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Eye Witness
Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti’s personal account from the tragic days
of the
June of 1984
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Former Akal Takht jathedar, Giani
Joginder Singh Vedanti, has chosen to tell his personal
experience and an eye witness account of the dastardly attack on
the Akal Takht, Darbar Sahib and Sikh heritage by the Indian
Army. This account was written and published in Punjabi, and has
been translated into English by Sach Kanwal Singh for the
readers of World Sikh News. In the accompanying shorter piece,
Sach Kanwal Singh has a few posers for the Jathedar. |
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 On
June 4, 1984 I got up at
3 a.m.
Exactly at
4 a.m., I along with my wife Harbhajan Kaur, reached Sri Harmandir
Sahib for my duty as Ardasia Singh. Dr. Amrik Singh Huzuri Ragi's
jatha was performing kirtan of Sri Asa Ji Di Var. At
4:30
when the Palki Sahib arrived from Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Kotha
Sahib), the hukumnama was taken.
Around
4:45 a.m.,
when kirtan of Sri Asa Ji Di Var was on, a cannon ball struck into
the Sindhi Dharamshala. This Dharamshala was towards
the north of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and was between the Takht Sahib
and the Tharra Sahib. (This dharamshala was later on
demolished.) The cannon ball seemed to have come from the
Jallianwala Bagh side. Three or four minutes after that, massive
indiscriminate firing started which went on till 8:30 p.m.
Off and on, the cannon balls kept falling at various places, but
till this day, no bullet struck inside Sri Harmandir Sahib. As a
matter of precaution, we had shut the doors and windows of Sri
Harmandir Sahib. I and Singh Sahib Giani Sohan Singh ji came out of
Sri Harmandir Sahib at
9:30
in the morning after our duty and reached our respective residences
inside the complex.
On
the evening of June 4, the Nitnem was concluded at
8 p.m.
That day the holy saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahibji was not
taken to Kotha Sahib. Rather the Sukh Asan was performed at
Har Ki Pauri itself. At around
10 p.m., power supply to Sri Darbar Sahib and buildings around was
cut off and army had organized positions on the tall buildings
around Darbar Sahib.
From
10 p.m.
till
5 a.m.
of June 5, the firing was very subdued. When I reached Sri Harmandir
Sahib at
4 a.m.
on June 5 for my duty, Bhai Amrik Singh was performing kirtan of
Asa Di Var and Giani Sohan Singh with the help of some
sevadars was bringing down the Saroop of Sri Guru Granth
Sahib from Har Ki Pauri. Hukumnama was taken after prakash.
At
4:55,
there was a hail of cannon balls, and eight of them continuously
struck the Sindhi Dharamshala since they were trying to target Sri
Akal Takht Sahib. Firing struck all around the Parikarma and inside
Sri Harmandir Sahib. The doors of Sri Harmandir Sahib were shut.
Some 4-5 Akhand Pathi Singhs, 15-20 sevadars and a few
devotees were present inside Sri Harmandir Sahib. Among them were S
Harcharan Singh Hudiyara, Shahid Bhai Fauja Singh's wife Bibi
Amarjit Kaur and sister Bibi Paramjit Kaur.
This Bibi Paramjit Kaur was martyred near Baba Sawiya Singh's
chabeel. Around
11:30,
five of us, including myself, Singh Sahib Giani Sohan Singh ji and
three sevadars reached our quarters negotiating our way
through the firing.
Near
Baba Sawaye Singh’s chabeel from where steps led to my
residence, many corpses of the martyred Singhs were lying. My
residence was also not safe because some Singhs had already
organized positions there. Among them were a few Singhs who had come
from Nanded. We saw that these Singhs were bravely countering the
firing by tanks, which was coming from Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Bunga
side.
These Singhs blew up an artillery group along with the soldiers
which was trying to enter from the rear Papran Bazaar side. Around
12:30 p.m.
of June 5, I came along with my family to the store where wet
garments are stored. There was already a big crowd of Singhs in this
store. We thought it better to go back to our residence after more
than an hour spent in the store.
Around
1:30
that day, the water tank opposite Guru Ram Das serai was blown up.
