Gulmehar Dhillon

On October 31st, 1984, the Prime Minister of India, Ms. Indira Gandhi, met a tragic fate at the hands of her Sikh bodyguards, setting off a chain of events that would forever stain the nation’s history. What unfolded in the aftermath was a relentless three-day spree of violence targeting the Sikh community—a brutal pogrom etched in the collective memory of the community. Men were consumed by flames, women were subjected to unimaginable horrors, children were left orphaned, and homes were looted in a display of brutality. Independent reports suggest that a staggering 17,000 lives were lost, yet justice remains elusive, with more than 400 cases still pending in court as of 2018. The perpetrators and enablers roam free, while survivors persist in their arduous struggle for justice.

It is within this backdrop of anguish and injustice that my project, Haal Mureeda Da/The Plight of His Disciples, takes shape in the form of a protest journal. Having grown up in a Sikh household, I have been intimately acquainted with the narratives of brutality inflicted upon my community. Through this project, I raise my voice against the injustice and brutality that the Sikh community faced, not only during those haunting three days but in the enduring aftermath that continues to this day.

Since September 2019, I have immersed myself in the stories of survivor families; Haal Mureeda Da/The Plight of His Disciples encapsulates these stories, combined with the portraits I have captured during our interactions, as well as archival material gathered from the survivors’ homes. In the form of a research journal, this project becomes a vessel to document my journey, as I seek to unravel questions of identity and justice that resonate far beyond individual experiences.

Within the broader tapestry of history, the Anti-Sikh Pogrom of 1984 cannot be divorced from the protracted struggle between the Sikh community and the government. It emerged from the simmering tensions fuelled by the Sikh quest for sovereignty and rightful control over their land and resources. However, this very struggle inadvertently drained the state of Punjab, exacerbating political and economic strife. Thus, the tragic events of 1984 serve as a stark reminder that the pogrom was not simply a result of communal violence, but a deeply political phenomenon.

In a world where identities are magnified and differences are exploited, the reverberations of what transpired 35 years ago remain strikingly relevant today. The Anti-Sikh Pogrom of 1984 stands as a haunting mirror reflecting a society that has forsaken the marginalized and downtrodden. It is a testament to the enduring impact on survivors, a reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. It compels us to confront the harrowing reality of how political complexities have intertwined with communal strife, tearing lives, families, and societies apart.

Haal Mureeda Da/The Plight of His Disciples is an embodiment of my protest—a resolute stand against the darkness that engulfs us, demanding justice and upholding the true spirit of unity and compassion that should define our nation.

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