Documenting a Pogrom
Forthcoming. Available for preorder. Expected to ship from 17 December.
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A searing record of the anti-Sikh violence that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. A systematic expose of the collusion and participation in the violence by the police and Congress party leaders and activists. A shameful record of the systemic failures that have let down the victims and survivors of 1984. A wake-up call that reminds us of the horrific consequences of using communalism for political gain.
“This powerful book by Manjeet Singh brings together over 800 testimonies of the survivors of the 1984 pogrom against members of the Sikh community. The horrors of those dreadful days are reflected in the voices of the survivors in this book. Manjeet and her late husband, Hardev Singh, were untiring in their work among the thousands of deeply traumatized victims, including in the courts. This book is an extension of that work — marked by courage, solidarity, and an uncompromising advocacy of the truth. It has a special relevance today as it details the human cost of communal politics.” – Brinda Karat, author of An Education for Rita: A Memoir, 1975–1985
“Searing survivor and witness testimonies of the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom in a collection that underlines how four decades later not justice but impunity and apathy mark the system.” – Amandeep Sandhu, author of PANJAB: Journeys Through Fault Lines
“The November 1984 violence against Sikhs was a planned pogrom. Many commissions investigated 1984, but failed to bring reconciliation. That is why such traumatic events are repeated, with only the names of the communities of victims and perpetrators changing. This compilation will help us see objectively.” – Prof. Jagmohan Singh, nephew of Shaheed Bhagat Singh
“Works like this are indispensable, though reading them is painful, as they carry the weight of human suffering and loss. The anti-Sikh violence of 1984 scarred the country profoundly, creating a legacy of loss and injustice that echoes through generations. True healing demands acknowledgment of the atrocities that took place and accountability for those responsible. May this work serve as a catalyst for collective action and unity, urging all Indians to come together in the pursuit of justice for a community that still feels the aftershocks of those tragic days.” – Dr Swaiman Singh, M.D.