Some 200 shots were fired at the water tank. Around 8 p.m., the army
tried to surround Sri Akal Takht Sahib by trying to enter from the
Papran Bazaar side.
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Around
8 a.m.,
cars of senior army officers started arriving. Three army trucks
rolled in full of ammunition, including rifles, swords and even
spears. All these weapons were taken to Akal Takht Sahib. These
were the weapons that were later shown to the people during
various photo-ops.
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The Singhs from our side threw something on those soldiers and we
heard loud cries of “Mar diya, Mar diya." Perhaps all the
soldiers down below were killed. Then the army men brought a heavy
gun mounted on a jeep. But the Singhs did not allow this jeep to
move much. These Singhs exhibited exemplary bravery till the very
end. Around
9:45 in the night, a small tank entered the parikarma. A
cannon ball fired by this tank struck our corner room. One of the
Singhs who was left downstairs by his associates was injured in this
room.
Around
midnight,
the army was able to take control of this side. Before that, around
10:30 in the night, a few tanks had entered the parikarma
from the Langar hall side. Next day, one tank passed by the
chabeel at Baba Deep Singh ji and then the Shaheed Bunga
spot. These tanks then fired poison gas balls at Sri Akal Takht
Sahib. This gas affected even our side. These tanks kept the firing
on all through the night. The bullets kept coming inside our house.
Around
8:45
on the morning of June 6 took place the massive battle in front of
Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The army had taken control on all sides except
Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the corner on our side where the Bungas
were located.
 On
June 6, at
4:05 p.m., the army made an announcement using mega phones asking
everyone in the complex to come out within 30 minutes. Initially we
were in a dilemma, but when we saw Bhai Gurdip Singh Ardasiya
and other sevadars coming out of Sri Harmandir Sahib, we also
came down from our quarters. We had only locked the outer gate and
had merely bolted the rooms. A bit of cash, a couple of watches and
some other costly stuff that we had put in a bag, was immediately
snatched away by the army men.
Near the Deodhi towards the south, they tied my hands behind
my back using the small dastar tied on my head. At this time,
my wife Harbhajan Kaur, mother-in-law Pritam Kaur, sister-in-law
Kashmir Kaur and nephew Sukhwinder Singh were with me. When we were
arrested, we saw a nearly 20-day old child also lying dead near the
chabeel. All around the parikarma and the rooms, there
were many children and elderly devotees who had been martyred.
The arrested men and women were divided into groups of 40 and were
handed over to different units of the army. Members of my family and
I were in the same group. At this time, Akal Takht Sahib and
Darshini Deodhi were both on fire. The 40 of us arrested were
brought out alongside the Dukh Bhanjani Beri and then out of
the Clock Tower deodhi and made to sit on the debris of the
building that had gathered after so much firing.
Women and children were then separated from the men.
 Stuck
in the heavy firing ever since the major battle of the morning of
June 6, Huzuri Ragi Bhai Amrik Singh and Bhai Balwant Singh, both
blind, alongside Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Gurcharan Singh were
killed near the Laachi Beri by the soldiers. The
ishnanghars (bathing places) both for males and females were
full of corpses. The army men to whom our custody was given were
either Madraasi or Bihari. If anyone asked for water or wanted to go
to the urinals, he would immediately be kicked or beaten with rifle
butts.
We were brought here around
4:30 in the evening. Around
7 p.m.,
a few commandos came with a bunch of photographs and scanned our
faces to see if any matched with the mugs they had. The one question
we were being asked throughout was -- "Where Bhinder has gone?"
Till
10 p.m.,
we were off an on kicked and beaten with rifle butts. When the
children and the elderly started crying badly because of thirst, the
soldiers gave us each a glass of water. As our hands were tied
behind our backs, the soldiers put the glasses to our lips. That's
how we had water.
Later, four young men from our group were pulled out and they were
beaten very badly. In the evening when we were brought there, there
were four corpses in front of the
Punjab
and Sind Bank. But by the time it was morning, these had become 13
corpses. Whosoever they wanted to kill, they would first call him
out and take him outside.
Till
midnight,
we kept sitting there, heads down and our hands tied behind our
backs. After
midnight,
we were ordered to lie down. But with our hands tied it was not
possible to lie down properly and we lay sideways, between life and
death.
