Introduction

Sant Harchand Singh Longowal (1932–1985) was the moral conscience and principal political leader of Punjab during the most turbulent and violent decade in its modern history. Stepping into the leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal during the crisis of the early 1980s, Longowal sought to balance the unyielding defense of regional autonomy (the Anandpur Sahib Resolution) with an unshakeable commitment to non-violence and inter-communal brotherhood between Hindus and Sikhs. In signing the historic Punjab Accord of 1985 with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Longowal knowingly placed his life on the line, sealing peace with his own blood.

Early Life and Spiritual Calling

  • Born on January 2, 1932, in the village of Ghadariani in Sangrur district into a modest farming family, young Harchand Singh displayed early spiritual inclinations.
  • He studied Gurbani classical kirtan and scripture under Sant Jodh Singh at Mauhran village.
  • Later appointed the custodian and head priest of the historical Gurdwara in the town of Longowal, he became reverently known as Sant Ji for his humble, ascetic, and charitable demeanor.

Leadership in the Anti-Emergency Agitation (1975)

  • When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi suspended civil liberties and declared national Emergency in June 1975, the Akali Dal launched the Democracy Safeguard Agitation (Amrit Morcha).
  • Appointed dictator of the campaign, Sant Longowal orchestrated nineteen months of continuous non-violent protest from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, courting arrest alongside more than 40,000 volunteers.
  • His national stature as an incorruptible champion of Indian democratic institutions led to his unanimous election as President of the Shiromani Akali Dal in 1980.

The Dharam Yudh Morcha (1982–1984)

On August 4, 1982, Sant Longowal launched the mass civil disobedience campaign designated as the Dharam Yudh Morcha:

  • The campaign demanded the implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, the transfer of Chandigarh as Punjab's capital, equitable river water distribution, and statutory recognition of minority religious protections.
  • Longowal insisted that the movement remain strictly peaceful, repeatedly disavowing communal rhetoric and emphasizing that the battle was for all Punjabis regardless of religious creed.
  • Following the military assault of Operation Blue Star in June 1984, Longowal was detained by armed forces and imprisoned in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

The Rajiv-Longowal Punjab Accord (July 1985)

Released in March 1985, Sant Longowal surveyed a devastated landscape scarred by military operations and the anti-Sikh pogroms of November 1984:

  • Resisting hardline pressure to abandon constitutional politics, Longowal entered secret negotiations with newly elected Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
  • On July 24, 1985, in New Delhi, the two leaders signed the historic Punjab Accord:
  1. The immediate transfer of the joint capital Chandigarh exclusively to Punjab by January 26, 1986.
  2. The appointment of a Supreme Court tribunal to adjudicate the sharing of the Ravi-Beas river waters.
  3. A full judicial inquiry into the November 1984 killings of Sikhs in Delhi.
  4. Rehabilitation and release of discharged Sikh military personnel.

Assassination and Martyrdom

Longowal fully comprehended the lethal risks of conciliation in a polarized political climate:

  • Addressing warnings from intelligence agencies, he famously stated: "My life is of no consequence if it can secure the peace and future of the children of Punjab."
  • On August 20, 1985, while addressing a congregation inside the Gurdwara at Sherpur near Sangrur, assassins opened fire at point-blank range.
  • Fatally wounded, his dying words to his followers were an urgent plea: "Do not let anger consume you; preserve the sacred bond of Hindu-Sikh brotherhood at all costs."
  • His martyrdom remains an enduring monument to statesmanship and moral courage.

References

  1. Kulwant Singh (1986), Sant Harchand Singh Longowal: Martyr of Peace, Patiala.
  2. Khushwant Singh (1999), A History of the Sikhs: Vol. 2, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  3. Mark Tully and Satish Jacob (1985), Amritsar: Mrs. Gandhi's Last Battle, London: Jonathan Cape.