THREAD:

Has India ever considered the contributions of Punjab?

As Sikhi developed in 1500 CE, our Guruji’s led a movement for religious freedom, fought against Mughal invaders, & prevented the forceful conversion of thousands of Hindus & Sikhs.

After centuries of fighting against religious intolerance, Punjab became a state revered with warriors.

Punjab faced battles once again during the mid 1800’s-1900’s. Battles which cost the lives of thousands to fight against the British State & remain an independent India.

India was yet again faced with wars during 1948, 1965, & 1971. The first to stand were Sikhs, comprising the majority of the Indian Army (considering Sikhs only accounted for 3% of India’s entire population).

At present, Punjab accounts for only 2% of the population in India. Yet again in 2020, the Indian government requires the enrolment of Sikhs in the army to fight for the country.

Punjab, a region which has continuously fought against religious oppression, inequality, India’s liberation & independence, was violently torn over political cause in 1947.

The question isn’t what has this 2% done for India, the question is what has this 2% not done for India?

Punjab has not only contributed to India economically & culturally. Our ancestors have sacrificed their lives, their children, & their livlihood for a country which still remains to address the impact of the partition & the genocide in Punjab.

Punjab has been torn & broken. Never fully recovered from colonialism, the partition, the genocide, & the present arrests/murders of Sikh political advocates.

Yet we fight for all those oppressed, we fight for relgious tolerance, & we fight for humanity as a whole. Resilience.

The harms & betrayal, inflicted on Punjab by a state we have protected for centuries, cuts deep.

And then be ridiculed by hindutva extremists for addressing our history & generational trauma is another reminder of how our life means very little back in our homeland.