All India Sikh Students Federation

All India Sikh Students Federation
President Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad [1]
Founded 13 September 1944
Ideology Far Left Wing Sikhism
Mother party Damdami Taksal
International affiliation Sikhs For Justice
Website www.aissf.in

The All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), is a Sikh student organisation and political organisation in India.[2] (AISSF) was formed in 1943.[3] as the youth wing of the Akali Dal, which is a Sikh political party in the Indian Punjab.

In March 1984, due to the rise in Punjab Insurgency, the Indian government banned the AISSF,[4] and jailed many of its members.[5] During the Operation Bluestar in June 1984, members of the AISSF were involved in the fighting between the Indian army and Sikh militants at the Golden Temple. AISSF members were also involved in an armed confrontation during Operation Black Thunder with police and paramilitary forces at the temple in April 1986. The ban on AISSF was lifted 11 April 1985.[6][7]

In April 1986, the AISSF was split into two groups, one Manjit Singh faction aligned with the United Akali Dal (a militant faction of the Akali Dal), and the second Gurjit faction aligned itself with the Damdami Taksal (a Sikh religious school).[8] The members of the AISSF have called for the creation of a separate Sikh state, "Khalistan". More than 16 militant Sikh groups have emerged in 1980s in support of the Khalistan Movement.[9] Major militant groups included the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) and the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).[10] The KLF acts as an umbrella group which is linked politically to the Manjit Singh faction of the AISSF,[11] and reported as an armed wing of the AISSF.[12] The Khalistan Commando Force had emerged as the main militant group in Punjab, according to an article in India Today, and is "closely linked to the Gurjit faction of the AISSF and the Damdami Taksal."[13] In July 1989, Manjit Singh, the president of the AISSF was released from Sangrur jail in Punjab after spending five years.[14] He is allegedly still a supporter of militants trying to establish Khalistan.[15][7]

Origin

Before the federation came into being, Sikh youths were organized into local Bhujangi Sabhas in schools and colleges across the Punjab region that promoted Sikh values, heritage and social service. The actual origin of the Sikh Student Federation can be traced back to "Khalsa clubs" established in 1888.[16] The club came to be known as the Sikh Naujawan' Association, whose first president was Harnam Singh. Although small in size and activity, the association published the Khalsa Naujawan' Magazine and sponsored work on religious and social projects. Sikh youths were an integral part of organizations such as the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Shiromani Akali Dal and the All India Students Federation.

Foundation

The All India Sikh Students Federation was formed as a students' organisation committed to the political representation of Sikhs. The motivation for a distinct organisation for Sikhs came from the heightening communal and political tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities. In 1937, a large group of Muslim students split from the Marxist All India Students Federation to form the All India Muslim Students Federation, which became the youth arm of the Muslim League and the Pakistan movement. Seeking to protect Sikh political rights and representation, organisations such as the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee sponsored the founding of the All India Sikh Students Federation in 1944. It was headquartered in Lyallpur (Faislabad, now in Pakistan) and its organisation spread across colleges and universities in Punjab and northern India. Following the partition of India in 1947, the organisation moved its headquarters to Amritsar in Indian Punjab. Ranbir Singh Sodhi was the co-founder member of the organisation.

After Partition

During the communal riots and mass migrations at the time of India's partition, the AISSF helped organise relief and rehabilitation camps for Hindu and Sikh refugees arriving in India from Pakistan. In independent India, the AISSF became closely linked as the youth arm of the Akali Dal. The federation would expand its organisation across India and become one of the nation's leading student political organisations. It would also help build support and lead the Sikh political demand for the establishment of a Sikh-majority state within the Indian union. As the agitation reached its peak in the mid-1960s, the federation helped organise student marches and rallies to increase pressure on the Indian government. Daljeet Singh Bittu was elected at president of SSF.

Shaheed Dr Gurnam Singh Buttar MBBS, become the convener of Sikh Student Federation, when Manjit Singh and other mislead movement.

Panthic committee made his appointment, his work was so much appreciated all over Punjab, he was such a humble person who led the guerrilla movement, travelling on his bicycle. Shaheed Dr Gurnam Singh Buttar of Sikh Students Federation was one of many brave Sikhs who gave up their well paid Government jobs in protest of Operation Bluestar and the atrocities being carried out on Sikhs all over Hindustan.

