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Anand Karaj (Punjabi: ਅਨੰਦ ਕਾਰਜ, anand kāraj) is the Sikh marriage ceremony, meaning "Blissful Union" or "Joyful Union", that was introduced by Guru Amar Das. The four Lavan (marriage hymns which take place during the marriage ceremony) were composed by his successor, Guru Ram Das. It was originally legalised in India through the passage of the Anand Marriage Act 1909 but is now governed by the Sikh Reht Maryada (Sikh code of conduct and conventions) that was issued by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). It dictates that only those who follow the Sikh religion may marry under the ceremony, therefore, Sikhs cannot marry persons professing other religions under it. It also states that child marriage is invalid and that no account should be taken of the prospective spouse's caste.

In a recent verdict of the Sri Akaal Takht Sahib,i.e. a Hukumnama, Anand Karaj can only take place in a Gurudwara. Any Amritdhari (Baptized) sikh may perform the marriage ceremony.

Important features[link]

Sikh wedding.

The following are other important points that must be adhered to by the Sikh couple and their families:

- Marriage is a partnership of equals. - No consideration is to be given to Caste, Social Status, Race or lineage. - No Dowry is allowed. - No day is considered holier above any other, hence no astrological considerations are to be made and no superstitions are to be observed in fixing the date of the wedding. - The religious ceremony to take place in a Gurdwara or in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib. -Burden of the cost of the wedding to be shared as equally as possible.

The Anand Karaj ceremony is joyous and festive event in which families and friends from both sides are heavily involved. Most Sikh weddings take place in the morning and are completed before noon. Following the ceremony is a langar or a formal lunch. The wedding event can last for the whole day and may spill into the next day.

Most families combine the wedding ceremony with the engagement ceremony called the "Kurmai", where the Kurmai is held just before the wedding vows or Laava. The engagement ceremony can also be held as a separate event on a different day. It is usually conducted in the Gurdwara or at the home of the Groom-to-be. It involves Ardas, Kirtan, "Sagaan" (Exchange of gifts) and Langar. In the "Sagaan" ceremony, the groom is presented with a kara, kirpan, Indian sweets, fresh fruits, dried fruits and nuts. The bride-to-be's family in turn are presented with garments and sweets for the Bride-to-be.^[1]

Detailed analysis[link]

"Anand Karaj" literally "joyful ceremonial occasion or proceedings" is the name given the Sikh marriage ceremony. For Sikhs, married status is the norm and the ideal; through it, according to their belief, come the best opportunities for serving God's purpose and the well being of humanity, and it affords the best means of fulfillment of individuality and attainment of bliss. Sikhism repudiates monkery, vows of celibacy, renunciation or the sannyasin state.

Unlike in the West, most marriages among Sikhs, as also in India as a whole, are arranged. It is regarded as a duty for the parents to arrange for, and actively contribute towards, the marriage of their offspring. Prem Sumarag, an eighteenth century work on Sikh social code, lays down: When a girl attains maturity, it is incumbent upon her parents to look for a suitable match for her. It is neither desirable nor proper to marry a girl at tender age. The daughter of a Sikh should be given in marriage to a Sikh. If a man is a believer in Sikhism, is humble by nature, and earns his bread by honest means, with him matrimony may be contracted without a question and without consideration for wealth and riches.

History of Anand Karaj[link]

The history of Anand marriage ceremony is traced back to the time of GURU Amar Das (1479–1574), who composed the long 40-stanza hymn Anand, in the Ramkali measure, suitable to be sung or recited on all occasions of religious importance. His successor, Guru Ram Das, composed a four-stanza hymn, Lavan, which is recited and sung to solemnize nuptials. During the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors, however, this ceremony fell into partial disuse under renewed Brahmanical influence at court as well as in society.