Around 7 in the morning of June 7, some army men standing nearby
were sending messages on the wireless that Sant Bhindranwala has
been killed and "we are fully in control of the
Golden Temple."
Around
8 a.m.,
cars of senior army officers started arriving. Three army trucks
rolled in full of ammunition, including rifles, swords and even
spears. All these weapons were taken to Akal Takht Sahib. These were
the weapons that were later shown to the people during various
photo-ops.
Corpses of two senior army officers who were shot dead by the
fighting Sikhs inside the
Golden
Temple complex were brought out covered in white sheets. Then a
corpse was brought out which was said to be that of Sant Jarnail
Singh Bhindranwala. This was covered with a yellow cloth and was
placed on a slab of ice in the Deodhi of the Clock Tower side.
The information officer of the
Golden Temple, Narinderjit Singh Nanda, was also with us. He was
tortured very badly during the night. Now the army men took
Narinderjit Singh Nanda and Bhai Harcharan Singh Huzuri Ragi to
identify Sant Jarnail Singh's body. When they came back, I asked
Bhai Harcharan Singh Ragi if it was indeed the body of the Sant. He
said that the face was beyond identification. A bullet had gone
through the neck and a sure identification was not possible but it
did seem that of Sant Bhindranwale.
 Between 8 and
9 a.m. of June 7, some army men dragged the wife of Ragi Bhai Jagir
Singh, brother of the well known late Ragi Bhai Gopal Singh, from
their residence towards the Clock Tower. She was crying very loudly
and kept on shouting that these army men pulled out her husband from
the room and have shot him dead. Then she fell unconscious and was
taken to the hospital where she could not survive the shock and
died.
Similarly a large number of sevadars at Sri Darbar Sahib
along with their families were shot at point blank range by the army
men.
Around
noon
of June 7, our hands were untied so that we can have food. It is
necessary to tell here where the food came from. This food was
prepared and distributed by a group of shopkeepers who were
celebrating the army attack on Golden Temple and were openly happy
at the killing of the Sant. The tea, chapatis, puris,
curries and lentils were in good supply. We were sent this same
food. You can well imagine how we partook of this food.
After we had eaten, our hands were tied again. Around
3 p.m.,
we were asked to board the army trucks. It was difficult to climb in
because of our tied hands but the soldiers would badly beat up
anyone who slackened his pace.
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After being released on June 17, on June 18, I went straight to the
Sikh Reference library. I found the holy handwritten Saroops of Guru
Granth Sahib and many ancient manuscripts, historical documents, etc
missing. Till date, the government of the country says that all of
this was lost in a fire at the library but the truth is that all
this stuff was taken away by the army because till that time there
was no sign of a fire. |
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Sardar Singh, the sevadar of Baba Sham Singh dera who used to bring
a deg every day during the chowki at dawn, found it difficult
to climb into the trucks and was beaten so badly that he died by the
time he reached the camp jail set up inside a school. Similarly, the
sevadar of Gathhri Ghar (where belongings of devotees are deposited
for safe custody), Bhai Kikar Singh alias Kulwant Singh, whose legs
were deformed also could not survive the torture from the army men
and died on June 9 inside the army camp.
Some 50 of us were locked in a single small room on the first floor
of the school. People were crying because of thirst and hunger.
Women and children were taken away. There was a single tap inside a
bathroom from where all of us used to drink water of take bath. Only
stale chapatis were given to us twice a day.
Every person was separately interrogated and we were repeatedly
photographed.
After intensive interrogation and investigation, I, alongside 83
other employees of the SGPC was released on June 17, but other
members of my family and other visitors to the Darbar Sahib were not
released and were rather sent to jail. On June 28, I was able to get
bail for them.
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Later, four young men from our group were pulled out and they
were beaten very badly. In the evening when we were brought
there, there were four corpses in front of the
Punjab
and Sind Bank. But by the time it was morning, these had become
13 corpses. Whosoever they wanted to kill, they would first call
him out and take him outside.
