Region, Religion and Politics: 100 Years of Shiromani Alcali Dal

420 Pages·10.312 MB·English

by  Amarjit S. Narang

REGION, RELIGION AND POLITICS

An objective and dispassionate study of the oldest religion based
regional political party: the Shiromani Akali Dal, participating in
the democratic politics and processes of socio-economic develop­
ment and transformation of the country. It delineates and analyses
events and developments from the emergence of the Akali Dal,
as a religious movement, its transformation into a religious
political party, concerned with safeguarding the political, social
and economic interests of the Sikhs as a minority and to
represent them in governing institutions, engaged in the struggle
for power in secular domain mobilising the community support
using the ideology of fusion of religion and politics, yet lacking
equal support from different sections of the community. Rather
than dwelling on a mere narrative of events and describing
strategies, tactics and agitations of the Akalis an attempt has been
made to understand why and how social and economic
antagonisms arising out of generation and articulation of
demands in a pluralistic society, undergoing modernization and
democratization may be marked by identity politics. The study is
located in the broader framework of rise and growth of regional
parties and identity politics in India
as a part and
consequence of India’s adopted model of state and nation
building, integration and socio-economic development and
transformation.
Amarjit S. Narang retired as Professor of Political Science
from Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. He
has about forty five years
PG teaching experience having
taught at Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi National
Open Universities. He has been a fellow at Brock, McGill and
Queen’s universities and Indian Institute of Advanced Study,
Shimla. His interests include Indian Politics, Comparative
Politics, Ethnic and Minority Studies, Human Rights, Punjab and
Sikh studies.

REGION,

RELIGION AND

POLITICS

100 Years of Shiromani Akali Dal
AMARJIT S. NARANG
MANOHAR
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Amarjit S. Narang and Manohar Publishers
The right of Amarjit S. Narang to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
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trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent
to infringe.
Print edition not for sale in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh,
Pakistan or Bhutan)
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 9781032377339 (hbk)
ISBN: 9781032377346 (pbk)
ISBN: 9781003341635 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003341635
Typeset in Minion Pro 11/13
by Ravi Shanker, Delhi 110095
Contents

List of IllustrationT 7

List of Tables 9

Preface and Acknowledgements 11

1. Introduction: Region, Religion and Politics 15

2. Punjab: State, Society, Demography and Economy 23

3. Communal Consciousness and Identity in Colonial Era 46

4. Gurdwara Reform Movement and Shiromani Akali Dal 63

5. Akali Dal and the National Movement 79

6. Punjabi Suba Movement 107

7. Akali Politics in Reorganized Punjab (1967-1980) 151

8. Sikh Ethno-Nationalism, Akali Dal and

Operation Blue Star 187

9. Punjab Accord and Elections 223

10. Post-Accord Insurgency and the Akali Response 242

11. Post-Militancy Return of Moderation 269

12. New Generation and Dynastic Politics 291

13. Akali Dal at 100: Trends and Challenges 321

14. Conclusion: Identity Politics and Accommodation 352
6 Contents
Appendices
1. List of Abbreviations 363

2. Glossary 364

3. 100 Years of SAD: Timeline 367

4. Prominent Leaders who Steered, Influenced or

Swayed Akali Politics 372

5. Akali Dal Factions 380

References and Bibliography 383

Index 401
List of Illustrations
Plates
(between pp. 208-9)
1. Gurdwara reform Movement.
2. Akali Jatha for liberation of Gurdwaras.
3. Master Tara Singh, with Maulana Azad, J.B. Kirplani, Jinnah
and others at Shimla Conference.
4. Partition of Punjab: Refugee influx.
5. Women volunteers courting arrest during Punjabi Suba
agitation.
6. Change of leadership and orientation in Akali Politics: From
Master Tara Singh to Sant Fateh Singh.
7. Sant Fateh Singh breaking fast for inclusion of Chandigarh in
Punjab.
8. Post-reorganization negotiations: Sant Fateh Singh and PM
Indira Gandhi.
9. Prakash Singh Badal leading Save Democracy Morcha 1975.
10. Dharam Yudh Morcha 1982.
11. Akali Politics hijacked by militants.
12. Operation Blue Star 1984.
13. Rajiv-Longowal Accord 1985.
14. SAD-BJP chemistry.
15. Dynasty control: transfer from Prakash Singh Badal to son
Sukhbir Singh Badal.
16. Centenary celebration.
8 List of Illustrations
Maps
2.1. Districts and administrative divisions in Punjab

Pre-1947 24

2.2. The Punjab, 1956-66 26

2.3. Punjab Today 27

5.1. Punjab Divided: The Radcliffe Line 104

6.1. Punjabi Suba Proposed by SAD 114

6.2. The Punjab after 1966 148
List of Tables

2.1. Population Pattern of Punjab, 1881-1941 36
2.2. Population Pattern of Punjab, 1971-2011 38
2.3. Percentage Change in Population Growth by
Religion, 1971-2011 39
5.1. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 1937 86
5.2. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 1946 95
6.1. Seats and Votes Polled by Political Parties in 1952
Assembly Elections – Punjab and PEPSU 122
6.2. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 1957 132
6.3. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 1962 141
7.1. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 1967
and 1969 152
7.2. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 1972 158
7.3. Party Position Lok Sabha Elections (Punjab), 1977 167
7.4. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 1977 168
7.5. Party Position Lok Sabha Elections (Punjab), 1980 184
7.6. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 1980 185
9.1. Party Position Punjab Lok Sabha and Assembly
Elections, 1985 240
11.1. Party Position Lok Sabha Elections (Punjab) 1996,
1998 and 1999 277
11.2. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 1997
and 2002 281
12.1. Party Position Punjab Lok Sabha Elections,
2004-19 293
12.2. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 2007-17 296
12.3. Party Position Punjab Assembly Elections, 2022 319