| Revision as of 04:11, 4 September 2007 view sourceSikandarsingh (talk | contribs)5 editsm moved Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to Saint Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale: He was a Saint for Sikhs← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:11, 4 September 2007 view source Sikandarsingh (talk | contribs)5 edits moved Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to Saint Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale: He was a Saint for SikhsNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| ⚫ | #REDIRECT ] | ||
| {{sprotected|small=yes}} | |||
| {{Infobox Person | |||
| | name = Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale | |||
| | image = | |||
| | image_size = | |||
| | birth_date = {{birth date|1947|02|12}} | |||
| | birth_place = Rode, ], ], ] | |||
| | death_date = {{death date and age|1984|06|06|1947|02|12}} | |||
| | death_place = ], ], ], ] | |||
| | occupation = Leader of ] | |||
| | spouse = Bibi Pritam Kaur | |||
| | parents = | |||
| | children =Ishar Singh and Inderjit Singh<ref name="SH">{{cite web|title= Saint Jarnail Singh Bhindrenwale (1947 - 1984)|publisher=Sikh-history.com|last= Singh|first=Sandeep|date=|url=http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/personalities/bhindrenwale.html|accessdate=2007-03-18}}</ref> | |||
| }} | |||
| ''' Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale''' or ''' Jarnail Singh''' ({{lang-pa|ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਭਿੰਡਰਾਂਵਾਲੇ}}; ], ]–], ]) was the leader of the ], a ] religious group based in ].<ref name="TST">{{cite web|title= | |||
| Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale: Five Myths |publisher=''The Sikh Times''|last= Lamba|first=Puneet Singh|date=2004-06-06|url=http://www.sikhtimes.com/bios_060604a.html|accessdate=2007-06-25}}</ref> Bhindranwale carried heavy influence among many Sikh fundamentalists in ]. He tried to spread his version of the original values of ] and persuaded young people to follow the original rules and tenets of the religion. He was known for his support for the creation of the proposed ]-based ] state of ].<ref>{{cite book | last=Joshi | first=Chand | title=Bhindranwale: Myth and Reality| publisher=Vikas Publishing House | location=New Delhi | year = 1985|isbn=0706926943 | pages=p129 }}</ref> In 1981, Bhidranwale was arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder of ], the proprietor of the Hind Samachar Group. Although he willingly surrendered to police and later released due to lack of evidence, Bhindranwale was kept on close watch by Indian police officials. Bhindranwale is more notable for his involvement in ] in which he and other ]s occupied the ] complex, including the ], in ].<ref>{{cite news|title= Flashbacks: Golden Temple attack|publisher=]|last= Kaur|first=Naunidhi|date=2004-06-03|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3774651.stm|accessdate=2007-03-28}}</ref> He was killed by the ], who had orders from ]n ] ] to kill separatist ] militants inside the sacred temple. Since his death, Bhindranwale has remained a controversial figure in ]n history. Some view him as a ] who was fighting for the best interests of ], and others see him as a ] and an ].<ref name="TST"/> | |||
| ==Early life== | |||
| Bhindranwale was born in the village of Rode, in the ] of ]. His father, Joginder Singh, was a farmer and a local Sikh leader.<ref name="SH"/> Jarnail Singh was the seventh of eight brothers. He was brought up as a strict vegetarian.<ref name="IT">{{cite news|title= An India Today-100 People Who Shaped India|publisher='']''|last=Singh|first=Tavleen|date=2002-01-14|url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/millennium/100people/jarnail.html|accessdate=2006-10-28}}</ref> Bhindranwale took up ] until ], when he joined the ], a traveling Sikh university, near ], then headed by Gurbachan Singh Khalsa.<ref name="SH"/> Under the guidance of Gurbachan Singh Khalsa, Bhindranwale began a yearlong course in scriptural, theological and historical Sikh studies. A year later, Bhindranwale went back to his village and settled back to farming. He married Bibi Pritam Kaur, daughter of Bhai Sucha Singh of ].<ref name="SH"/> His wife bore him two sons, Ishar and Inderjit Singh, in 1971 and 1975, respectively.<ref name="SH"/> | |||
| ==Rise to popularity== | |||
| In Punjab, Bhindranwale went from village to village as a religious ] talking with Sikh people. He asked ]s to live according to the rules and tenets of ]. He would give long speeches and encourage numerous youths to take ], the holy nectar. Bhindranwale preached to young Sikh men who had lost their path, encouraging them to return to his path of ] by giving up vices like women, drugs, addictions, etc. His focus on fighting for some cause made him a hero in the eyes of young Sikhs. The successor to Gurbachan Singh Khalsa, Kartar Singh Khalsa, who died in a road accident on ], ], mentioned Bhidranwale as being the new leader of the ].<ref name="SH"/> Bhidranwale was formally elected at a ] ceremony at Mehta Chowk on ], ].<ref name="SH"/> | |||
| ==Politics and movement for Khalistan== | |||
| In response to questions about his political ambitions Bhindranwale once said: {{cquote|If I ever become ] of the ] or the S.G.P.C. , an ], a government minister, or a member of parliament...I shall deserve a shoe-beating by you.<ref>{{cite book | last=Sandhu | first=Ranbir Singh | title=Struggle for Justice: Speeches and Conversations of Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale| publisher=Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation | location=Dublin, Ohio | year = 1999|isbn=0967287405 | pages=p285 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Tully | first=Mark |authorlinks=]| coauthors=Satish Jacob|title=Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi's Last Battle| publisher=Rupa & Co. | location=New Delhi | year = 1985|isbn=0224023284 | pages=p113}}</ref>}} Despite these statements, Bhindranwale participated in some behind-the-scene political work. In ], Bhindranwale put up forty candidates in the SGPC elections for a total of 140 seats, all but four were defeated.<ref>{{cite book | last=Singh |first=Khuswant | year=2005 | month= | title=A History of the Sikhs: Volume II: 1839-2004 | publisher=] | location=] | isbn=0195673093 | pages=p332 }}</ref> A year later, Bhindranwale campaigned actively for Congress in three constituencies' during the general elections.<ref>Tully (1985), p177.</ref> Due to his lack of success in election politics, Bhindranwale did not personally seek any political offices. As stated in a ] '']'' article, Bhindranwale had become so popular that he had usurped the authority of the ], a ]-based ] ].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lopez |first=Laura |year=1984 |month=June |title=India, Diamonds and the Smell of Death |journal='']''|volume= |issue=], ] }}</ref> Bhindranwale wielded a great deal of power and the political factions in Punjab did not make commit any major action without thinking about Bhindranwale's response.<ref>{{cite book | last=Robin |first=Jeffrey| year=1994 | month= |edition=2| title=What's Happening to India? | publisher=Holmes & Meier Publishing| location=New York | isbn=0841913501 | pages=p146-147 }}</ref> | |||
| Bhindranwale was widely perceived to be a supporter for the creation of a proposed Sikhism-based ] state of ]. However, in a ] interview, he stated that if the government agreed to the creation of such a state, he would not refuse reflecting deliberate ambiguity. Other quotes attributed to Bhindranwale include "we are not in favour of Khalistan nor are we against it." Responding to the formation of Khalistan he is quoted as saying, "We won't reject it. We shall not repeat 1947."<ref>Sandhu (1999), pLVI.</ref> To which he added, "if the Indian Government invaded the Darbar Sahib complex, the foundation for an independent Sikh state will have been laid."<ref>Sandhu (1999), pLVII.</ref> | |||
| ==Role in the militancy== | |||
| On ], ], a few GurSikhs of Akhand Kirtani Jatha went to protest against Nirankaris. The confrontation led to the murder of thirteen members of the ] and three Nirankaris. The ] named twenty-two persons, several of whom were known associates of Bhindranwale.The victims were implicated. This infuriated Sikhs further. On ], ], the leader of ]s, ], was killed. The ] named nearly twenty people involved in the murder, most of whom had ties to Bhindranwale.<ref>{{cite web|title= Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale - Life, Mission, and Martyrdom|publisher=Sikh Educational and Religious Foundation|last=Sandhu|first=Ranbir S.| | |||
| date=1997-05|url=www.sikhcoalition.org/SantJarnailSingh.pdf|accessdate=2007-06-25}}</ref> Bhindranwale was subsequently implicated in ordering the assassination. A member of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Ranjit Singh, surrendered to committing the assassination three years later, and was sentenced to serve thirteen years at the ]. Bhidranwale was later released as he could not be charged by Indian courts due to lack of evidence. | |||
| On ], ], ], the proprietor of the Hind Samachar Group, was shot dead near the Amaltas Motel.<ref name="IT"/> Lala Jagat Narain was a prominent opponent of Bhindranwale. Two days after the assassination, police issued warrants for the arrest of Bhidranwale. A police search in Chando Kalan, a ] village, failed to produce an arrest. Upon seeing this, Bhidranwale publicly announced that he would surrender on September 20.<ref> | |||
| {{cite web|title= Tributes to a peacemaker|publisher='']''|last=Chowla|first=K.S.| | |||
| date=2003-10-18|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041018/ldh1.htm|accessdate=2007-06-25}}</ref> | |||
| On ], ], Bhindranwale was arrested on charges of orchestrating Lala Jagat Narain's murder. Over the next twenty-five days while Bhindranwale was held in custody, sporadic fights erupted in areas where Bhindranwale's accomplices had gathered. Bhindranwale was released on bail on October 15 as India's Home Minister, ] announced in the ] that there was no evidence against Bhindrawale.<ref>Tully (1985), p69.</ref> In a public statement issued soon after, Bhindranwale expressed his approval for Lala Jagat Narain's murder. Nonetheless, staff of Narain's newspaper, the ''Punjab Kesri'', and its distributors were targeted for some months and 62 people linked to the paper were murdered. | |||
| ==Death== | |||