The Namdhari reform movement of the mid 19th century made the practice of Anand ceremony a vital plank in its programme as did the later, more widely influential Singh Sabha. But there was opposition from the Arya Samajis and Brahman priestly classes, the former anxious to prove that the Sikhs were but a sect of the Hindus and hence subject to Hindu Law, and the latter apprehensive of a reduction in their clientele and income. The Sikh form of wedding ceremonial eventually received legal sanction through the Anand Marriage Act which was adopted in 1909.

The ceremony is now universally observed by the Sikhs.

However, the constitution of India and hence the parliament of India which first revoked the Anand Marriage Act (1909) has of late failed to even consider the amendment into the constitution which was adopted in 1950 according to which Sikhs are deemed Hindus and hence are subjec to all Hindu laws. Adding insult to the injury, in most recent developments, the Supreme Court of India has denied to even admit a case concerning this issue.

Pre-wedding[link]

• Tahka (or Roka) is when the immediate family of both sides meets and blesses the union and the engagement is then announced.

A Month or So before the Big Day…

• Shri Akhand Path is the continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Path is usually held by the groom’s side preceding the Kudmai.
• Kudmai (or Sagai or Mangni) is the engagement ceremony; it usually takes place on the third day of the Shri Akhand Path with friends and family of both sides.
• Chunni ceremony is where the ladies from the groom’s side adorn the bride-to-be with sinndoor, make-up, mehndi, jewelry, bangles, a bindi and a bright colored dupatta as a welcoming gesture. This ceremony can take place during the tahka or any other day preceding the wedding ceremony.
• Mayaan, a beautifying ritual performed (by the females in the brides family) by rubbing a mixture of about 11/2 cups of besan (gram flour) 2-3 tsps. of Sandalwood powder, 2 tsp butter or almond oil and 3 teaspoons of water on the bride.

The Week before…

• Sangeet: is a celebration of song and dance which usually takes place about a week before the wedding day. The event is celebrated on both the bride’s and groom’s side separately.

• Mehndi is where the bride, her female relatives and friends get together to have a henna party, usually 2–3 days before the wedding day.

The Night before…

• Churah: The bride’s maternal uncle(s) adorn her wrists with bangles (traditionally ivory) the night before the wedding.
• Jago is a festive dance that also takes place a night or two before the wedding.

Arrangements[link]

Actual wedding takes place at the girl's residence. The date of the wedding is set by mutual consultation to suit both parties.

Astrological or horoscopic considerations are discountenanced in Sikh calculations. Matters such as the strength of the barat (the bridegroom's party), timing of arrival and departure, duration of stay, are also decided mutually so that the bride's parents may make suitable arrangements. Before setting out, the bridegroom may go to a gurdwara to make obeisance and offer ardas before the Guru Granth Sahib.

What to wear?

At Indian weddings, people prefer to always stay in the latest Indian trends. Here are what most ladies and men will be wearing at these ceremonies

1. Engagement(cultural ceremony): ladies: saris, salwar kameez; men: Indian sherwani, Western suits
2. Akhand Paath(religious ceremony): ladies: salwar kameez; men: Western suits (casual)
3. Mendhi, Sangeet(cultural ceremony): ladies: saris, salwar kameez; men: Indian sherwani, Western suits
4. Mayian(cultural ceremony): ladies: salwar kameez: men: Western suits (casual)
5. Anand Karaj(religious ceremony)/Doli: ladies: saris, salwar kameez, lenghas; men: Indian sherwani, Western suits
6. Reception(cultural ceremony): ladies: saris, salwar kameez, lenghas; men: Western suits

Married life[link]

Sikhs practise monogamy in marriage. Both the husband and wife are seen as being equal. Any Sikh widow or widower is allowed to marry another person.

