Introduction Return of Near Normalcy Truth Claims and the Politics of Justice Social Moorings of Knowledge / 21, Human Rights Interventions and Apologies / 23, An Assassination and the Demonization of the Community / 25, Framing of the Suppression / 26, Media and Conflict: Standards of Evaluation / 31, The International Print Media in Punjab: An Evaluation / 33, Elections to the Village Councils: The Fate of a Candidate / 35, Anti-insurgency Legislation / 38, Enforced disappearance of Mr. Bhatti: A Human Rights Lawyer / 41, Impunity under the National Human Rights Commission / 49, The Life and the Death of a Sikh Priest /58 The Becoming of a Nightmare-1984 The Democratic Interlude and a Debate on Decentraliza-tion / 86, Alchemists of the Turmoil-their Politics and the Patrons / 87, The Clash in Amritsar / 92, The Rise of Bhindranwale / 96, Humiliation of the Akalis / 99, The Agitation and the Negotiations / 106, The Confrontation / 113, The Operation Blue Star and the 1919 massacre at Amritsar-A comparison / 123, The Operation Woodrose and the carnage in Delhi / 126 The Operation Blue Star and the Peace Process: Spin Doctoring the International Media The Coverage Before the Operation Blue Star / 142, Approving the Military Action / 159, Labeling and Its Effects / 164, Sikhism as a Hindu Sect: Associations of Meaning / 170, The Coverage Between the July 1985 Accord and its Rescinding in January 1986 / 179 Black Thunder over the Golden Temple New Appointments in Punjab / 211, The declaration of Khalistan and the Operation Black Thunder I / 212, Delegitimizing Moderation / 214, Dealings with the Militants / 216, Lost Opportunities of Peace / 219, The Rode Initiative and the Dismissal of the Akali Government / 222, India's own 'Dirty War' / 225, The Rode Initiative at Work / 230, Operation Black Thunder II / 236 Deadends of Democracy: Khalistan, Terrorism and the Poll Boycott The Second Panthik Committee / 259, Simaranjit Singh Mann and The Case of Conspiracy / 263, The Elections in 1989 / 266, Failures of the National Front Government / 268, Confessions of an Undercover Agent / 280, Chandra Shekhar's Initiatives and the Aborted Elections / 284, The Poll Boycott in 1992 - the Deadend / 296, Restoration of Normalcy / 299 What is Sikh Dissent? The Akali Demands / 316, The Territorial Claims / 318, River Waters - the Elemental Issue / 329, The Center-States Relations / 343, Anxieties of Identity and the Akali Religious Demands / 349, The Sikh Origins / 350, Hum Hindu Nahin / 356, The Sikh identity and its Opposition / 362 This book takes the reader on a voyage into that terrain of recent history of conflict in Punjab which remains cordoned off by the barriers of knowledge raised by the mainstream media and the established scholarship on the subject. It shows how the terror was spawned, sustained and then suppressed behind those barriers. Probing the connections between mass atrocities and the miasma of hegemonic narratives, the book demonstrates that a socially deliberative space of plural understanding of political conflicts is the first prerequisite for the rectification of all abuses of power. Coming from a witness and the biographer of Punjab's recent history who remains dedicated to people's rights to truth, justice and reparation, the book deserves the attention not only of the students of political conflict and the media but also the community of human rights activists, academics and others who grapple with the issues of historical accountability worldwide.

The traumatic events in Punjab in the eighties and early nineties with the rise of Khalistani terrorism shook the entire nation. This book brings together all aspects of the problem in its national and international dimensions, a brilliant analysis of why it happened and provides an answer to what must be done to overcome the menace of terrorism and secessionism to preserve the unity and integrity of our country.

This book examines the rise of religious extremism in Pakistan, particularly since 1947, and analyzes its connections to the Pakistani army's corporate interests and U.S.-Pakistan relations. It includes profiles of leading Pakistani militant groups with details of their origins, development, and capabilities. The author begins with an historical overview of the introduction of Islam to the Indian sub-continent in 712 AD, and brings the story up to the present by describing President Musharraf's handling of the war on terror. He provides a detailed account of the political developments in Pakistan since 1947 with a focus on the influence of religious and military forces. He also discusses regional politics, Pakistan's attempt to gain nuclear power status, and U.S.-Pakistan relations, and offers predictions for Pakistan's domestic and regional prospects.