Hiya, I just saw all the pics you have of Sikhs wearing orange turbans...I've seen quite a few wearing them too where I live (in Manchester) could you please elaborate the meaning of this for me? There seemed to be gatherings as well, like all getting together, is this a part of it? :)
That picture is from UK Sikh’s genocide Remembrance March & Freedom Rally in London. A brief (sorry if it’s a bit long) History for this remembrance march and why in 2012 everyone is wearing Orange Pagh (Turban):
In June 1984, the Indian Government sent nearly a quarter million troops to Punjab, sealed the state from the rest of the world, and launched an attack, code-named ‘Operation Bluestar’, on the Sri Darbar Sahib commonly known as Golden Temple complex in Amritsar and over forty other gurdwaras in. Thousands of civilian innocent Sikh pilgrims were killed by Indian forces and Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, eternal seat of Sikh sovereignty was targeted with tanks, bombs and rockets and was badly damaged. During this period each year Sikhs have a remembrance march.
It was followed by various phases of genocidal violence against Sikh population in Punjab and India, including “Operation wood rose”, “November 1984 Sikh genocide” and mass level human rights violations in Punjab (1984-1994) No one knew what was happening. Media blackouts, curfews and a culture of fear pervaded. It’s like magic what the Indian government leaders did. They performed an incredibly well-planned sleight of hand. The Indian government made a whole generation disappear and never revealed a thing.
After five years of President Rule checkered by militancy and heavy police crackdown, elections were called in 1992 when Congress Party came to power in Punjab because the Sikh parties boycotted the elections knowing that the elections were unlikely to be "free and fair". The new chief minister, a puppet of the central Indian government, came to finish up the job of crushing the Sikh struggle. His name was Beant Singh. In the first month of his reign his administration helped Punjab Police round up and disappear thousands of Sikh youth. They continued a pattern that began in the 1980s.
During that time Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana was a police officer in Punjab police and he slowly realized the Punjab Police wasn’t not targeting Sikh militants as government was publishing . They were targeting Sikh youth. The Indian government’s agenda became clear in his mind.
It was August 1995 and after three years of Beant Singh’s policies being in effect, Rajoana felt he had no choice. He and his friends hatched a plan. Another police officer named Dilawar Singh joined in. It was a last ditch desperate measure. The only thing left to do. They decided to give the butchers a taste of their own medicine.
Seventeen years after that fateful day Rajoana lives imprisoned in Punjab awaiting his execution which Indian government suddenly decided (March 31st 12). Rajoana who was coconspirator in an assassination refuses to take plea bargain he writes, "legal system, judicial system of this Country and the rulers of this Country have been discriminating" [and that] "slavery of such system is not acceptable to me". In embracing 17 years of imprisonment including solitary confinement and ultimate execution, Balwant Singh was making a political statement.
During this time millions of Sikhs and non-Sikhs globally … come together and pledged orange in solidarity and celebration for Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana and the ongoing discrimination on Sikhs in India.
Why Orange? Well Orange is one colour known to represent the "Khalsa"; created in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, which was initiated to protect the rights and freedoms of all of humanity. "Orange" is often the colour of the Khalsa’s flag, which extends beyond religion alone, representing the Khalsa’s humanitarian values of justice, equality, and freedom for all.
