Sikh Research Institute

06/11/2026

Today in History:
The British government sentenced Sardar Udham Singh to death in London, UK, for assassinating Sir Michael Francis O'Dwyer. O’Dwyer was the governor of Panjab during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar on Vaisakhi Day 1919. O’Dwyer had authorized Brigadier-General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer, head of the British Army in Amritsar, to use lethal force against the unarmed protesters at Jallianwala Bagh and supported Dyer after the massacre. Furthermore, O'Dwyer declared martial law in Panjab on 15 April.

Udham Singh was born in 1899 Sunam (Sangrur District). He was radicalized after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre and joined the Ghadar Party in 1924. He was sentenced to jail for five years and was released in 1931. He then surreptitiously went to London, England, where he planned O’Dwyer’s assassination. On 13 March 1940, Udham Singh shot O’Dwyer to death after O’Dwyer had given a speech for the Central Asian Society.

While in prison, Udham Singh underwent a 42-day hunger strike. He explained his motivation for the assassination: "I did it because I had a grudge against him. He deserved it. He was the real culprit. He wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him. For full 21 years, I have been trying to seek vengeance. I am happy that I have done the job. I am not scared of death. I am dying for my country. I have seen my people starving in India under the British rule. I have protested against this, it was my duty.”

06/10/2026

Join host Santbir Singh as he delves into an in-depth conversation with Harinder Singh about Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a pivotal figure in 20th-century Sikh history.

Jarnail Singh played a significant role in the events leading up to the June 1984 Ghallughara. While celebrated by many in the Sikh community, he remains a contentious figure, often demonized by the media. This discussion aims to uncover the man behind the myth and explore the true legacy of Sant Jarnail Singh.

Don't miss this compelling exploration of history and identity: https://youtu.be/RjkOt0ea1Gg

Join host Santbir Singh as he delves into an in-depth conversation ...

06/09/2026

Mandhir Singh recounts an intense and revealing interaction between his mother and General Brar, who, along with several Indian Army officers, attended a dinner hosted by Singh’s parents in Amritsar.

Continue reading: https://social.sikhri.org/you-could-have-heard-a-pin-drop-fb

06/08/2026

In "No More Blue Stars: Reclaiming the Narrative of 1984," Santbir Singh explores the power of language in shaping our understanding of history. From "Operation Blue Star" to "Ghallughara," discover how the evolving terminology reflects the Sikh experience and the journey towards reclaiming our narrative.

Read the full article: https://social.sikhri.org/no-more-blue-stars-fb

Author: Santbir Singh

06/08/2026

Today in History:
Author and journalist Khushwant Singh returned the “Padma Bhushan” award (received in 1974) in protest against “Operation Bluestar” (The Battle of Amritsar), the Indian Government’s armed invasion and attack on Sri Harimandar Sahib (Amritsar) and many Gurduaras across Panjab.

06/07/2026

The act of remembrance is, to remember proactively so that we will never forget.

"1984 is in my DNA" reminds us that this was not just Operation Blue Star but an assault on Sikh identity and spirit, and the sacrifices of those who endured that day are never forgotten.

Author: Inni Kaur

Continue reading: https://social.sikhri.org/1984-is-in-my-dna-fb

06/06/2026

Remembering the events of June 6th

“The army went into Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) not to eliminate a political figure or a political movement but to suppress the culture of a people, to attack their heart, to strike a blow at their spirit and self-confidence.”
– Joyce Pettigrew, The Sikhs of Punjab

Continue reading: https://social.sikhri.org/1984-is-in-my-dna-fb

06/05/2026

“It was a virtual massacre. A large number of women, children and pilgrims were gunned down.”
– The Guardian, 13th June 1984

Continue reading: https://social.sikhri.org/1984-is-in-my-dna-fb

06/05/2026

Forty-two years have passed since the Indian state launched its coordinated assault on the Panth—its sanctuaries, its psyche, and its sovereignty.

The 1984 Ghallughara (major genocidal campaign) is not merely a historical episode. It is a living force that continues to shape Sikh identity, consciousness, and commitment. The invasion of Sri Harimandar Sahib, Akal Takht Sahib, and over 100 Gurduaras across Panjab was not just an act of state violence—it was an attempt to crush the spirit of Sikh sovereignty and silence the voice of a distinct, dignified people. But that spirit was not silenced. It stood. It resisted. And it still does.

Continue reading: https://social.sikhri.org/42-years-fb

06/04/2026

“Forty other Sikh shrines were simultaneously attacked. On the pretext of apprehending ‘a handful of militants’ lodged inside the Golden Temple, the Indian Army unleashed a terror unprecedented in post-independence India. It took the use of Vijayanta tanks to win the fight for the army. These let loose a barrage of highly explosive shells, which tore off the entire front of the Akal Takht, the temporal seat of the Sikhs, setting off fires in many of its internal rooms (some of which housed precious historical relics), and badly damaged its dome.
– The Guardian, 13th June 1984

Continue reading: https://social.sikhri.org/1984-is-in-my-dna-fb