By Harsh Thakor
COMMEMORATION CONFERENCE IN 1993
Two
years later a commemoration programme was launched which depicted a classic
example of mass line. After a considerable study of the political situation it
was decided to launch a commemoration programme for the Sewevala martyrs. The
Harijan basti region was where the programme would be launched.
After
reaching a general consent of villagers and the residents of the Harijan Basti
a secret meeting of 7-8 pro-party militants was held. The local mass militants
were bitterly critical of the inadequate security arrangements at the time of
the massacre, 2 years previously and felt humiliated, but they shared their
intense hatred for the Khalistani terrorists. The political activist of the
revolutionary group made a self-critical appraisal of their earlier approach
which reduced their anger and brought them closer to the revolutionary group.
He pledged that now the masses would be organised to enable them to receive
much stronger self-defence, and Front leaders would be far
more vigilant of enemies. A list of potential allies and enemies was
drawn out. A calculated action programme was chalked out to win over the
maximum support of the Harijan Basti.
The
survey of the village revealed that Khalistani terror broadly existed over both
the landed and landless peasantry. Only a small section of the landed peasantry
sympathised with the Front and even these sections would not openly identify
with the Front Programme. The rest of the peasant households remained neutral.
The Harijans (backward or scheduled caste-India has a history of the Caste System
and this Harijan Sect was the most degraded section known as the
‘Untouchables’. In the villages they were the principal landless or poor
peasantry and were the majority of the agricultural labour force) were
unwilling to take the risk again. However, as a result of their social class
the Harijans were easy to win over. It was now decided to deploy a plan of work
whereby the advanced elements of the youth would be won over followed by the
middle and backward layer. This plan proved most fruitful, as a great section
of revolutionary youth were won over.
However
the Harijan elders were reluctant to join. The Front organised family meetings
to combat this obstacle as well as promised greater security plans for them at
meetings. Weapons were displayed in the basti for this purpose. The Front,
giving concrete examples, explained what revolutionary resistance to the 2
pronged Khalistani and State terror was about giving vivid examples of their
experience. The class hatred of such families was strengthened by
this method. It was explained to the Harijans how they would be liberated from
the tyranny of the rich Sikh Landowners and pro-Khalistani sections.
During
these meetings each participant was allotted a particular duty after being
assessed. Male members were given duties involving preparations, while women
and children were allotted the task of obtaining information about the enemies.
In less than 2 weeks, almost the entire Harijan Basti supported the Front.
However a self-styled leader of the basti as well as pro-Khalistani elements
opposed the programme stating that they would lathi charge the programme. An
enraged section of the youth retaliated trying to give those reactionary
elements a sound thrashing but the Front curbed them, explaining them they needed
to adopt a correct approach.
Khalistani
elements mainly belonging to the Jat peasantry continued to threaten this
programme through terror methods over villagers. They carried out a campaign of
deliberate lies against the Harijans inciting class hatred against the Dalits.
The landed peasantry was told by these elements that the Harijans would snatch
their lands. They also spread rumours that an attack similar to the one at
Sewewala would take place and hundreds would be killed.
Now the
Front organisers concentrated on winning over sections of
the Jat peasantry. Unfortunately when a group of Harijan youth went
on a propaganda campaign the communalised sections of the Jat Peasantry
misbehaved and tore up their pamphlets and posters. However the youth kept calm
and thus foiled the attempt of these reactionary forces in creating a clash
between the Jat peasants and the Harijans. After this incident 2 contrasting
events took place. One section of Harijans was depressed by the aggressive
behaviour of the Jats. They wanted to postpone the programme. However another
section were outraged and were impatient in holding the programme. This
attitude was predominant in the youth who stated that there was no need to win
over the Jat peasantry to hold the programme.
Now all
efforts were concentrated on the mobilisation of the Harijan basti. A huge
range of family meetings took place. There was now even a great response from
women.
After
this state-wide preparations were made for the programme-the State Committee of
the revolutionary organization representing the mass line issuing a leaflet
explaining the history of the Punjabi masses in combating the communal terror
and the State terror. On March 21st a mass meeting of activists
was held to pay homage to the Sewewala Martyrs and chalk out plans for the
conference on April 9th. A 10 member preparation committee was
elected which facilitated this propaganda in labour colonies. A shaheedi
(martyrs) conference was held on April 4th to pay homage to the
heroes where 800 people participated. The families of 2 martyrs of the Sewewala
massacre were presented with momentoes.
A
massive security programme was launched by the Front. The
Harijan masses of the basti played a major role in gathering information about
the role of the enemies. The women and children played a major role in this.
They made a thorough study of the enemy's moves, motives and movements. The deployment
of adequate and proper weapons was given emphasis. However the
emphasis was given on the broad masses asserting their right to
self-defence. Trained volunteers were also to play an
instrumental role. Two dozen youth of the basti associated themselves as guards,
couriers and vigilance keepers as well as by spying on the
enemy.
A day
before the programme security was installed on the roofs of
the exterior of the basti. Trained volunteers manned
them. Barricades were installed in the lanes and by-lanes to
prohibit the entry of suspicious elements. The Barricades were provided cover
by armed volunteers positioned on rooftops. All security posts were covered
with a special signal system. A network of couriers
was organised which raced from one spot to the other exchanging
information. All posts had their own commanders and
an operational zone operating under a unifying higher command.
On the
day of the programme, entry was entitled only by identity passes. A Harijan
Dharamshala staged the programme. Slogans such as "Down with Khalistani
and State terrorism" and "Long Live the Sewewala Martyrs" were
painted on the boundary walls of the building. The ground was decorated with
red flags and a bed of red sand. Amidst flower petals name plates of martyrs
were placed. A community kitchen served cooked and sweet packed rice to the
participants. From the home village of martyred comrade Megh Raj Baghtuana, a
contingent of 70 men, women and children carrying red flags and escorted by
girl volunteers reached Sewewala. The women participants numbered more than 150
in the conference. By 12 o'clock, 3,000 people had arrived, more than 2/3 from
the agricultural labourers, industrial labourers, electricity workers and other
working sections. Leaders Amolak Singh and Jaspal Jassi addressed the
gathering. At 12.30 the family members of the martyrs came on stage. Amolak
explained to people the anti-people nature of the Khalistani terrorists and the
State. He explained how the Jat peasantry (middle Sections of the peasantry)
had fallen victim to the Khalistani poisonous propaganda.
Two ‘O
five was the exact time of the attack on the Sewewala Martyrs 2 years
previously. At that time there was perhaps one of the most emotional scenes in
the history of the Communist movement in
The
winning over of
the Harijan peasantry was a great achievement but the inability
to influence the Jat Peasantry was a major setback. The Front issued
an ordinary appeal to the Jat Peasantry. The Front projected its pro-people
policies and explained that the Khalistani elements were only trying
to poison their minds with lies and false propaganda regarding the Front. It was
explained that such elements were trying to wedge the gap between
the Jat peasantry and the Harijan labourers.
However as these programmes took place, reports took place about the movements
of suspected terrorists. This became a major threat and security
was strengthened. The Front persuaded supporters to contribute a day's labour
in donation. While the harvesting was taking place a bunch of suspected
elements were tracked. A red alert was issued. At night such elements were
observed near a Harijan basti. An attack was anticipated and the volunteers
resorted to firing to thwart the suspected elements. Again there was a
totally contrasting reaction between the Jats and
the Harijans. The landed Jat peasantry took it as an attack on the
Harijans against them as a provocation while the Harijan peasantry defended the
firing of weapons by the volunteers. The latter were now more confident
of repulsing attacks by class enemies.
The
great achievement of the martyr’s conference was that a most unfavourable
situation was turned into a favourable situation reminiscent of the Viet Cong
who heroically defeated the American forces in the Vietnam war. The campaign
also effectively answered the question of the mass revolutionary line over
the line of squad actions. An earlier supporter of squad actions
stated "What we achieved here can not be achieved by a squad action."
