Baku Initiative Group releases documentary on Sikh Freedom Movement and 1984 events

The international non-governmental organization Baku Initiative Group has released a documentary focusing on Sikh Freedom

London: The international non-governmental organization Baku Initiative Group has released a documentary focusing on Sikh Freedom International, highlighting key events in Sikh history, including the June 1984 military operation at the Golden Temple and the anti-Sikh riots that followed later that year.

According to the documentary, the June 1984 operation by the Indian Army at Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and attacks on dozens of gurdwaras across Punjab are presented as defining moments in modern Sikh history.

The film states that in June 1984, Indian forces carried out operations at more than 75 gurdwaras, including the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Indian government referred to the action as Operation Blue Star, while many Sikhs remember it as the “Battle of Amritsar” or “Third Ghallughara.”

The documentary describes Sri Darbar Sahib as the spiritual, social, and collective centre of Sikh life, emphasizing its role in community leadership, religious practice, and the Sikh principle of “Sarbat da Bhala” — the welfare of all.

It further recalls that several months after the June 1984 events, anti-Sikh riots erupted across India in November 1984, during which thousands of Sikhs were reportedly targeted. Homes, businesses, and places of worship belonging to members of the Sikh community were attacked in widespread violence.

According to the documentary, these events strengthened demands among sections of the global Sikh community for justice, self-determination, and greater recognition of Sikh rights.

The Baku Initiative Group said it continues to provide an international platform for raising awareness about issues affecting Sikh communities and amplifying their perspectives on historical and contemporary challenges.

The documentary forms part of the organization’s broader efforts to promote discussion on minority rights, self-determination, and historical grievances in different regions around the world.