The Canadian government has after 102 years apologised to the Sikh community in Canada and around the world for turning back the Komagata Maru. The brave Sikhs who sailed in the Japanese ship to escape British rule were refused entry, turned back and fired upon when they returned to India. The Sikhs have been an amazing ‘nation’ of India. No one talks about ‘minority’ status for them and they have not asked for reservations as the Jats or Patidars have done.
Through the 1980s and half the 1990s, Punjab was aflame. Their holiest shrine was attacked in June 1984. Four months later, her Sikh guards assassinated Indira Gandhi. What followed was a pogrom or ‘pacification’ across Punjab. Sikhs were targeted as terrorists. Even now the Sikhs have not had a proper apology from the government of India or the Congress party. It was very insensitive of the Congress to ask a Sikh prime minister to apologise for the 1984 killings. Still, the Sikh nation has remained a remarkably resilient, loyal and creative part of India and indeed, wherever they go, the Sikhs enhance their world.
Indians are uneasy about the idea of many ‘nations’ within India. There is a deep insecurity about admitting diversity without attributing a lack of patriotism. The United Kingdom has begun to admit over the last 50 years that it is a collection of nations. The Scots support whoever is playing against England in international football without any doubts about their loyalty. When Norman Tebbit admonished Indians and Pakistanis to support England in cricket matches, he was laughed at. The Tebbit test was dismissed as racist. The Indian ‘nation’ in the UK can cheer Indian teams if they like.
Not all ‘nations’ within India have been treated well. The Nagas have fought a war over nearly 70 years about their status in India. As the BJP is finding out in Kashmir, there is a strong sense of alienation among the Kashmiris. It is no good enforcing loyalty by making everyone chant Bharat Mata ki jai. If Kashmiri youth cheer when India is defeated at cricket, we need to understand and accommodate their feelings.
There have been problems regarding Kashmir even as everyone asserts that Kashmir is an integral part of India. This does not have to be said for Tamil Nadu or Gujarat. When Indian prime ministers visit Kashmir, Internet and mobile facilities get suspended. Nowhere else would it happen in India. The UPA appointed a group of interlocutors for Kashmir. They ignored what the interlocutors said, but the idea of having interlocutors for Karnataka or Assam would be laughable.
Kashmir is different. The rest of India needs to acknowledge this. The original accession in 1948 has not been converted into full integration whatever politicians in India believe. Kashmiris need to be respected as a distinctive nation but made part of India. No other state of India has had its chief minister (called prime minister then) kept in house arrest without trial for a dozen years. Yet Sheikh Abdullah kept his faith in India. India has to reciprocate by showing faith in Kashmir.
Now with a young woman Chief Minister in Kashmir, India has the chance. Narendra Modi should seize it.
