The Punjab Story  (English, Paperback, unknown)

This book presents to the reader a wide range of perspectives on Punjab and Operation Bluestar. It has inputs from well-known public figures and journalists like Khushwant Singh, Shekhar Gupta, Tavleen Singh and M. V. Kamath.

Summary of the Book

The Operation Bluestar is a historic event that ended the terrorism that had been spreading. This terror was perpetrated by the Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers. However, the event left behind many unsolved questions that continue to threaten the stability of Punjab for many years to come. There are many questions that surround this. How is it that the state of India that was once full of life became a problem for the nation in a span of three years? Also, who was to be blamed: the Central Government that allowed the crisis to go on despite the warnings, the Akali agitation, or the gang of militants who transformed a holy shrine into a place that was flooded with terrorists. Punjab Story is a book that was published two months after the Operation Bluestar. It tells us of the complexities that Punjab faced through the eyes of eminent public figures and journalists.

About the Contributors

Amarjit Kaur

Amarjit Kaur was a member of the parliament. He was associated with the Government of India’s effort to bring out an understanding between the two communities in Punjab.

Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora

Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora is known to have successfully led the Bangladesh operations in 1971. He was among the most capable ex-Army officers to analyze the planning and execution of Operation Bluestar.

Khushwant Singh

Khushwant Singh is a writer, journalist and a former Member of Parliament. He has authored a two-volume history of the Sikhs. He is also known for his novel on the partition of India, Train to Pakistan.

M. V. Kamath

M. V. Kamath is a writer. He was also the editor of the illustrated Weekly of India. He is one of the few writer who has taken an objective stand on the army action in Punjab during Operation Bluestar.

Shekhar Gupta

Shekhar Gupta is currently the Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express. He is one of the few journalists who had managed to witness the Operation Bluestar in action. In Punjab Story, he has provided the reader with a firsthand account of the action.

Subhash Kirpekar

Subhash Kirpekar had stayed in Amritsar during Operation Bluestar. He has interviewed Giani Kirpal Singh and Baba Santa Singh of the Buddha Dal. They performed at the kar seva in the Golden Temple complex.

Sunil Sethi
Sunil Sethi comes from the city of Amritsar in Punjab. It is a state that he has done extensive coverage on during his years as a journalist.

Tavleen Singh

Tavleen Singh is a leading columnist and a political commentator. At the time, he was the only journalist who had managed to interview all the extremist leaders of Punjab.