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After being released on June 17, on June 18 I went straight to the
Sikh Reference library, to which I was closely associated as a
researcher. I found the holy handwritten Saroops of Guru Granth
Sahib and many ancient manuscripts, historical documents, etc
missing.
Till date, the government of the country says that all of this was
lost in a fire at the library but the truth is that all this stuff
was taken away by the army because at that time there was no sign of
a fire.
I was perhaps not so saddened by all that my family and I went
through, than by the realization that the historical heritage of the
Sikh quom has been lost.
I went to my residence where the lock was broken and the army men
had taken away every single thing including utensils and clothes.
Sitting in front of the Clock Tower, we had given up all hope for
life but I am eternally grateful to the Akal Purakh who gave me the
opportunity to continue an association with Sadh Sangat for some
more time.
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Vedanti Sahib, Why?
Sach Kanwal Singh
 Former
Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti deserves
gratitude for finding the time and the inclination for writing
this eyewitness account. It is not clear why the account from
the terrible days from an authority as high as a former top
cleric is so sketchy, but that is not the main point here. It is
not clear why Jathedar Vedanti should provide such an account to
one newspaper, Ajit, only for exclusive publishing rights. There
could be several views on his choice of the vehicle to let the
world know what he went through, but that is not the main point
here.
 The
main point is rather simple, and one which can only be responded
to by Jathedar Vedanti. The Sikh nation is well aware of the
circumstances in which Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti came to be
installed as the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the supreme
seat of temporal authority for the Sikhs. It is also only too
well aware of the circumstances in which Jathedar Vedanti was
removed by the SGPC top brass in keeping with the whims and
fancies of Prakash Singh Badal-Sukhbir Singh Badal.
 All
that we feel tempted to ask is this. The experiences that
Jathedar Vedanti went through during the tragic days, as is
clear from the account he has himself penned, were life changing
experiences. The former cleric himself writes that one stage he
had given up the hope for survival. His hands were tied, he was
kicked, beaten, humiliated, arrested. He saw the Akal Takht
under attack, he saw it being burnt down. Any Sikh could never
have been the same, and we have no reason to believe that
Jathedar Vedanti was ever the same man again. Like any Sikh, his
heart also was torn asunder at such scenes. The fact that the
very next day after his release he rushed to the Sikh Library
instead of running about to get his family freed shows how
deeply he was moved and how concerned he was to find out about
the invaluable Sikh heritage of manuscripts, historical
documents and objects at the Library.
 What
surprises is what made a man like Joginder Singh Vedanti, first
hand eye witness to an event of such momentous proportions,
kowtow to the likes of Prakash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh
Badal, claymen like Avtar Singh Makkar or sundry messengers of
the Akali ruling family of Lambi? He saw the Singhs fighting, he
knew what it means to safeguard the maryada of the gurughar, yet
he suffered in silence when he was ordered about on every issue.
Right from his conduct in the Dera Baba Dhanwant Singh case to
his muted opposition to the Noormehlias to his wavering on the
issue of Dera Sirsa to his actions of accepting/not accepting
apologies from Sirsa to his cancellation of the Ratia rally,
Jathedar Vedanti seemed to have lost the script. He had seen
simple men and women, inspired by the high ideals, writing a
glorious script with their blood, but he himself demurred when
it came to simply standing by his principles and put in a
resignation that would have brought some embarrassment to those
out to sell the soul of the Sikh nation to brahamanical powers.
 “I
only want that I should leave when the mela is in full swing,”
Jathedar Vedanti once told a Sikhism scholar. Alas, he was not
allowed to even fulfill that minimal demand. He saw men of
destiny leaving this world at the edge of the sword because they
believed in what they preached. His account of Operation
Bluestar is a testimony to that. He himself could not even find
a graceful exit as Badals’ minion limpets stood at his door
asking for his resignation. His exit is a testimony of that. It
is high time, Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti ji, for you to
write the entire truth, the complete truth, of your leadership
at the Takht too. The Takht for whose sanctity you saw brave men
and women choosing to be blown to smithereens but refusing to
buckle. You are already retired. Choose to stand up and be
counted. Take up a pen, and say the truth. Rest assured, the
Sikh Nation will ensure that you exit this world when the mela
is in full swing all around you. |
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10 June 2009
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