Gandhi and the Sikh Separatists

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how Indira Gandhi was one of the leading figures of the post-World War II period and constituted, in the views of many, the salvation that India was in search of during the late 1960s poverty years. The paper shows how the conflict between the government led by Indira Gandhi and the separatist movement militating for independence in Punjab can explain the Prime Minister's assassination and the subsequent developments. The paper concludes that political leaders and those entrusted with the power to decide in the name of a population should take more into consideration the well being of those they represent and leave aside personal interests which so often drive political acts.

From the Paper:

"Although her political career was based on heavy-handed tactics which at times generated mistakes, her appeal towards the less privileged masses of people entrusted them with the sense of the democratic process and established, despite numerous conflicts, the bases for strengthening the belief in a representative government, a national identity and in the power to resist all secessionist movements. It is this latter objective that ultimately demanded of her the ultimate sacrifice. On 31 October, 1984, "two of her bodyguards assassinated Indira Gandhi in the garden of her home. She was shot in the chest and abdomen, receiving 16 bullet wounds at close range.""

Sample of Sources Used:

• Crossette, B. 2004, 'India's Sikhs: Waiting for Justice' in World Politics Journal. pp74- 75. [Online] Available at: http://www.ciaonet.org/olj/wpj/summer04/wpj_summer04h.pdf
• Gill, K. P. S. Endgame In Punjab: 1988-1993. [Online] Available at:http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume1/Fault1-kpstext.htm
• Gill, K. P. S. 1997, Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood, Har-Anand Publications, New Delhi, pp. 29.
• Gill, K.P.S. 'The ministry of Hate' in The Knights of Falsehood.,. [Online] Available at:://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/nightsoffalsehood/falsehood3.htm
• Harnik, D. 2000, 'Religion and Nationalism' in India: The Case of the Punjab, Routledge, London pp. 93.

More papers on Gandhi and the Sikh Separatists:

• Term Paper # 4702 : "Gandhi and the Non-Violence Movement"
• Essay # 57450 : "Mahatma Gandhi and the Principle of Natural Law"
• Book Review # 85801 : "Miss Lonelyhearts" and "The Day of the Locust" "

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: