I feel it is important that before I start conjuring up new ideas about Punjabi unity and such I should completely discuss what I think of Khalistan. This is the most modern movement of Punjabi independence, and in many ways of Punjabi unification. But it cannot work, it will not ever work based on the pretexts it’s defined upon. Let me further explain.
Firstly, as mentioned before, its scope is limited to that of a single religion. Khalistan would be justified if Punjab had only Sikhs in it. But by any counts, Sikhs form a minority in Punjab (combining East and West). Though Sikhs may be affluent, influential, and powerful members of the society they do not wield unlimited power over the region. I do not believe the Khalistan movement has inherent in it a resentment against other denominations. It is just a mistake on the part of its leaders to believe this is the best route for Punjabi independence or unification. Basing the movement on Khalistan lacks any real force.
Why does it lack force? For such ideas to become mainstream you need to connect with the larger population. The notion of Khalistan failed to do that. It failed to do that and that is why it failed in general and is now only hanging on amongst Diaspora groups away from the conflict zone. Justice to the illegitimacy of partition and separation can only come on the backs of all Punjabis. While the idea behind Khalistan is based upon good intention it fails to capture this. This failure is its short coming. If a movement is born, if a movement takes place where it connects to Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus at a level higher than religion and instead to the level of culture, then will you see serious discussion of justice take place.
One must move beyond religion when discussing unification and reversing the unfortunate events of history. To do this, one must connect to the past, it must be made relevant to us in the present. Look back into the past and see that our grandfathers and our great grandfathers use to live together on the same streets peacefully. This is the true reality of Punjab, of coexistence and peaceful progression. Partition came at the cost of political corruption and power hungry officials, not for some grand idea.
Amongst immigrant groups in the West there is this reconciliation between these groups. Punjabi Sikhs and Muslims and Hindus are once again neighbours and are living peacefully, even prospering with the help of each other. When they meet in the street, they do not ask first what their religion is; they instead hear their mother tongue of Punjabi and immediately engage with each other. Let us not forget that reality was once true for Punjab itself, forming a connection with that past shall hopefully awaken in ourselves that true unity that connects as a whole and at the same time makes us individually unique.
I hope to explore further this history, this connection, and the need for unification and its justification.