Another student leader stated "Mass revolutionary line is invincible and armed
squad action cannot substitute for it". A volunteer student group
stated "We have gained a valuable experience in the mass
revolutionary line.
COMPLETE LIST OF SEWEWALA MARTYRS:
1. Megh Raj
Bhagtuana
2. Jagpal
Singh Selbrah
3. Mata Sadan
Kaur
4. Gurjant
Singh
5. Karam Singh
6. Pappi
7. Tejinder Singh
8. Bagga Singh
9. Buta Singh
10. Jagseer
Seera
11. Jagdev
Singh
12. Harpal
Singh
13. Lakhbir
Singh
14. Gurdev
Singh Debi
15. Charanjit
Singh
16. Manjit
Singh
17. Makhan
Singh
18. Gurnam
Singh.
MEGH RAJ BAGHTUANA
Megh Raj Baghtuana
The revolutionary spirit was in his
blood. His family has been deeply involved in the Pepsu Tenants’ Movement
(Muzara Lehar). He took to revolutionary ideology at a young age and became
active in Naujwan Bharat Sabha. He was sent to jail many times during
Emergency, Randhawa Agitation, and agitation against the murder of Parbati at
Jaitu and faced brutal police torture. But the police repression failed to
deter him from serving the people. He was one of the most active leaders of
Front Against Repression & Communalism. Under his guidance, Bhagtuana
became a shining example of mass resistance against repression and Khalistani
terrorism. He was very popular amongst the landless and agri-laborers of the
area. Since the days of Bhinderanwale, he was on the top of terrorist’s hit
list. They made many unsuccessful attempts on his life. During Sewewala
massacre he sacrificed his life challenging the AK-47 wielding Khalistani
terrorists, with a double barrel gun.
JAGPAL SINGH SELBRAH
Jagpal Singh
Jagpal was State Committee member of the Front Against
Repression & Communalism. His father Shri Mohinder Singh was a very
brilliant and active worker of Bharti Kissan Union.Jagpal came in the fold of
revolutionary democratic movement in
MATA SADAN KAUR
Mata Sadan Kaur
Mata Sadan Kaur, who was more than 70 years old, was deeply
involved in revolutionary democratic movement for more than two decades. She
remained in the forefront in mobilizing masses against the State repression and
Khalistani terrorism. She used to say, “Boys, whenever there is danger, put me
in the forefront.” When Khalistani terrorists started shooting indiscriminately
at Sewewala, she surged forward and said, “Dogs, why are you killing innocent
persons. Before killing them, kill me” And the Khalistani terrorist were quick
to retaliate. They shot her dead. Thus she died a hero’s death.
GURJANT SINGH
Gurjant Singh
Gurjant Singh was born in an agricultural labourer’s family. He
was Secretary of Kotkapura unit of Front Against Repression & Communalism
and Circle level leader of Technical Services
Other important martyrs:
Pappy-25
years, was an active front worker and member of the agricultural workers
Bagga
Singh-26yrs ,was affront volunteer who manned the checkpost.
Karam
Singh of a Harijan family was leader of the ‘Chakki ‘Mazdoor Union of Rampura.
Harpal
Singh was an FCI inspector and Front supporter.
Lakbir
Singh and Gurdev Singh Debi were supporters of the Front.
2
schoolchildren pf peasnt families, Charnjit Singh and Manjit Singh
too
perished. So too was Gurnam Singh of
—The End—
—I thank the invaluable
sources like Journal the Comrade
issues of 1989-93 and reports like ‘Bleeding Punjab’ of Surkh Rekha and
Inquilabi Jantak Leeh of 1992 as well as AIFOFDR report ‘People fight back’ in 1987.
Harsh Thakor
is a political commentator or freelance Journalist who has toured
India ,particularly Punjab and written articles on democratic blogs like ‘Ottos War Room’ and ‘Democracy and Class Struggle.’ and ‘Frontier weekly’ on a range of topics.
He has particularly written on the mass movement against Khalistani terrorism
in
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