**25 Years Since Sarbat Khalsa - 1986 **

[khalistan_zindabaad]

After the 1980's Sant Baba Thakur Singh Jee Served the khalsa panth and the khalistan movement in various ways, uner the guidance of Damdami Taksaal and Baba Jee the Panth Observed the Sarbat Khalsa in 1986. Baba Jee helped the familys of the shaheeds and inspired many thousands of youth into the khalsa fold.

Declaration of Khalistan & Constitution of the Panthic Committee On the 26th of January 1986 the Damdami Taksal organized a Sarbat Khalsa (Sikh national gathering) at the Akal Takht in Amritsar, Punjab where a resolution for Khalistan was passed.

Later that same year on April 29 a second Sarbat Khalsa was held, also at the Akal Takht in Amritsar, where a declaration of the independence of Khalistan was made and a 5 member Panthic Committee was constituted in order to carry out the objective of overseeing the independence of Khalistan.

In 1986 Baba Jee's advice was sought of how the movement should be taken forward and Baba Jee said 5 Singhs should be appointed to lead the Panth (nation). Subsequently on 26th January 1986 a Sarbat Khalsa (gathering of the Sikh Nation) was called and a Panthic Committee was formed (committee comprising 5 Singhs, Bhai Aroor Singh, Bhai Gurdev Singh Usman Vala, Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, Bhai Vassan Singh Zafferwal & Bhai Dhanna Singh). After Operation Blue Star the government was in a hurry to bring normality to Punjab or diffuse the situation and in their haste they sponsored Baba Santa Singh of Buddha Dal to rebuild the desecrated and damaged Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib. The Sikh nation was outraged, that, first the government destroys Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib, and then quickly re-builds it, by sponsoring Baba Santa Singh with a lucrative budget. This added fuel to the fire of the attack on the dignity of the Sikhs, and as a result, the Sikhs decided to tear down the government built Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib.

Initially after the demolition of the government sponsored Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib, different Sants were given the seva of re-building it, but none of them were up to the humongous task ahead of them. The re-building had a stop and start fashion to it and in the end Baba Jee took on the leadership of the re-construction project, after which, the re-construction made steady progress.

(The Game of Love)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCZUEHBNCnA

[chatanga]

well done bruv for making this topic. i was reading up on a little history a couple of days ago, and i noticed this as well, but you beat me to making this anniversary known to more younger sikhs.

the thing is how can we bring this very important historical day to the Sikh memory again?

gurdwaras mostly wouldnt care to remind sangat of this day.

[khalistan_zindabaad]

I did ask singhs to do a tv discussion show on sikh channel etc but i dont know what happened with it. It is a very important day for our history.

[just_someone]

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa Vaheguru ji ki fateh

Wow what a great video, soo many sikh youths there, its like a sea of orange.

how come no one talks about the struggle everyone should watch these videos its shows that loads of sikhs supported the struggle for khalistan. I decided to look on the net for articles related to Sarbat Khalsa and found these.

I cant believe seeing Baba Thakur Singh ji in the video must have been amazing times for the sangat, so many chardi kala gursikhs there, wonder how many of them became shaheed.

What others Gurmatas were passed at the Sarbat Khalsa

We should have a national day to remember this Historical Event

Sikh Democratic Sovereignty

Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, the first Takhat of the Sikh Panth, is a sovereign seat and a symbol of freedom. The word ‘Takhat’ literally means ‘the Royal Throne’. Its function is to preserve and protect the religious traditions of the Sikh Panth (nation).

The foundation of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib was laid down 400 years ago by Sri Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Guru, in 1606 in front of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. The five storey building was completed in 1609. Sri Guru Hargobind Ji instructed that no hired labour was to be used in building Sri Akal Takhat Sahib as it was the ‘Court of God’.

Guru Ji reaffirmed that if they were to continue their existence, Sikhs had to become saint-soldiers. He himself wore two Kirpans, one symbolizing ‘Piri (spiritual power) and the other ’Miri’ (political power) and instructed Sikhs to donate horses and arms instead of other offerings. Guru Ji formed an army to fight the tyranny and oppression. Sikhs were ordered to be fully armed to defend the downtrodden, oppressed and themselves. This was a continuation of the path enshrined by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji states:

“It is the privilege and right of the true men to fight for and die for righteousness’’.

In addition, Sri Guru Hargobind Ji instigated the ‘nagara’ (drum) and ‘Nishan Sahib’ (Sikh flag). The nagara signifies the freedom of the people to declare their faith publicly and was used to proclaim the Sikh principle of sharing with others as it was used to call people to ‘Guru Ka Langar’ (free kitchen). The Nishan Sahib has on it the ‘Khanda’, the Sikh insignia. It was first raised at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib in 1608 by Sri Guru Hargobind Ji.

By situating Sri Akal Takhat Sahib opposite to the entrance to Sri Harmandir Sahib Guru Ji demonstrated that, in his temporal affairs, man should not forget religion and its true purpose of love, equality and justice.

Equally religion must not abandon society but endure sacrifice to establish justice and equality. Guru Ji formally established the principal that temporal power or political power, symbolized by Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, is needed to safeguard the sanctity of religion and uphold religious values in guiding the Sikh community through upheaval and crisis; to seek justice and also to provide justice to the subjugated and downtrodden. Sri Akal Takhat Sahib is a court to settle disputes between Sikhs and provide leadership through democratic principles to Sikhs through a sovereign court which cannot be subjugated by any government or group. It is at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib that Sikhs gather in Sarbat Khalsa, an democratic system established before the West even granted voting rights to the common citizen. It is by way of the Sarbat Khalsa that Panthic issues are discussed and resolutions affecting the Sikh nation agreed.

Sarbat Khalsa

Sarbat Khalsa means a communal assembly of the Sikh people- representing a people’s democratic referendum or general assembly. It is a theo-political doctrine by which the Sikhs assume powers and will of the Sikh people and issue Gurmatas (edicts or resolutions binding to all Sikhs) and appoint jathas/jathedars to steer the nation at times of adversity.

Sarbat Khalsa was first used for the gathering of Sikhs on the days of Diwali and Vaisakhi at the Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. Sarbat Khalsa would discuss questions of Panthic interest and importance at such gatherings and Gurmatas evolving out of the consensus of such meetings were announced. The Sarbat Khalsa made many important decisions which changed the history of Punjab, for example, forming Dal Khalsa (1748) attacking Lahore (1760).

After Operation Bluestar in 1984 and assault and extensive damage to Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, the government of India tried to sway the Sikhs by organising a state-sponsored Sarbat Khalsa on August 11 1984, presided by Santa Singh Nihang. This ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ gave Buta Singh & Darbara Singh (government favorites) approval to rebuild Sri Akal Takhat Sahib under the supervision of state appointed contractors and 150 or so Nihang Kar Sewaks. Despite use of state logistics, transport, influence and finance, apart from Indian state patrons, some anti-panthic Nihangs and peasants brought in on government transport for a free outing in Amritsar, they could not attract attendance by Sikh masses. The power and prestige of Sarbat Khalsa had been compromised by Santa Singh for Government patronage, for which he later apologized to the panth at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.

In response the Head Granthis of Sri Harimandir Sahib summoned a legitimate Sikh Sarbat Khalsa on September 1 and 2 1984. Despite government efforts to abort and disrupt this Sarbat Khalsa and threat to the lives of the attendees, the attendance was more than double the Santa-Government Sarbat Khalsa a month earlier. President Zail Singh, Buta Singh and Santa Singh were declared tankhaaias (offenders) and the Sarbat Khalsa announced that if the Indian army did not clear out of the Golden Temple complex by October 1 martyr squads would move in to occupy it. On September 25 1984 the government announced the army would be withdrawn.

A further Sarbat Khalsa on January 26 1986 was to prove even more historic. Despite every government effort to interrupt the gathering and outlaw attendees, this people’s referendum and democratic assembly was attended by over 500,000 Sikhs of broad backgrounds, political leanings, jathas (groups) and factions. The Sarbat Khalsa unanimously declared Khalistan from the site of Sri Akal Takat Sahib and hoisted the flag of Khalistan. They demolished the state-built Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and set about re-building the structure through kar sewa (Sikh practice of constructing historical buildings through voluntary efforts). The 1986 Sarbat Khalsa passed many Gurmatas and established the Panthic Committee and the army of Khalistan the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) to steer the Sikh nation forward.

[VanHelsingh]

Amazing. I do not know any of this.

[khalistan_zindabaad]

Khalistan Zindabaad

SGPC was dissasembled

Panthic Commitee chosen

Independence of Khalistan

Jathedars of Thakht Sahib Chosen

Sarkarreee Thakht made by Government and touts was not accepted

Akaal Takht Sahib Seva was redone as kar seva by the taksal.

[Gurdaspuria E12]

do u know the hukamnamma from that time

Khalistan Zindabaad

SGPC was dissasembled

Panthic Commitee chosen

Independence of Khalistan

Jathedars of Thakht Sahib Chosen

Sarkarreee Thakht made by Government and touts was not accepted

Akaal Takht Sahib Seva was redone as kar seva by the taksal.

[Bir_Rass]

Punjab will get independance but many of us will not live to see that day, how long you think it will take?