See also[link]

• Gurdwara
• Laava

References[link]

• Teja Singh Mangat, The Sikh Marriage Ceremony, The Sikh Missionary Society UK (Publishers), Fourth edition, 1991 ISBN 0-900692-16-2
• www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/ritesrituals/weddings.shtml (article written by Gurmukh Singh)

A Traditional wedding video ( 3 hours) with all of the ceremonies and a text explanation [1]

External links[link]

• Anand Karaj - Marriage
• After The Anand Karaj
• Sikh Marriage by Gurmukh Singh
• Anand Karaj - A Union of Two Souls
• Sikh Matrimonials Website

Karaj كرج
—  city  —
View of Karaj
Karaj
Coordinates: 35°50′08″N 51°00′37″E / 35.83556°N 51.01028°E / 35.83556; 51.01028Coordinates: 35°50′08″N 51°00′37″E / 35.83556°N 51.01028°E / 35.83556; 51.01028
Country	Iran
Province	Alborz
County	Karaj
Bakhsh	Central
Elevation	1,312 m (4,304 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	2,086,000
• Population Rank in Iran	5th
Time zone	IRST (UTC+3:30)
• Summer (DST)	IRDT (UTC+4:30)
Area code(s)	0263

Karaj (Persian: كرج‎ pronounced [kæˈɾædʒ], also Romanized as Karadj, Karadje, and Karej; also known as Qaşabeh-e Karaj, Heredi, Keredi, and Leredi)^[1] is a city in and the capital of Karaj County, Alborz Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 1,377,450, in 385,955 families, making it the fifth-largest city in Iran after Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Tabriz.^[2][3]) It is situated 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Tehran, at the foothills of the Alborz mountains. However, the city is increasingly becoming an extension of metropolitan Tehran.

Karaj is mostly famous because of its academic and educational complexes along with tourist attractions.

History[link]

The history of Karaj dates back many centuries. The stone built Zoroastrian fire temple of Takht-e-Rostam from the Parthian era is a testament to this.

The Soleimanieh palace (currently housing a college of Agriculture), the mausoleum of Shahzadeh Soleiman, Imamzadeh Rahman and Zeid Palang Abad-e-Eshtehard are other historical relics of the Karaj area.

During the Pahlavi dynasty era, the Morvarid Palace was constructed in nearby Mehrshahr district, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Karaj today[link]

Karaj in winter

The economical base for Karaj is its proximity to Tehran, where transportation of products between the capital and the Caspian Sea is central. Chemicals, fertilizers and processed agricultural goods are also produced here.

The majority of the population of the city is composed of ethnic Persians who are natives to the city but there are also a minority of Persianized Lurs, Persianized Azarbaijanis and Persianized Kurds.

It is connected by freeway, railway to Tehran 40 km east and Qazvin 100 km northwest, and by commuter rail to Tehran subway system (Metro).

Amir Kabir dam and small lakes are based here. Karaj's climate is a bit cooler than Tehran and it receives 260 mm of rain annually.

The downtown of Karaj is usually referred to Karaj Square, located hundred of meters to the West of Karaj River and the old Karaj Bridge.

Karaj's major districts include:

• Gohardasht
• Mehrshahr
• Kian-mehr
• Hesarak
• Azimiyeh
• Ouj
• Shahin Vila
• Bonyad
• Baghastan
• Dowlat abad
• Garmdare
• Jahanshahr
• Mesbah
• Mehr Vila
• Dehghan Vila
• Mahdasht
• Shahrake Banafsheh
• Fardis
• Vahdat :One Of the Few Government Worker residential For Raja {Rah - Ahan -E -Iran -} .
• Kalak & Hesar
• Islam Abad
• Golshahr
• Zibadasht
• Zob-e-Ahan
• Sasani
• Homayoonvila
• Asara
• Mohammad Shahr
• Mehdi Abad
• Shahrak-e-Khatam

Karaj Azadi Blvd.   Central Karaj

Special Economic Zone & Airport[link]

• Payam Special Economic Zone & Payam international cargo airport outside Mehrshahr

Higher education and research[link]

Karaj Azad University

• University of Environment
• Karaj Payam Noor University Aerospace Association
• Karaj Payam Noor University [2]
• Islamic Azad University of Karaj
• Art University
• Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources of University of Tehran, located in Karaj
• Center for Research in Agriculture and Nuclear Medicine of Karaj
• Tarbiat Moallem University of Tehran which renamed to "Kharazmi" in 2000. The second campus of the university is located in Hesarak near Karaj, inaugurated in 1986.
• Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute at Hesarak
• Alborz HighSchool (Alborz Colleague)

Sports[link]

Karaj Enghelab Stadium

Karaj has introduced several national players for a wide range of national teams.

