BHINDRANWALE- Terrorist or Saint? 
The question still remains to be answered even as the world is witnessing 25th year of the death of the most controversial Sikh leader of all time. Seldom do we encounter a figure that is either hated or loved as deeply as Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. There are not many who can claim to be neutral when it comes to supporting him as a martyr or rejecting him as a terrorist.
Born in the year which saw India’s Birth as an Independent nation, he was all set to play the most sensational innings ever played in Indian politics since that fateful year. Starting his sikh education under Damdami Taksal, he soon became the brightest of the students of the organization headed by Kartar Singh. He started missionary activities travelling village to village guiding sikh youth to take Amrit and thus returning to the purest form of Sikhism. He told them to abstain from alcohol and non-vegetarian food and not to tie their beards. Bhindranwale was blessed with boldness and great oratory skills. Where ever he used to go, villagers used to bring to him their day to day problems which he solved. Ones while he was attending the masses, a girl came to him who said that she was being abused by her in-laws for not bringing enough dowry. He ordered his men to bring her in-laws, when they came he took out few bills from his pocket and told them that the girl was the daughter of Jarnail singh Bhindranwale and they could take as much money from him as they wanted. They immediately went down to their knees and promised never to harass the girl. He was tactful and shrewd and never shied away from displaying whatever power and skills he had, this increased his popularity by leaps and bounds. Bhindranwale, although never claimed any political position, became so powerful that the congress led by Indira Gandhi tried to use him to bring down the Akalis.
The problems started during the clashes between Nirankaris and Sikhs, such times demand a position to be taken and Bhindranwale assumed the role which was best fit to his personality, Aggressive and uncompromising. Khushwant Singh writes that he was aware of the fact that hate is a bigger passion than love. The leader of Nirankaris, Gurbachan Singh, was murdered and Bhindranwale was arrested for the charge of ordering the assassination. His arrest saw clashes in whole of Punjab, later he was released on the lack of evidences. This drama made Indira Gandhi realize the position and power he had assumed in Punjab. He was again arrested the next year, this time for the murder of Jagat Narain the owner of Hind Samachar Group. Incidences of violence grew so much that the union Home Minister had to tell the Parliament that there are no evidences against him and he was immediately released. He was now the single biggest leader in Punjab and both Indira Gandhi and Akalis were plunged into desperation. Bhindranwale was now widely seen as a propagator and advocate of Khalistan movement. He however, chose to be diplomatic while in media "we are not in favour of Khalistan nor are we against it" and "We won't reject it. We shall not repeat 1947".
Bhindranwale and his supporters were said to have started fortifications in Golden Temple complex and finally on June 3rd 1984 Indira Gandhi ordered operation Blue star. Incidentally, it was the fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev's Martyrdom Day and so the Gurudwara was full of devotees. Army started the operation and at least 1000 common devotees were killed along with the Bhindranwale and his supporters. The operation was planned in haste. Indira Gandhi lost her life the same year by the hands of her Sikh body guards and what followed after that, was the most horrific genocide since independence. The riots further led to the spell of Militancy which made the hell out of the most prosperous state of the country. The insensible action led to a far greater crisis than if he would have been alive and that too under the worst situation assuming him a terrorist.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee has now made a formal declaration that Bhindranwale was a "martyr" and awarded his son, Ishar Singh, a robe of honor. His death has made him close to what some may say the messiah of Sikh faith and today he is widely revered as a great leader among the Sikhs, world over.Even today, nobody with any serious political aspirations in Punjab can dare condemn him.
Yasser Iqbal Kidwai