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Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale

Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਭਿੰਡਰਾਂਵਾਲੇ
Sant-Jarnail-Singh-Ji-Khalsa-Bhindranwale.png
Born Jarnail Singh Brar
2 June 1947
Rode, Moga, Panjab
Died 6 June 1984 (aged 37)
Akal Takht
Cause of death Operation Blue Star
Monuments Gurdwara Yaadgar Shaheedan, Amritsar
Nationality Indian
Alma mater Damdami Taksal
Occupation Human Right Activist
Sikh priest
Head of Damdami Taksal
Title "Greatest Sikh of the 20th Century" by Akal Takht
Movement Sikh Panjabi nationalist movement
Spouse(s) Pritam Kaur
Children Ishar Singh and Inderjit Singh

Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale ([dʒəɾnɛl sɪ́ŋɡ pɪ̀ɳɖɾɑ̃ʋɑɭe], born Jarnail Singh Brar) (2 June 1947 – 6 June 1984) was the leader of the Sikh organization Damdami Taksal, and a notable supporter of the Anandpur Resolution. He advocated against the consumption of liquor, drugs and laxness in religious practices, such as the cutting of Kesh by Sikh youth.

In the summer of August 1982, Bhindranwale and the Akali Dal launched the Dharam Yudh Morcha (battle for righteousness), with its stated aims being the fulfillment of a list of demands based on the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. Thousands of people joined the movement in the hopes of acquiring a larger share of irrigation water and the return of Chandigarh to Punjab.

Bhindranwale has been noted for strongly opposing prime minister Indira Gandhi for alleged policies against Punjab during Dharam Yudh Morcha (battle for righteousness). Later that year she ordered the attack on Golden Temple, Sikhism's most sacred Gurdwara, in Amritsar on the martyrdom anniversary of 5th Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev ji when the complex had pilgrims. Since his death, Bhindranwale has remained a controversial figure in Indian history. While the Sikhs' highest temporal authority Akal Takht describe him a great martyr of the Sikh Nation, who made supreme sacrifice for the sake of faith, the Indian government views him as an extremist.

Although Bhindranwale has often been associated with the Khalistan movement, he neither opposed nor supported the formation of Khalistan: in an interview, he stated that "we like to live together, we like to live in India", but did not object to the state's hypothetical creation. However, he did consider Sikhs as "a distinct nation".


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