Karaj has a multi-purpose stadium; the Enghelab Stadium, with capacity of 15,000 people. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home of football team, Saipa F.C.

Karaj is home to Saipa F.C. one the IPL major Football teams as of 2001. The team is registered in Tehran, but plays its games in Karaj and is called "Saipa Karaj". It is known to have one of the best youth training programs in Iranian football.^[4]

Karaj also have a Tennis Park in Jahanshahr.

The ski resorts of Dizin and Khur are situated close to Karaj in the Alborz Mountains. Besides Skiing facilities in Dizin, there are tennis courtyards, slope for skiing on turf, some altitudes for mountain climbing and walking as well as riding and some routes for cycling.^[5]

The high altitude mountains have made it easy for people in Karaj to use them as mountain trail for hiking and mountain climbing. There are also many private gyms and clubs that are being utilized.

Tourism[link]

Karaj has traditionally been considered as a favorable tourism area particularly for the people from Tehran. Karaj has very has a pleasant climate in all four seasons. It is very famous for the natural attractions. The beautiful Alborz Mountains provide a natural beauty to the landscape of Karaj.^[6]

The stony fire-temple of Takht-e-Rostam belong to Parthians and Sassanian eras, as well as the Soleimanieh palace (which is currently part of the Agriculture faculty of University of Tehran), Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, a pre-Islamic bridge and the mausolum of Shahzadeh Soleiman are among Karaj's cutural heritage.^[7]

Karaj is also the starting point for a pleasant drive along spectacular road forced north through the alborz mountain to the Caspian Sea.^[8]

The following are the lists of some places for outdoors activities in Karaj:

Recreation[link]

Amir Kabir Dam (aka Karaj Dam)

• Amir Kabir dam lake in the road of Chalus. This area is used for sports such as canoeing, fishing, water skiing, swimming and gliding.
• Atashgah
• Khanevadeh Park - biking roads
• Road to Chaloos, which is the most beautiful road in Iran
• Jahanshahr Gardens
• Tulip Garden in Gachsar
• Tennis Park
• Iranzamin Park
• Park of Madar
• Golha Garden
• Mahestan Shopping Center
• Arangeh Valley
• Varian Village; the only means of accessibility to the village of Varian is by canoe from the lake of the dam.^[9]
• Baraghan Village
• Taleghan Gardens
• Taleghan dam lake
• Agasht
• Dizin ski resort at an attitude of 3,800 m. above sea-level in the Chaloos road
• Khur ski resort
• Karaj River, This river is about 220 km in length
• Yakh Morad Cave, the cave is situated in the district of Gachsar. Low temperature within the cave is as such that even till the months of May/June icicles can be still observed here.
• Pole khab valley
• Jey and Charan Villages
• Sijan Village
• Vineh
• Kordan Gardens
• Pich Adran Waterfall, at 15 km Chaloos road
• Wallah spring water
• Gila-gila spring water

Ahmad Shamlou is buried in Emamzadeh Taher

Cultural attractions[link]

A medieval Caravanserai in Karaj.

• Shah Abbasi Caravanserai; The medieval Caravanserai in Karaj
• The stony fire-temple of Takht-e-Rostam^[10]
• Kakh-e Morvarid or kakh-e Shams (Pearl Palace) in Mehrshahr
• Ancient bridge of Karaj
• Ghale' Dehshad (Dehshad citadel)
• Ghale' Faramarz (Faramarz citadel)
• Emamzadeh Taher
• Soleimanieh palace, which is currently part of the Agriculture faculty of University of Tehran
• Emamzadeh Rahman Palang Abad,
• The mausolum of Shahzadeh Soleiman

Transportation[link]

Karaj Special road

Karaj is connected by Highways and railway to Tehran 40 km east and Qazvin 100 km northwest, and by commuter rail to Tehran subway system (Metro). The highway system includes three highways: Tehran-Karaj Freeway, Karaj special road (highway), Karaj old road (Fat'h highway). Tehran-Karaj Freeway (also known as the Autobahn) is the most high traffic highway in Iran.

