Forgetting the past

 

 

TSI has taken a lead in bringing out a special issue on the 25th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. Memory indeed fights forgetting when it comes to the events of 25 years ago. It was interesting to read the views of KPS Gill who called the operation a political gimmick. Historian Balkar Singh’s views that the operation is used for narrow political gains by various politicians and this practice should end because nothing will be gained by making it a political pawn, are true. Another revealing fact comes out in the article by Kuldip Nayar that Mrs Gandhi had been advised to remove Sikh bodyguards. However, she refused to do this. It is disturbing to read the views of radicals and renewed demands by certain sections for Khalistan because Punjab has already suffered so much. Heartening is the fact that the election results proved that the Sikhs have by and large forgiven if not forgotten the mistakes of the past. Let us hope such mistakes are not repeated in the future.

Deepak Manmohan Singh

Patiala