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Preface
Sikhism is one of the great religions of the World. Its philosophical basis, developed by the Sikh Prophets over two centuries, is perhaps deeper than that of any other modern religion. Its precepts embody a remarkable range of ideas, encompassing deep mysticism as well as highly practical guidance on everyday living. In view of its contribution in the past, and what its history and teachings can offer mankind in the future, it is extraordinary that so little is known about it in the West. Due to the events of the last two years, a considerable amount of interest has been aroused concerning the position of Sikhs in India. Unfortunately, a high proportion of the information provided by the media in this period has been subjective at best, and often totally misleading. In order to provide a more balanced, and a more scholarly approach, the Sikh Society of the University of Cambridge has decided to institute a series of research papers into the philosophy, and the religion of the Sikhs as well as into their current position in India and outside it. It gives me considerable pleasure to welcome the first paper in the series by Sardar Devinderjit Singh. This paper provides an objective analysis of the religious, political, social and economic factors, which led to the sad and extremely tragic recent events in the Punjab. It begins by discussing the background to the present crisis. This is followed by an examination of the issues which outraged and inflamed Sikh feelings and sentiments. This leads to an analysis of the aims and strategies of the civil-rights movement which was initiated in 1982, and an examination of the brutal way in which it was suppressed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the aftermath of the destruction of the Sikhs' holiest shrine, the Akai Takhat, and the barbaric violence against Sikhs outside Punjab. The issues raised and discussed in this paper are fundamental for the understanding of the current situation facing the Sikhs in India. I hope it receives the attention it deserves. Dr. Manmohan Singh |