Roads and freeways[link]

Karaj-Chalus road

Freeway 2

Road 32

Road 59

Photo gallery[link]

See also[link]

Iran portal

• Morvarid Palace
• Mehrshahr
• Amir Kabir Dam

References[link]

External links[link]

• Karaj city portal (Persian)
• About Karaj city (Persian)
• Karaj, Iran, Yahoo! Travel
• The city of Karaj
• Iran Tourism & Touring Organization
• Karaj Magazine (Persian)
• Karaj Background History (Persian)

v t e Alborz Province Capital Karaj Counties and Cities Karaj County Karaj Asara Eshtehard Garmdarreh Kamal Shahr Mahdasht Meshkin Dasht Mohammadshahr Nazarabad County Nazarabad Savojbolagh County Hashtgerd Chaharbagh Golsar Kuhsar Shahr-e Jadid-e Hashtgerd Taleqan County Taleqan Sights Shahabbasi caravansary Shamss Palace Pearl Palace

v t e Karaj County Capital Karaj Districts Central Cities Karaj Mahdasht Kamal Shahr Mohammadshahr Garmdarreh Meshkin Dasht Rural Districts and villages Garmdarreh Bagh-e Pir Combat Engineering Centre Mazraeh-ye Kazemabad Shahrak-e Taleqani Kamalabad Atashgah Darvan Haljerd Khvares Mahmudabad Siah Kalan Mohammadabad Alborz Research Centre Aliabad-e Guneh Damdari-ye Baradaran Jomali Department of Water and Agriculture Farrokhabad Golestanak Karaj Nursery Nazhadubahbudshir Correction Centre Qaleh-ye Rustai Qezel Hesar Sepiddasht Shahrak-e Mohandesi-ye Zerai Soil Fertility Centre Vabzar Veterinary Polyclinic Asara Cities Asara Rural Districts and villages Adaran Abharak Adaran Arangeh Avizar Ayegan Charan Jey Jurab Kalha Kalvan Khur Khuzankola Kondor Kushk-e Bala Leylestan Malekabad Nasht-e Rud Nosratabad-e Khadayar Nowjan Purkan Sar Ziarat Sarv Dar Sijan Tasisat Sadamirkebir Vanesh Varian Varzan Vineh Asara Dardeh Do Khanvari Hameh Ja Kiasar Kiasarlat Laniz Murud Sarak Shahrestanak Shelnak Tekyeh-e Sepahsalar Nesa Asiab Dargah Azadbar Emam Cheshmeh Gach Sar Garmab Gashnadar Gasil Hasanak Dar Kohneh Deh Kushkak Malek Faliz Meydanak Nesa Sorkheh Darreh Valeh Varangeh Rud Velayat Rud Eshtehard Cities Eshtehard Rural Districts and villages Palangabad Ahmadabad Amidi Ghamurlu Industrial Centre Eypak Fardabad Goldasht Hasanabad Jafarabad Jaru Khurdikabad Mazraeh-ye Abdallahabad Mazraeh-ye Anjmin Mazraeh-ye Aruj Ali Mazraeh-ye Bidark-e Bala Mazraeh-ye Fadak Mazraeh-ye Inanluyi Ighmorlu Mazraeh-ye Khorramabad Mazraeh-ye Khurshidabad Mazraeh-ye Kushkabad Mazraeh-ye Mohasses Mazraeh-ye Moradabad Mazraeh-ye Muijeh Khak Mazraeh-ye Mutur Khaneh Shah Bakhti Mazraeh-ye Qazian Mazraeh-ye Rais Mohammad Mazraeh-ye Yek Lang Mazraeh-ye Yengi Kahriz Mehdiabad Mokhtarabad Morad Tappeh Morghdari-ye Kasht va Sanat Doab Naserabad Nekujar Palangabad Qanli Bolagh Qeshlaq-e Daylar Qeshlaq-e Gong Qeshlaq-e Guneh Ay Qowzlu Sehhatabad Shahrak-e Sanati-ye Eshtahard Tolombeh Khaneh-ye Shorket Nafat Yek Lang

