Four decades after the Indian armed forces stormed the Golden Temple to remove Sikh separatists, many in the Punjab community are still angry with the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi.

Amritsar

The pain remains raw for many in India's Sikh community, four decades after Indian armed forces stormed the Golden Temple in a military operation. The raid, intended to remove armed Sikh separatists seeking an independent homeland, resulted in significant loss of life and damage to the holy site. While the shrine has since been repaired, emotional scars remain deep for those affected.

Satpal Dinesh, a photographer who documented the siege, recalls the intense military operation vividly, describing it as a war that brought heartache to the community. Bayant Singh lost his brother during the raid and says he cannot forgive the government's actions. The order to attack came from then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was later assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation, sparking anti-Sikh riots across India.

Many in the Sikh community remain critical of the Indian government's treatment of Sikhs, with some alleging continued discrimination. There are renewed calls for an independent Khalistan state among certain separatist groups. This sentiment is perceived to be gaining traction, particularly with figures like Amritpal Singh, a hardline Khalistan activist, and the newly elected MP, the son of one of Gandhi’s assassins.

For others, the anniversary of Operation Blue Star is a time for reflection and education. They emphasize the importance of community unity to prevent history from repeating itself, especially in an India where concerns over minority rights persist.



The painful memories 40 years after India’s Golden Temple raid

The pain is still raw 40 years later in the holiest place for Sikhs, the inner shrine of the Golden Temple. The very spot Indian armed forces stormed in 1984. It was a bloody siege. The Indian military intent on flushing out a group of armed Sikh separatists barricaded inside, demanding an independent homeland. Thousands were killed, 400 officially, although Sikh groups believe the death toll was much higher. The damage to the holy site, devastating for the faithful. Four decades later, the shrine is repaired, but the emotional scars remain deep. Satpal Dinesh, a photographer now in his 70s, was there, documenting the army operation and its violent aftermath. At first it was hard to grasp how many Indian officers were poised to strike. Until Dinesh says they advanced on the temple, I realized then this was a war. One that brought nothing but heartache to Bayant Singh and his family. Faded photos are all that he has left of his brother, shot and killed inside the temple, leaving three young boys fatherless. We never even saw his body or got his belongings back, Singh says. I can't ever forgive that insult from government officials. The order to attack the holy temple came from India's then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. And even 40 years later, many of those gathered here say they'll never forget that or forgive India's government. Even for those born years after the army mission, Operation Blue Star stings as a brutal assault against their religion. The Indian state attacked a pilgrimage temple. On that day, the government has attacked with tanks, with army, with commandos, full, to kill Sikhs. Indira Gandhi is the focus of much of their anger. And she paid a heavy price for ordering Indian forces to charge the temple. Months later, she was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation. In turn, sparked anti-Sikh riots across the country. For some here, there's grievance and a sense that similar discrimination against Sikhs continues under India's present government. This group of separatists renewing the calls for an independent Khalistan state feels as much. Many here point to how the Indian government under Narendra Modi at times resorts to using the word Khalistani to target those opposing their policies. This student says some politicians in India freely promote a Hindu-centric state. Take Amritpal Singh, he says, a self-styled preacher and hardline Khalistan activist who ran in the recent general election from jail and won. Another newly elected MP, the son of one of the bodyguards who assassinated Indira Gandhi, fueling a perception that Khalistan sentiment could be on the rise. But for others at the temple, the anniversary of Operation Blue Star is not about politics. It's about educating future generations. To not let it happen again because we are still a minority. So if we are not together as a community, then they can be lost in this nation. Nothing more important, she says, in an India where the ruling party has shown little regard for the concerns of the country's minorities.

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