Frozen in time and space

This was no Jallianwala Bagh where thousands of Sikhs were massacred while protesting against the British rule. Children born post 1980 (me included) had read about the anguish and the atrocities Sikhs had to bear during partition. I had heard stories from my grandmother when she along with her family had to leave behind their ancestral home and all belongings in Rawalpindi to move lock, stock and barrel to Delhi. I could hear the excruciating pain she had suffered and still lingers on in her memory, 63 years of Independence. I had developed a deep abhorrence towards the Britishers who had ruled our country. But this was worse. In a span of just three short days (October 31-November 2, 1984) over 3,000 Sikhs were massacred in New Delhi. Reason: On October 31, 1984, India’s then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards – Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh – in retaliation for the storming of the Sikh holy shrine of the Golden Temple in Amritsar in June during Operation Blue Star.

I grew up as a regular Delhiite, without a care in the world. I never bothered about the political scene in the country. I was untouched both emotionally & physically by the ghosts left behind by the 1984 carnage on Sikhs in the Capital or the 1992 bloodbath in Mumbai or for that matter, even the ghastly killing in Godhra.

Meanwhile, the political scene in the country was heating up. On April 17, 1999, Atal Bihari Vajpayee lost a confidence vote in the Lok Sabha and consequently tendered the resignation of his coalition government. So, on April 26, then President of India, late K. R. Narayanan, dissolved the Lok Sabha and called for early elections.

I had just turned major, but I didn’t have the Voter’s I-card, so couldn’t cast my vote. Being an Army man’s daughter, discussions around politics and government were very normal during the dinner table and the entire family used to chip in.

On turning 18, my father insisted that I get a Voter’s I-card made. The only motive behind getting a Voter’s I-Card was that I should have a valid document to prove my identity!!! By now the Vajpayee government, along with its NDA coalition, had successfully completed its five-year tenure and India was once again gearing up for elections in 2004. And since now I had my Voter’s I-Card, I though of putting it to good use.

Staying in Lutyens Delhi, our locality belonged to the prestigious and prized New Delhi constituency. Known for its ‘elite’ nature and Sikh voters being the decisive factor, my constituency always witnessed lively contests. In 2004, standing from our constituency was Ajay Maken who as Power Minister played a key role in privatising electricity and bringing relief for the laid-back Delhi Vidyut Board. No guesses then that I had voted for this young and enterprising Congressman, as opposed to BJP’s veteran Jagmohan. Maken won hands down.

This time too, we saw frenzied excitement and energy. Congress has once again walked away with the top honours. Even the black shadows of Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar were not able to turn the tide in BJP’s favour. The Tytler issue made me think that I knew very little about the 1984 riots on Sikhs and since I belonged to this minority community, I decided it’s time that I better know what happened 25 years back.

I got hold of the book “When a Tree Shook Delhi’ by Manoj Mitta and H. S. Phoolka. I was hooked from page one itself. It was such an intriguing book that in less than a day, I had completed it entirely. I felt deep revulsion toward H.K.L Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar.

I also felt a sense of betrayal as I had always claimed Rajiv Gandhi to be my favourite leader. A chance meeting with Mr. Phoolka (he stays near my house) and learning about his great sacrifices made me wonder: Why vote for Congress?

But then again, who says BJP is any better. If Congress was to be blamed for the 1984 riots, then BJP is equally responsible for the Godhra carnage. It’s just a matter of concluding which is worse of the two. Even though I was shocked with the revelations, my decision to vote for Congress remained intact. After all, 25 years is a long time and one needs to let things go. By letting issues to fester will only bring in deep sorrow and nothing more. Tragically, the current imbroglio does not seem to end. Solving it would be the big final laugh.