Anita Anand
Anita Anand during an outside broadcast
Born	(1972-04-28) 28 April 1972 (age 40) London, England
Occupation	Radio & TV Presenter
Spouse	Simon Singh
Children	Hari Singh

Anita Anand ( /ˈɑːnænd/ AH-nand;^{[citation needed]} born 28 April 1972),^[1][2] is a British radio and television presenter and journalist.

Early life[link]

Anand was born in London, England to Pakistani Hindu parents from the North West Frontier, bordering on Afghanistan.

Education[link]

Anand was educated at Bancroft's School,^[3] a co-educational independent school in the town of Woodford Green, in the suburb of Woodford in North East London, followed by King's College London, at the University of London in Central London, between 1990 to 1993.

Life and career[link]

After training as a journalist, Anand became European Head of News and Current Affairs for Zee TV, becoming one of the youngest TV news editors in Britain at the age of 25.^[1] She presented the talk show The Big Debate, and was political correspondent for Zee TV presenting the Raj Britannia series - 31 documentaries chronicling the political aspirations of the Asian community in the most marginal constituencies in 1997.

Until October 2007, Anand presented in the 10pm till 1am slot on Monday to Thursdays on BBC Radio 5 live. She went on to co-present the station's weekday "Drive" (16:00 - 19:00) slot with Peter Allen, having replaced Jane Garvey in 2007. Aasmah Mir replaced her when she left for maternity leave.^[4]

Anand has presented the BBC Radio 4 show Mid Week, which goes out on Wednesday mornings. On television, Anand has been a presenter on the Heaven and Earth Show. She has co-presented The Daily Politics on BBC Two with Andrew Neil from September 2008, with a break for maternity leave from January - September 2010.

Anand has also written articles for India Today and The Asian Age newspaper, and used to write a regular column in The Guardian.

In July 2011 Anand left the Daily Politics to present a new show - Double Take - on 5 Live on Sunday mornings^[5]

Awards[link]

On 18 November 2005, Anand won the Nazia Hassan Award for 2005 in the category of upcoming Television Broadcasters.^[6][7]

Personal life[link]

Anand married scientist and author Simon Singh in September 2007. The couple have a son, and live in London.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Anita Anand's Homepage
• Q&A with Anand on the Five Live website
• Shame! Shame! article by Anita Anand
• BBC NewsWatch Interview
• Anita Anand at the Internet Movie Database

Harjinder Singh Jinda
Nickname	Jinda
Born	1961 Village Gadli, Amritsar, Punjab, India
Died	October 09, 1992 Pune, Maharashtra, India
Allegiance	Khalistan Commando Force
Years of service	1984 - 1992
Battles/wars	Khalistan movement
Awards	“Great Martyr’ of the Sikh nation

Harjinder Singh Jinda was a member of a Sikh organization Khalistan Commando Force and one of the two assassins of Arun Vaidya (the Chief of Indian army at the time of Operation Bluestar and architect of Operation Bluestar). He was responsible for three high-profile killings; Arjan Dass, Lalit Maken and Gen. Vaidya. He along with other members of Khalistan Commando Force participated in Indian history's biggest bank robbery^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} of Rs. 5.70 crore ($4.5 million) from Punjab National Bank, Miller Gunj branch, Ludhiana^[8] to finance the campaign for a separate Sikh state of Khalistan.^[9][10]

Early life[link]

Harjinder Singh's mother's and father's names are Gurnam Kaur^[11] and Gulzar Singh.^[12] Jinda had two older brothers, Nirbhail Singh and Bhupinder Singh^[8][13][14] and one sister, Balvinder Kaur.^[11] Harinder Singh alias Mathra Singh and Jagjit Singh were nephews of Harjinder Singh Jinda.^[12] Sikh militant Surjit Singh Penta (who committed suicide by consuming cyanide during Operation Black Thunder in the year of 1998) was a cousin of Harjinder Singh Jinda.^[15][16][17] He belonged to a farmer family.

He was born on April 4, 1962 in the village of Gadli, Jandiala in district Amritsar^[18] and received his early education in his native village of Gadli^[19] in district Amritsar. After completing his early education, he enrolled in Khalsa College, Amritsar.^[13][18][20]

India today described Jinda as 5'7" tall with a mole on the right side of his neck and two wounds on his right leg^[21]

Participation in the Khalistan movement[link]

He was completing his BA part II when Operation Bluestar occurred. He left his studies and joined the Khalistan separatist movement afterwards.

Assassination of Lalit Maken[link]

Harjinder Singh "Jinda" and Sukhdev Singh Sukha along with Ranjit Singh Gill gunned down Congress(I) Member of Parliament Lalit Maken on July 31, 1985,^[8] when he was moving towards his car parked across the road from his house in Kirti Nagar, New Delhi. The three assailants continued firing even as Maken ran towards his house for cover. Maken's wife Geetanjali and a visitor, Balkishan, were also caught in the firing. The assailants escaped on their scooters. Lalit Maken was considered to be involved in the killings of innocent Sikhs during 1984 Anti-Sikh riots. In a 31-page booklet titled 'Who Are The Guilty', People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) listed 227 people who led the mobs, which killed up to 3,000 Sikhs over three days. Lalit Maken's name was third on the list.^[22] A press report has indicated that someone named Bakshish Singh was also involved along with Jinda in this assassination.^[23] Ranjit Singh "Gill" was arrested by Interpol in New Jersey, USA on May 14, 1987, a federal magistrate approved his extradition on February 6, 1988^[24] and he was deported back to India in February 2000 after lengthy legal cases and was sentenced to life imprisonment on February 24, 2003. Finally his life sentence was commuted on May 20, 2009.^[25]

Assassination of General Vaidya[link]

In 1984, General Arun Vaidya had designed and supervised^[26] Operation Blue Star - a controversial military operation ordered by Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India,^[27] against a group of Sikh separatists in June 1984 at the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs.

General Vaidya had moved to Pune after his retirement from the army. On August 10, 1986, General Arun Vaidya was shot to death by Jinda and Sukha while he was driving his car home from the market.^[28] According to the police, the assailants pulled up next to his car on motor scooters and fired eight or nine shots into the car.^[29] Vaidya reportedly died instantly of head and neck wounds. His wife, who was also in the car, was wounded by four bullets in her back and thighs.^[30] According to Indian intelligence sources, Vaidya had been the number four assassination target on lists by Sikh militants and he was one of several people killed in retaliation for Operation Blue Star.^[31][32] Following the assassination, the Khalistan Commando Force issued a statement declaring that Vaidya had been killed in retaliation for the Operation Blue Star.^[31]

Assassination of Arjan Dass[link]

Congress (I) leader Arjun Dass was assassinated on Sept 5 1985^[33][34] by Jinda,^[35] Sukha^[36] and one other Sikh because of his involvement in 1984 Anti-Sikh riots. Arjan Dass's name appeared in various affidavits submitted by innocent Sikh victims to Nanavati Commission which was headed by Justice G.T. Nanavati, retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India.^[37] He was also identified among organisers of the carnage.^[38][39] Arjun Dass was a close friend of Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.^[40]

Arrest and death[link]

On September 17, 1986, Sukha got into an accident with a truck in Pimpri, Pune and was arrested. He was riding the same black motorcycle which was used at the time of assassination of General Vaidya. Jinda was arrested at Gurdwara Majnoo Daa Tilla, Delhi in March, 1987. He was shot in the legs at the time of his arrest. During their court trial, despite admitting to the killing, they pled not-guilty, justifying their actions by saying that Vaidya was "guilty of a serious crime, the punishment for which could only be death".^[32] They were awarded death sentences at 2:05 pm on October 21, 1989. Sukha and Jinda also wrote a letter to president of India asking for "No-Clemency" prior to their hanging.^[41] They welcomed their death sentences with Sikh religious slogans of Jo Bole So Nihal and their political slogans of Khalistan Zindabad.

On October 9, 1992, early in the morning, Sukhdev Singh "Sukha" and Harjinder Singh "Jinda" were hanged until death in Pune Jail. The Independent World mentioned “While being led from their cell to the gallows set up in the Yerawada gaol yard, the two convicted killers shouted slogans for Sikh independence in the Punjab”.^[42] Both of them were hanged at 4 am in Yerwada Central Jail Pune while extraordinary security was deployed at the jail and in the periphery of Pune to oppose any possible Sikh militant attack. Security was also tightened all over Northern India.^[43]

Public protests[link]

The Independent World reported that “..their hanging sparked off protests by students and shop-keepers in the Sikh-dominated state of Punjab” and “Security forces were put on alert in New Delhi, Pune, the southern city where the two assassins were hanged, and throughout the Punjab.”.^[42]

Memorial service and subsequent seizure of Golden Temple by the government[link]

On their memorial service, hundreds of troops and police surrounded the Golden Temple. In the early morning hundreds of Sikhs were ordered to move out of the Golden Temple. Sikh leaders Simranjit Singh Mann, Parkash Singh Badal, Gurcharan Singh Tohra and 300 others were arrested in the statewide arrests. Some people were baton charged when they tried to enter this religious place. Approximately 300 Sikhs openly resisted the police clampdown and held the 30 minute memorial service inside the complex while chanting slogans hailing the assassins and in support of Sikh homeland Khalistan. Jinda and Sukha’s fathers were presented with gold medals by Golden Temple priest. Police seize of the temple was lifted 3 hours after the memorial service^[44][45]

Honours/ anniversaries[link]

In October 1999, his death anniversary was celebrated in his village Gadli, district Amritsar, where chief of Akal Takhat Amritsar, Giani Puran Singh declared Jinda a national martyr while justifying his action of killing general Vaidya. Some Akali leaders stayed away from this function.^[46]

On October 9, 2000, representatives of all major Sikh bodies, including ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, the SHSAD, the SGPC, the Damdami Taksal, AISSF and the Dal Khalsa attended the eighth death anniversary of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha. To honour Jinda and Sukha, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Head of Akal Takht (Supreme Sikh temporal seat), performed the ‘ardas’ (a Sikh religious rite). Both Sukha and Jinda were declared as “great martyrs’ of the Sikh nation during this event.^[47]

On October 9, 2002, per The Tribune, on Jinda's death anniversary, "Tributes were paid to the assassins of General Vaidya — Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha" and Jinda's mother was honoured by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, chief of Akal Takhat.^[48]

In October 2005, the anniversary of his death was celebrated in his native village of Gadli by various Sikh organization including Dal Khalsa, Damdami Taksal, Akal Federation and Sikh Students Federation etc.^[19] and his family was again honoured by Dal Khalsa in Fateh Garh Sahib in Punjab, India.^[49]

Dashmesh Durbar Sikh temple in Surrey, Canada recently organized special prayers for both Jinda and Sukha in Canada^[50]

On October 9, 2008, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee honoured kin of Jinda and Sukha in the Golden Temple complex, to mark the anniversaries of their death. SGPC declared Jinda and Sukha ‘martyrs of Sikh nation' and added that Jinda and Sukha took revenge of Operation Bluestar.^[8]

References[link]