The Sikh Reference Library - inside (above) and exterior (below) after the plunder and destruction by the Indian Army in June 1984.
1984
Akal Takht Demands Return Of Sikh Reference Library Contents Stolen In 1984
NEWS REPORT
28 years after the theft - robbery, actually! - the Akal Takht has finally seen it fit to ask India's Army Chief, General Bikram Singh, to arrange return of the articles stolen from the Sikh Reference Library by the Indian Army during the 1984 attack on the Darbar Sahib.
The library building situated on the parikarma of the Darbar Sahib complex was looted long after the cessation of hostilities, and then set afire by the troops to hide the plunder.
Jathedar Gyani Gurbhachan Singh said that the newly appointed Army Chief, being a Sikh, should be able to give proper attention to the demand.
Speaking during a function at Ajnala, Punjab, the Jathedar pointed out that what was stolen were treasures of the Sikh community.
It is relevant to mention that many important historic articles were taken by the Army during June 1984 but have not been returned despite consistent demands raised by the Sikh community for the last 28 years. Some items have surfaced - for example, manuscripts, in single page form - in the black market of antiques and historical artifacts.
The Sikh Reference Library contained rare manuscripts and books on Sikh religion and history. Not only this, it also contained manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib and Hukamnamas carrying signatures of the Sikh Gurus. There were also documents related to the Indian Independence Movement.
[Based on report by Sukhpal Kaur]
June 13, 2012
Conversation about this article
1: Bhai Harbans Lal (Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.), June 14, 2012, 12:32 AM.
The Sikh Reference Library was plundered after the "cease fire" in the 1984 attack on the sacred Golden Temple Complex by the Indian armed forces. It was the last act of the army. List of losses compiled by Prof. Madanjit Kaur of the Guru Nanak University is a shocker. How could someone destroy irreplaceable treasures of historical documents and artifacts? It is very sad.
2: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), June 14, 2012, 9:34 AM.
The saddest and the most ridiculous part is that Sikh bodies have not done enough (nay, anything) to pursue the government to return the manuscripts and artifacts. They have not brought the facts out into the limelight, they have not made a hue and cry about it, and they have not put enough effort behind the legal means to obtain these. Other than that, the Jathedar of the Akal Takht rubs shoulders with the Akali CM of Punjab who has a huge clout with the Center. Every now and then, you hear about a small-time news item like this - approaching the army chief who has just taken charge is absolutely absurd - how is he going to be any different than the PM and the past army chief who were both Sikhs and did zero for the Sikh causes ?
3: Raj Singh (Montreal, Quebec, Canada), June 14, 2012, 12:40 PM.
"The Army went into Darbar Sahib not to eliminate a political figure or a political movement but to suppress the culture of a people, to attack their hearts, and to strike a blow at their spirit and self-confidence" - Joyce Pettigrew. Harbans Lal ji, the simple answer is when you want to destroy a community, one of the first things you do is wipe out any evidence of their glorious past, so that future generations have no authentic reference points! Hope the new General will return these important historical national documents, they belong to everybody.
4: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), June 14, 2012, 4:15 PM.
Why is this demand being made now, after 28 years, by the Akal Takht, and why has the Punjab Govt. been silent uptill now on this issue?
5: Ajit Singh (Malaysia), June 15, 2012, 3:54 AM.
Yes, I agree. why were we so quiet? Is there a list of the items stolen?
6: G.C. Singh (U.S.A.), June 15, 2012, 6:48 AM.
Loot and plunder of the the precious Sikh religious and cultural heritage, rare historical documents, and old hand-written copies of Guru Granth Sahib - including some by Bhai Mani Singh - was part of the pre-planned attack on the Harmandar Sahib in June 1984. Here is a link to a Punjabi newspaper's latest article which gives complete details and eye-witness accounts of this plunder by a CBI inspector. http://www.rozanaspokesman.com/epaper/fullpage.aspx?edition=main&yview=2012&mview=Jun&dview=05&pview=7 Here is another article which chronicles the eye-witness account of Gursharan Kaur Duggal, wife of Sardar Devinder Singh Duggal, who was in-charge of the Sikh Reference Library and used to live just next door. S. Devinder Singh had worked tirelessly in collecting and maintaining these historical documents, including over a hundred rare manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib which were kept in an adjoining room and were handled with great reverence. These were all filled in sacks and were taken away by the Indian army. http://www.rozanaspokesman.com/epaper/fullpage.aspx?edition=main&yview=2012&mview=Jun&dview=02&pview=7
7: Amar Singh (Napier, New Zealand.), June 15, 2012, 8:27 PM.
India has continually betrayed Sikhs. Has any other community needed to launch as many agitations as we have, to get our rights? Our basic rights! What makes the Sikh clergy thing that anyone in India's pay is going to support them? Do they really think the general wants to jeopardize his own position? Gone are the days of General Jagjit Singh and Major-General Shabeg Singh who were soldiers with a heart and not a brain for profits.
8: K.S. (Delhi, India), June 16, 2012, 5:24 AM.
A conspiracy within a conspiracy. I think the main point of Operation Bluestar was to loot/ burn the written manuscripts. Fools are crying about lives and not about the Guru Granth Sahib manuscripts and saroops. A case should be filed against General Brar (him personally) for organizing the loot of the library. Guru Granth Sahib is already a legal person. Such a case will be interesting because it will get results.
9: Jasmeet Singh (New Delhi, India), July 12, 2012, 8:08 AM.
Indian Indian government is always meddling with the Sikh community. From Mohandas Gandhi, Nehru to Indra Gandhi to the current Congress government and the uncrowned ruler of India, Sonia Gandhi. I request all in the community to come forward and do everything necessary to get back our stolen library contents from the thieves.
10: Roshanreet Singh Khalsa (Gurdaspur, Punjab), April 14, 2017, 5:09 AM.
i agree: all books, manuscripts, artifacts, etc, stolen by the government authorities in 1984 from the Darbar Sahib complex, the Sikh Reference Library and the Toshakhana must be returned.