1984 : A Love Story by Gurkaran Singh

Episode 1

Clear Warning :This is a complete work of fiction and resemblance to any character in the story is purely co-incidental. I do not belong to any party and personally I am neutral when it comes to politics. However, I strongly feel that the ruling party in the year 1984 was responsible for the anti-sikh riots, as it is the duty of any government to protect its citizens’ irrespective of their caste or religion. The remarks of then Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, ‘When a big tree falls the earth will shake’ gives us an impression that it was a state sponsored genocide of one community which was in minority by the community which was in majority. All of it was because two sikh bodyguards assassinated the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Many questions are still unanswered and the wounds of those who suffered are still fresh.
1984 was perhaps the darkest year in the history of Indian Democracy. This year saw the infamous operation blue star in which the Indian army attacked the Golden Temple which is the most sacred shrine for the Sikhs. But what forced the government to take this action? To know this, let’s take a look at the history.

The rise of the top sikh militant – Bhindranwale

National party was looking to have its control over the SIKH BODY [Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee]. This body was responsible for having control over all the Sikh Shrines including the Golden Temple which is considered as the Vatican of the Sikhs. National party and Government in Punjab were looking for someone to counter the Akalis who had a long control over the SIKH BODY. The Chief Minister finally found the top sikh militant; the head of Dam Dami Taksal as the appropriate man to tackle the Akalis. He was a man, whom the National party thought could help them tackle the Akalis. The top sikh militant had a great body and was a captivating orator. His mother Punjabi only (his mother tongue) and consider the Akalis as mealy mouthed and those who do not care for the religion (Sikhism). He along with the support of National party put up his candidature for the Gurudwara elections and won a large number of seats from Amritsar and other districts of Punjab. Slowly he gained popularity among the rural Sikhs of Punjab as they considered him as their new Guru. He encouraged the youth Sikhs not to cut their hair and give up drinking and smoking which at that point of time was quite high among the Sikhs of Punjab. Crowds started gathering in large numbers to listen to him and people started recording his lectures which were delivered at large public meetings. Slowly, he became the Unseated empreror of Punjab. But he had other intentions and thoughts; he started demanding a separate state for the Sikhs.  He named the separate state as Khalistan. It is no hidden truth that, the Pakistan Army was supporting him as they wanted to disturb the Indian government, avenging the creation of Bangladesh. This lead to the mass killing of non-Sikhs in Punjab. He anticipated that, this will have an adverse affect in other states as well, since Sikhs were in minority. Majority of Hindus killing them will outrage and force the Sikhs to take shelter in Punjab and demand for creation of a separate state for Sikhs, namely Khalistan. The government did not take any steps in stopping the top sikh militant and there was a huge amount of tension in Punjab. The inefficiency or the politics whatever it was; the country paid a huge price for it. The militant troop lead by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala, did something which nobody could have imagined in wildest of their dreams. He moved inside the Golden Temple with arms & ammunitions. Slowly, Akal Takth became his adobe for all his political activities and militant operations. Large number of arms was smuggled inside the Golden Temple. The role of Shromani Akali Dal was questionable at this stage as why did they give permission to the Sikh militants to move inside the temple. Once the body of a senior police official was thrown outside the entrance of the shrine, the local police was handcuffed that, no one came forward to pick up the body of that official. Such was the fear of that man.



We pick up our story from here. This is the story of Rajwinder and Divya. Both of them belong to different religions yet they are getting married. While Rajwinder is a pure Sikh, Divya is a Punjabi Hindu. Rajwinder’s parents were middle class people working as government officials in Delhi, residing in Sagarpur district of West Delhi. Divya’s father was “Nigam Parshad” of Janak Puri area in West Delhi. She, along with her family used to live in a big bunglow  in Janakpuri. Divya’s father was eyeing a lok sabha ticket from the West Delhi area from National party and was eager to do anything to get that ticket. she also had a younger brother who was the heart beat of their house.


Prologue : “He was a very lucky father that he has a son alive who will be performing his last rites. The worst feeling for a father is to see the dead body of his son and then perform his last rites” said a man dressed in a white kurta pyjama and a white turban.


Start of a new life
Start of your college life means a new starting for anyone’s life. No more donning a uniform, no more big bags. You finally feel like a free bird. Officially liberated to bunk your classes is the best feeling. The feeling of sitting in the college canteen the excitement of coming across new personalities, and then you will choosing your friends out of them. There are many things which do rounds in the mind of a student who is for the first time looking to attend a college. Same was the case with Rajwinder.



That day Rajwinder got up early in the morning. Actually he had not slept the entire night because of the excitement. After doing his daily chores and saying his morning prayers at home {in spite of staying in a small house they had built a small gurudwara in their home only and every member of the family had fixed a duty for themselves. It was the duty of Rajwinder to do the “morning prakash” of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He wore new clothes and was tying his yellow turban when his mother brought curd and sugar and blessed him and said, ”This is a new starting for you and may Baba Ji always bless you with all the happiness in life.” After seeking his father’s blessings, Rajwinder started his journey to the bus stand from where he was supposed to take bus no 462 which would drop him straight to his college. A new phase of life was waiting for Rajwinder.

The first look :
Rajwinder was patiently waiting for the bus. He was soon joined by two of his friends Sushant and Avi. They all were childhood friends and were together in the same school and now in the same college. They were continuously talking as if they had met after a long time.. Suddenly the bus arrived which was completely jam packed and they pushed people and somehow got inside the bus.
The next stop was Janakpuri. All three of them were standing near the driver’s seat. The bus stopped at Janakpuri bus stand and more people got inside the bus. The bus started once again. Black eyes, beautiful black and white salwaar kameez and brown hair falling on the face, this had caught rajwinder’s attention. A girl standing three seats behind rajwinder had caught his attention to an extent that he was no more interested in whatever Sushant and Avi were saying.

The bus stopped near their college and the three of them got down from the bus. Rajwinder’s mind was still caught in the thought of that girl Suddenly he realized that that girl was walking towards him. His heart started beating very fast. What was the matter he thought?


TO BE CONTINUED.......... STAY TUNED