On 23 December, at the Shaheedi Jorh Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib, where Akali leaders Parkash Badal, Tohra, chandumanjra were present and Sangat not even interested in their speeches. Dr Gurnam Singh and fellow Singhs took over the Akali’s stage and presented the resolution of Khalistan to the sangat. Dr Gurnam Singh addressed the sangat, and explained why there was now the need for the creation of a Sikh homeland, Khalistan. Upon hearing Dr Gurnam Singhs speech, the entire Sikh sangat raised their hands in support of this resolution. Total 12 resolutions passed on that day. This was first and last time in the history of the Sikh movement where Akalis raised their hands in front of Sangat in favour of all resolutions because they were pressured by Doctor G. S. Buttar. On April 1987, at a conference held at Sri Darbar Sahib, Dr Gurnam Singh publicly resigned from his post of junior medical officer at Qadian Civil Hospital. Resigning from his government job, Dr Gurnam Singh stated that the Khalsa is now my government, and the creation of Khalistan is my occupation, and my retirement will come in the form of Shaheedi.

After Operation Blue Star in June 1984, the organization temporarily removed the words "All India" from its name, and was known as Sikh Students Federation (SSF) for some time.

Current Leadership

Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad is the current president of All India Sikhs Students Federation since 19 January 1995. The organization is aimed at demanding justice for the victims of the 1984 Anti Sikh Genocide, and also focuses on other issues facing the Sikh community.[17]

The organization under the leadership of President Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad has been working for issues of Punjab and defending the values of Sikhi. The organization has recently worked on SYL Water issue for Punjab[18][19]

Satnam Singh Gambhir is current president of All India Sikh Students Federation's Bihar-Jharkhand unit.[20][21]

Sikh Students Federation factions

The Sikh Students Federation formed in 1944 is now divided into various factions.

  • Sikh Students Federation led by Parmjeet Singh Gazi.[22] It was reorganized in 2001 and Sewak Singh, a Student from Punjabi University was elected as President. After Sewak Singh,n Mandhir Singh headed the organization till 2007 January. Later Parmjeet Singh alias Gazi, a student of higher studies in Law at Punjabi University Patiala, became the president of the organization.[23][24]
  • All India Sikh Students Federation led by Karnail Singh Peer Muhammad.[25]
  • Sikh Students Federation (Mehta) faction led by Paramjit Singh Khalsa as its president.[26]
  • Sikh Students Federation (Grewal-Mann) faction led by Samarjeet Singh Mann and Gurcharan Singh Grewal as its president.[27]

References

  1. ↑ "Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad". Archived from the original on 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  2. ↑ "RSS interfering into Sikh affairs: All India Sikh Students Federation". Archived from the original on 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
  3. ↑ The Minority Rights Group, "The Sikhs", (London, 1984), p. 14.
  4. ↑ Henry Degenhardt, ed., Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, (Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1988), p. 156.
  5. ↑ Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXX, November 1984, p. 33222.
  6. ↑ Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXXI, November 1985, p. 33986.
  7. 1 2 "IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada". ecoi.net. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Keesing's Volume XXXIII, (August 1986) p. 34563
  9. ↑ Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXXIV, February 1988, p. 35718.
  10. ↑ [Amnesty International, Report 1987.]
  11. ↑ Dilip Bobb, "The Spectre of Terrorism," India Today, 31 July 1987
  12. ↑ Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume XXXIV, February 1988, p. 35719.
  13. ↑ "The Spectre of Terrorism," India Today, (New Delhi, 31 July 1987)
  14. ↑ "Released: Manjit Singh", Asiaweek, 11 August 1989, p. 48
  15. ↑ Ibid
  16. ↑ Singh, Sarup (1995). Harbans Singh, ed. The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (2nd ed.). Patiala: Punjabi University, Patiala.
  17. ↑ "All India Sikh Students Federation gives Punjab bandh call". Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
  18. ↑ "SYL issue: AISSF demands resolution in Assembly to challenge SC verdict". Archived from the original on 2017-04-15. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  19. ↑ "AISSF demand Punjab Assly resolution to challenge SYL canal decision". Archived from the original on 2017-04-15. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  20. ↑ "All India Sikh Students Federation appeals to ban 'MSG: Messenger Of God' in Jharkhand". Archived from the original on 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
  21. ↑ "All India Sikh Students Federation asks Jharkhand govt to make 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' tax free". Archived from the original on 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
  22. ↑ "Paramjit Singh Gazi, Harsimran Singh, youth leader Bhai Prabhjot Singh and Bhai Paramjit Singh Tanda were also present". Archived from the original on 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  23. ↑ "The Sikh Students Federation". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  24. ↑ "About Us, SikhStudentsFederation.Net". Archived from the original on 2013-07-10. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  25. ↑ "AISSF head Bhai Karnail Singh exuded confidence that Kejriwal will give justice to families of 1984 riot victims".
  26. ↑ "Sikh Students Federation urges Akal Takht to summon Navjot Sidhu". Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  27. ↑ "Sikh Students Federation stages protest against Dera chief". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
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