Recommended reading list from Houston Camp 06...

This was my first time attending Sikh Houston Camp, and a big shout out to all those who attended this event as well as the Camp Organizers (Monica, Parkashdeep, and Parminder). Here are two quick photos from the week-long camp:

The Egg Drop Evening Activity that emphasized team work.

Some of the cool campers at my dining table. See how well I trained them?

However during the 1984 discussions, I recommended some books for further reading and research of India's unwanted events during and after the 1984 time period. As viewed in the movie Amu, which was shown during camp and is definitely a movie to pick up once released, many individuals in our community still refuse to discuss or reflect on the 1984 time period. In order to break the silence, the current generation (many who did not experience the events first hand) must learn and research what happened to the Sikhs of India during this time.

Below is a series of books recommended for reading that help paint the overall picture to what happened in 1984. Some are in favor of the Sikh's issues during this time period, while others expose the failures experienced in India's young democracy. In the end, it is left to the individual to understand what happened and how to prevent atrocities to be committed again in civilized nations.

Here are the books in no particular order:

"Lost In History: 1984 Reconstructed"
by: Gunisha Kaur













"India Commits Suicide"
by: Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon












"Politics of Genocide"
by: Inderjit Singh Jaijee












"Operation Black Thunder"
by: Sarabjit Singh












"Fighting for Faith and Nation"
by: Cynthia Keppley Mahmood












"The Gallant Defender"
by: A.R. Darshi













"Eye-witness account of Operation Blue Star"
by: Giani Kirpal Singh













"Operation Blue Star: The True Story"
by: Lt. Gen. K.S. Brar












"Struggle for Justice"
by: Ranbir Singh Sandhu












"The Punjab Story"
by: Various Reporters












"Amritsar: Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle"
by: Mark Tully & Satish Jacob












"Aftermath of Operation Bluestar"
by: M.S. Deora













"The Sikhs of the Punjab"
by: Joyce J. M. Pettigrew













"Through the Corridors of Power"
by: P.C. Alexander












"Vengeance: India after the Assassination of Indira Gandhi"
by: Pranay Gupte












Many of these books can be found either at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndiaClub.com, or searches through Froogle.

Happy New Year to all!

Wow...hitting it "big time"

Shout out to the Apna Punjab weekly newspaper for covering the Education Seminar at Guru Nanak Foundation of America.

Fellow speakers at this event included Kahan Singh Dhillon (President of Mount Vernon-Lee's Chaber of Commerce), Dr. Kamaljit Kaur Sethi (Host of The Sikh Program television show), Dr. Amarjit Singh (Editor in Chief of Chardi Kala newspaper and of the Khalistan Affairs Center), and your's truly.

Man, my Grandmother is so proud since I've made it into a Punjabi newspaper. Cool!

Punjab militancy induced by 'ruthless' police: former police chief

Date Release: 12/12/06
News Source: Indo Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) The rise of insurgency in Punjab and the Sikh community's 'militant mindset' during the mid 1980s was induced by a ruthless police force whose repressive measures compelled people to revolt, says a former police chief.

Kirpal Dhillon draws on his experiences as Punjab director general of police (DGP) to provide an in-depth analysis of Sikh militancy in his book 'Identity and Survival: Sikh Militancy in India 1978-1993' launched here Monday evening.

'During my brief period in Punjab, I understood and experienced how the entire gamut of operations starting from police, government, and intelligence worked in the state.

'The police was extremely ruthless and they failed to understand that repressive measures will increase insurgency and militant mindset among the community,' Dhillon, who was DGP from July 3, 1984 (soon after Operation Bluestar) to Aug 22, 1985, said.

Recounting his experiences, he said militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was a creation of the then government. 'He became an extremely violent person because of the government's efforts to suppress the Akali Dal.'

According to the author, Bhindranwale always advocated the freedom of the Sikh community, but whether he 'genuinely' wanted Khalistan or a separate state for the Sikhs, is still unclear.

Dhillon, also former joint director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), also spoke eloquently of how militancy in Punjab and Kashmir was vastly different yet similar when it comes to repressive measures taken by those who are supposed to maintain peace and stability.

In his book, the author has also brought forward the ethnic importance of minorities in the country, including Sikhs, Muslims and Christians.

The book is priced at Rs.395 and brought out by Penguin Books India.

Copyright Indo-Asian News Service