The release of The Kaurs of 1984 documentary has brought a rush of memories flooding back. The mayhem of those days lasted until November 3rd, 1984, during which more than 10,000 Sikhs were allegedly killed across North India. In Delhi alone, over 3,000 were burned alive, and countless women were assaulted.
In those days of 1984, my family and I were among those at risk of being targeted. A mob of 500 to 1,000 people had gathered in the park below my house, with mashals and weapons in hand, ready to strike at anyone they deemed a target. In what felt like an act of fate, a young boy from our Bhogal neighborhood came charging toward the crowd, accelerating his truck with full force. He scattered the mob, sending them running for safety to avoid being crushed.
But this relief was short-lived. After only a few minutes, the attackers regrouped in our local park. Again, that courageous young man brought his truck roaring toward them, and once again, they were forced to disperse. This cycle repeated for hours until darkness fell. Those moments—fear woven with hope, as that boy’s bravery kept the danger at bay—left an indelible mark on me.
My parents take refuge in this house in Panipat near Quallander Chowk after partition of India on religious grounds- Family’s first displacement.
It was then that I knew a choice had to be made. This was the second time in less than four decades that our family faced such upheaval. Excess mortality during the period of partition of India in Aug 1947 is usually estimated to be around one million. My father S Vasdev Singh with a weight of experience, gently advised me that perhaps it was time to seek a place of safety, stability, and opportunity. And so, I began to lay the foundation for a future in the USA, hoping that my family would never again have to face such peril.
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