SGPC opens 1984 ‘Shaheedi Gallery’ in Golden Temple

Operation Blue Star was an Indian Army operation carried out in June 1984 (Congress regime) in the Golden Temple (Amritsar) to flush out militants who were led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

4 min readAmritsarUpdated: Mar 11, 2024 08:52 AM IST

Model of the damaged building of Akal Takht Sahib at the gallery. (Express Photo)

The “Shaheedi Gallery” (martyrdom gallery) in memory of Sikhs who died in the June 1984 Operation Blue Star was inaugurated on Saturday on the premises of Harmandir Sahib. The gallery was opened by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami for the devotees after “ardas” (Sikh prayer).

Operation Blue Star was an Indian Army operation carried out in June 1984 (Congress regime) in the Golden Temple (Amritsar) to flush out militants who were led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a one-time leader of the Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal and a key figure in the growing separatist Khalistan movement at the time.

In a statement, the SGPC said that the gallery was meant to document the “Sikhs martyred during the military attack on Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the central Sikh shrines, by the then Congress government”.

There is already a memorial for the same purpose in the form of a gurdwara inside the premises of Harmandir Sahib.

“This Shaheedi Gallery has been dedicated to Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh, then president of All India Sikh Student Federation, Shaheed Bhai Shabeg Singh, and Shaheed Baba Thara Singh,” said Dhami during the inauguration.

On the occasion, Harnam Singh Khalsa, head of Damdami Taksal, said, “The photos of Saint Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, his companions, other Sikh men and women, who laid down their life for the protection of religion during the Operation Blue Star, have been installed in the gallery.”

Damdami Taksal could gather more than 700 names of Sikh militants and devotees killed during Operation Blue Star. So far, 396 pictures have been installed in the gallery, the statement said.

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Dhami said, “In this martyrdom gallery, a model of the damaged building of Sri Akal Takht Sahib during Operation Blue Star in June 1984 has also been installed. A special arrangement has also been made to show a documentary describing its history in digital form.”

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said, “This gallery is a memorial for those martyred in June 1984. This memorial will give information to the future generation about the massacre. The sangat will gain the community’s spirit from here.”

A picture of retired honorary Captain of Indian Army Hem Singh is also installed in the gallery. He had gone to pay obeisance at the Harmandir Sahib on June 1, but he never returned home. His body was also not found.

“My father had fought three wars for the country in 1962, 1965 and 1971. He retired in 1976. He used to go to Harmandir Sahib regularly. He was caught in the crossfire during Operation Blue Star. We didn’t get his body. Later the then government informed us about his death. His pension copy was found on the premises which was handed over to us. It was the evidence of his death on the premises,” said Amarjit Kaur, daughter of Hem Singh.

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“We have decided to install pictures of all those who died on the premises of Harmandir Sahib. There are pictures of Sikh fighters and also that of common devotees. It was during our research for the gallery we came to know that Hem Singh was also present inside the premises and was killed there. So, we also installed his picture in the gallery,” said Sahib Singh from Damdami Taksal.

Hem Singh belonged to a Sikh family from Brahmpura village in Tarn Taran district.

“My father had cut his hair when he was asked to join a spy operation in Pakistan. He never grew his hair after he retired,” said Amarjit Kaur.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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