Punjab to intensify efforts to get back material of Sikh Reference Liberary, says CM Badal

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that his party government in the state was making persistent efforts with the Central government of India to bring back the books, manuscrits and other artifacts of Sikh Reference Library taken away by Indian army during June 1984 attack on Darbar Sahib (Amritsar).

Punjab CM said that his government would intensify efforts of bring back those valuable articles that were of utmost historical and religious significance for the Sikhs.

Badal turning toward Sikh issues?

Parkash Singh Badal’s recent statements show that he is turning towards Sikh issues that were once abandoned by his party after grabbing political power in Punjab.

In wake of changed political equations, particularly after change in attitude of Bhartiya Janta Party towards Badal Dal after massive success last in Lok Sabha elections, Parkash Singh Badal has started raising the Sikh issues.

Sikh Reference Library:

The Sikh Reference Library was established by the SGPC with a resolution dated October 27, 1946.The library had its roots in a meeting of the Sikh Historical Society under the presidency of Princess Bamba on February 10, 1945 at Khalsa College, Amritsar which established the Central Sikh library. The Central Sikh library was then folded into the Sikh Reference Library.

Before its destruction, the library contained rare books and manuscripts on Sikh religion, history, and culture. It also contained handwritten manuscripts of the Guru Granth Sahib and Hukmnamas containing signatures of Sikh Gurus.

Destruction of Sikh Reference Library by Indian Army:

The Sikh Reference Library was destroyed by Indian army during attack on Darbar Sahib (Amritsar) in June 1984. Army had taken away many important documents, manuscripts and other artifacts from the liberary.

The issue of Sikh Reference Library has remained a significant issue ever since the loot of the library by Indian army in June 1984. Though the library was re-established and re-organized by the SGPC after June 1984 attack, the loss of material destroyed by Indian Army was irreversible. Artifacts looted by the Indian army are of utmost importance for the Sikhs and there have been persistent efforts to get those artifacts back, but Indian state has not returned these articles till date.

Loot and Destruction of Sikh Reference Library and Sikh Genocide 1984:

Sikh scholars believe that destruction and loot of the Sikh Reference Library by Indian army was part of wider plan of the Sikh Genocide 1984.

It may also be noted here that the June 1984 army attack on Sikh Gurdwaras in Punjab and adjoining states and the November 1984 massacre of Sikhs throughout India are called as ‘Third Ghallughara’ (holocaust), after two eighteenth century ‘Ghallugharas’ (holocausts of the Sikhs).