Singh, though he disagreed with Bhindranwale, admitted that he genuinely treated all castes equally. He also said that Operation Blue Star made Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale the first 'martyr' for the Khalistan movement. In 2003, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee formally declared Bhindranwale a "martyr" and honored his son. Harbans Singh's The Encyclopedia of Sikhism describes Bhindranwale as "a phenomenal figure of modern Sikhism".
See also
- Amrik Singh
- Shabeg Singh
- 1984 anti-Sikh riots
