The Land of the Pure: at the Khalistan Referendum (Episode 1)

An Indian-American journalist’s report on referendums where Sikhs vote to break up India to form a new country called Khalistan.

Jul 05, 2024

New episode now out on the Sikh Nation Podcast: on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen.

One bright Sunday morning in January of this year, I found myself with my notepad and phone at San Francisco’s Civic Center. I was there to document a referendum held by an advocacy group called Sikhs For Justice. These referendums, where only people of the Sikh faith are allowed to vote, are a way for Sikhs in the diaspora to voice their support for the creation of the new nation of Khalistan.

The mood was festive and familial. Young and old stood peacefully in line to vote, some with little children, some holding flags or banners. It might have been a gathering for a parade or a concert.

But it wasn’t. If the referendum voters achieve their vision, the new state of Khalistan will be carved out of India’s northwest state of Punjab. South Asia will see a third partition.

» Listen on Spotify

The last two partitions had a death toll of millions. The Khalistan movement led to an insurgency in India 40 years ago—that insurgency too had a death toll of thousands. These are the reasons that for people who know the history, the subject of Khalistan creates deep foreboding.

On the other hand, for many Sikhs in the diaspora, the word has come to mean justice and self-determination.

I am Indian-American, but I want to understand, not condemn. I am not a Sikh, but I think a movement that calling for reshaping a subcontinent merits coverage.

My desire to understand and document is why I was at the referendum that morning.

» Listen on Apple

Episode synopsis:

At the referendum: a fight breaks out with chants of “death to India”
Brief interviews with voters standing in line to vote
Broad sweep of the 40-year history: the 1984 Punjab insurgency; military attack on the Golden Temple; the assassination of a prime minister; revenge killings of Sikhs in Delhi; a person who lived in those turbulent times recounts her memories
Clips from an interview of Lt. Gen. KS Brar, the man in charge of the attack on the Golden Temple
Interview with Jasbir Singh, a witness to the revenge killings of his own family of 27 members
Background on the group Sikhs For Justice, the organizer of the referendums
Interview with a co-founder of Sikhs For Justice: Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu