Punjab, once the land of five rivers, now flows with only three, a reflection not just of geopolitical division, but also of the fragmentation of its cultural and emotional identity. Once the cradle of the Green Revolution and the source of some of India’s bravest defenders, Punjab was a symbol of progress, resilience, and shared heritage.
I was born in what was then United Punjab. My early years began in Amritsar, a city that breathes spiritual legacy, where the Golden Temple and historic Hindu shrines have long stood side by side. Known for its generous people and irresistible cuisine, Amritsar also remains a symbol of pluralism. Some may joke about its cholesterol-rich diet, but its soul has always been pure and deeply giving.
And yet, in recent days, I’ve witnessed something deeply disturbing: the resurgence of Bhindranwale’s image on social media platforms, especially on Facebook, shared by individuals who regularly read my blogs. Some have even placed his image as their profile photo, unintentionally (or perhaps unknowingly) invoking one of Punjab’s darkest chapters. For me, and for many others who lived through it, Bhindranwale’s face is not a symbol of resistance, it’s a reminder of destruction. A reminder of how Punjab, once India’s richest State, was torn apart by fear, hatred, and the false promise of separatism.
That visual resurfacing of an era we hoped was behind us is what compelled me to write this article. I am fortunate to have close Sikh friends who live by the true teachings of Sikhism: humility, equality, and service. Our bond remains as strong as ever. We are like family. Bhindranwale’s violent message never penetrated that circle. We rejected it then, and we continue to reject it now. That rejection is not just personal, it’s generational. It’s what gives me hope.
Yet Punjab’s journey isn’t just spiritual or agricultural, it’s also profoundly political. The 1980s ushered in one of the darkest chapters in the State’s history: the demand for Khalistan. At first glance, the name may seem rooted in religious purity ‘Khalis’ meaning ‘pure’, a word of Arabic origin that does appear in the Guru Granth Sahib. But the context in which it appears is vastly spiritual, not political.
This raises a fundamental question: Who certifies purity? Who decides whose vision is righteous?
Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, was born into a Baniya family. He famously gave away all his material wealth in an act known as Sacha Sauda, believing that true devotion to God lies in serving humanity without distinction of faith, caste, or class. His path was built on humility, not hubris; on unity, not exclusion.
To invoke Guru Nanak’s legacy in support of political extremism is not only a distortion it is a betrayal. Attempts to associate Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale with the Guru’s teachings do immense disservice to the values Sikhism stands for: peace, equality, service, and courage rooted in moral clarity. Bhindranwale, however he is remembered by some, does not represent the spiritual core of Sikhism. Religious places that showcase his image alongside Sikh Gurus dilute the sanctity of Sikh teachings and alienate those who revere Sikhism as a universal path of love and service.
The Khalistan movement didn’t just tear apart communal harmony; it gutted the very foundation of Punjab’s growth. The land once known for its relentless work ethic and fearless unity found itself in a vortex of terror, political manipulation, and despair. Once a symbol of boundless energy and brotherhood, Punjab became a State marked by economic stagnation, rising drug addiction, and institutional decay.
Punjab’s strength had always come from its humility. No task was too small leaders could be found in gurdwara shoe stalls, cleaning the footwear of pilgrims. This wasn’t a gesture it was a philosophy. A public dismantling of ego. A personal commitment to equality.
And in that philosophy, Punjab gave India one of its finest sons Dr. Manmohan Singh, the country’s first Sikh Prime Minister. A man of few words but profound wisdom, he quietly steered the Indian economy into global relevance. His tenure was marked not by theatrics, but by transformation. World leaders like Barack Obama once said, “When Dr. Manmohan Singh speaks, the world listens,” because when he spoke, he delivered not noise, but substance. In the truest sense of the word, Dr. Manmohan Singh is what the Guru Granth Sahib defines as Khalsa, a person of integrity, intellect, humility, and unwavering service to humanity.
But in the shadows of such greatness, new hope is needed again.
In 2022, Punjab chose differently. It elected a government that stood apart from the ideological grip of the BJP-led Centre. The Aam Aadmi Party’s rise in the State wasn’t just political; it was philosophical. It offered a promise to return to governance rooted in people’s welfare, in education, health, and equality.
And yet, progress cannot coexist with polarization. If Punjab is to rise again, peace is not a luxury it is a necessity.
Punjab belongs to all Punjabis, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Christian anyone who calls this sacred land home. The word Khalsa must return to its intended meaning: those who live by the light of Guru Nanak’s teachings. Those who walk the path of truth, service, and humility.
Bhindranwale must remain a footnote in history, not a banner for the future. Our youth deserve a vision of progress, not martyrdom. Let them lead through technology, not trauma. Let their inspiration come from laboratories, not from loaded guns.
Punjab has what it takes to lead again to show India what inclusive growth looks like, to root out crime and drug mafias, and to build a State where every religion is respected and every voice counts.
But to get there, we must let go of slogans and choose service. We must abandon fanaticism and embrace fraternity. We must stop fighting over who owns Punjab and start building the Punjab that owns its future.
Its rivers still flow. May its spirit rise to flow with them pure not by proclamation, but by the values it lives every day.
And now, the people of Punjab face another sacred duty to rise against the most corrupt central government in India’s democratic history. Narendra Modi’s regime has done everything in its power to divide the nation, to crush dissent, and to suppress regional voices. But Punjab has always been the land of the brave, those who fought foreign invaders, defended India’s borders, and stood tall in moments of national peril. This is a winnable fight. A moral fight. A fight for India’s soul. If Punjabis, with their legacy of valor and sacrifice, take a principled stand today, they will not just be defending Punjab; they will be upholding the teachings of every Guru who taught us to rise against tyranny, to fight for justice, and to serve humanity without fear.
Let this be Punjab’s next revolution, not of arms, but of truth. Not of separation, but of solidarity. Not in the name of purity, but in the name of shared dignity.