| On ], ] Indian Prime Minister ] initiated ] and ordered the ] to surround the Golden Temple complex to kill the militants in the complex. It was widely reported that Bhindranwale did not survive the operation and is thus regarded as a "martyr" by Sikhs. | |||
| According to ] Kuldip Singh Brar, who commanded the operation, the body of Bhindranwale was identified by a number of agencies, including the police, the Intelligence Bureau and Sikh fighters in the Army's custody.<ref>{{cite book | last=Brar |first=K. S.| year=1993 | month=| title=Operation Blue Star: The True Story | publisher=UBS Publishers| location=New Delhi | isbn=8185944296 | pages=p114 }}</ref> Bhindranwale's brother is also reported to have identified Bhindranwale's body.<ref>{{cite book | last=Akbar |first=M. J.| year=1996 | month=| title=India: The Siege Within: Challenges to a Nation's Unity | publisher=UBS Publishers| location=New Delhi | isbn=8174760768 | pages=p196 }}</ref> Pictures of what appear to be Bhindranwale's body have been published in at least two widely circulated books, ''Tragedy of Punjab: Operation Bluestar and After'' and ''Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi's Last Battle''. ] correspondent ] also reported seeing Bhindranwale's body during his funeral. | |||
| People who maintain that he survived the operation include Dilbir Singh, the Public Relations Advisor at ].<ref name="FL">{{cite web|title= The enigma of Bhindranwale|publisher=''Frontline''|last=Kaur |first=Naunidhi |date=2001-06-23|url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl1813/18130360.htm|accessdate=2007-03-17}}</ref> He stated that Bhindranwale was injured on the right side of his temple. He stated, "a government doctor verified he was captured alive. He was tortured to death."<ref>{{cite book | last=Pettigrew |first=Joyce| year=1995 | month=| title=The Sikhs of the Punjab: Unheard Voices of State and Guerrilla Violence | publisher=Zed Books| location=London | isbn=1856493555 | pages=p34-35 }}</ref><ref>Pettigrew (1995), p51.</ref> R.K. Bajaj, a correspondent for Surya magazine, claimed to have seen a photograph of Bhindranwale in custody.<ref>{{cite book | last=Jaijee |first=Inderjit Singh| year=1999 | month=| title=Politics of Genocide: Punjab (1984-1998) | publisher=Ajanta Publications| location=New Delhi | isbn=8120204158 | pages=p59 }}</ref> This claim is strongly contested, especially by Bhindranwale's son who has now become a prominent figure within Sikh politics. Some within the Damdami Taksal claimed he is still alive.<ref name="FL"/><ref name="TST"/> However, Jarnail Singh was pronounced a ] by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee at a function in ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale: Unclear Legacy |publisher='']'' |date=2003-06-09|url=http://www.sikhtimes.com/bios_060903b.html|accessdate=2007-03-27}}</ref> | |||
| ==Legacy== | |||
| Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was praised by many ]s as a matyr of common time,<ref name="SS">{{cite web|title= Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale |publisher=Shaheedi Immorality|date=|url=http://saintsoldiers.net/ss/?p=jar|accessdate=2007-03-27}}</ref> but to other Sikhs he was considered a ].<ref name="SH"> | |||
| {{cite web|title= From Bhindranwale to Bin Laden: The Rise of Religious Violence|publisher=]|last=Juergensmeyer|first=Mark|date=2004|url=http://repositories.cdlib.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1024&context=gis |accessdate=2007-03-28}}</ref><ref name="TST"/> Bhindranwale is hailed by some for his efforts to preach the philosophy of the ] to the ].<ref name="SS"/> Famed ]n ] ] stated that "<nowiki>]<nowiki>]</nowiki> gave the movement for ] its first martyr in Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale."<ref>Singh (1999), p378.</ref> In ], at a function arranged by the ], Joginder Singh Vedanti, the present ''jathedar'' of the ] made a formal declaration that Bhindranwale was a "martyr" and awarded his son, Ishar Singh, a robe of honor.<ref>{{cite news|title=Takht accepts Bhindranwale’s death |publisher='']''|date=2003-06-06|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030607/main3.htm|accessdate=2007-06-25}}</ref> Harbans Singh's ''The Encyclopedia of Sikhism'' describes Bhindranwale as "a phenomenal figure of modern ]."<ref>{{cite book | editor=Singh, Harbans | year=1996 | month= | title=The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism | publisher=] | location=] | isbn=817380530X | pages=Vol. 2, p352 }}</ref> | |||
| ], one of ]'s leading political commentators said, " remains a ] in the eyes of many Sikhs. Even today, rare is the Sikh ] who will dare to call him what he was: a ] and a ]."<ref>Sandhu (1999), pXL.</ref> Others feel Bhidranwale wanted to rise to fame and create the theocratic nation of ]. Some feel that Bhindranwale was responsible for the instigation of Operation Blue Star after he took refuge in the ] in ].<ref>{{cite book | last=Marty | first=Martin E. | year=1995 | month= | title=The Fundamentalism Project | publisher=] | location=Chicago | isbn=0-226-50878-1 | pages=p596-597 }}</ref> | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| {{Sikhism}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Bhindranwale, Jarnail Singh}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
Revision as of 04:11, 4 September 2007
Redirect to: