Recalling Delhi’s Anti-Sikh Riots

India’s Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by her bodyguards on the morning of 31 October 1984, upon exiting her official residence in Delhi, the capital. The daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s Independence leader and its inaugural prime minister, she was in her fourth term in the nation’s highest political position. The day prior to her assassination, Gandhi addressed a political gathering in Odisha (previously Orissa), an eastern state, stating, “I don’t mind if my life goes in the service of the nation. If I die today, every drop of my blood will invigorate the nation.” Frequently referred to as the “Iron Lady,” Gandhi was instrumental in Bangladesh, India’s eastern neighbor, achieving independence from Pakistan in 1971. In 1975, she declared a state of emergency that lasted 21 months, from June 1975 to March 1977. This era was characterized by extensive media censorship, limitations on civil liberties, and a compulsory mass sterilization program. Gandhi subsequently lost the parliamentary election, including her personal constituency, yet she regained power with a strong mandate within a few months. During the 1980s, Sikh separatists in Punjab advocated for an autonomous homeland, designated Khalistan. In 1984, Gandhi authorized a substantial military operation targeting individuals who had sought refuge in Amritsar’s Golden Temple, considered the holiest shrine of the faith. Approximately 400 individuals, comprising both soldiers and pilgrims, perished during this military assault, known as Operation Blue Star. Sikh organizations contest this casualty count, asserting that thousands lost their lives. Several months later, Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, reportedly in retaliation for her directive to deploy troops within the sacred shrine. Her demise triggered violent assaults against Sikhs by her supporters in Delhi and other regions, resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people within days. Four decades later, victims persist in their pursuit of justice, given that numerous accused individuals have been acquitted and legal appeals are still awaiting resolution in court.