The 1984 Attack on Sikhi: Ghallughara in India

This session will look at the events of the first week of November 1984, in which genocidal attacks against Sikhs occurred across India, especially in the capital city of Delhi.

We will discuss why the language surrounding the events of November has changed from riots to pogroms to genocide and what that means. We will look at why these events should not be considered spontaneous riots by examining the planning that went into these horrific massacres. We will look at other cities that experienced violence.

About the Series

In this course, we will provide a detailed account of what occurred in June and November 1984, looking at the events from a Sikh perspective. We will explore not only what happened day by day but also the larger significance of the events. After detailing what occurred in June and November 1984, we will turn to the immediate aftermath of 1984 and try to put into context events like Operation Woodrose and the rise of the Khalistan movement.