1999: *OMMISSIONS IN Encyclopaedia of Sikhism
Recently I was referring to the second volume of the encyclopaedia (Encyclopaedia
of Sikhism, Punjabi University, Patiala), and saw an entry 'Khalra'. The village
Khalra has a historical importance, as Guru Nanak Dev visited this place during
one of his udasis. Village Khalra has come in the limelight in the last few
years when a great Sikh martyr, Sardar Jaswant Singh Khalra, who disclosed the
story of two thousand unidentified dead bodies of Sikhs, cremated at various
crematoriums by Punjab police after killing them. Sardar J S Khalra himself
was later picked up by police and killed, while declaring him missing. Recent
press reports showed how brutally he was killed by the police, under the instructions
of the then Punjab police Director general K P S Gill, in spite of court orders
to the Government to find his whereabouts.
Even important entries like Bhindranwale and Blue Star Operation are missing
from the encyclopaedia. I do not know why such entries are not included. Even
the Punjabi Vishva Kosh published by Bhasha Vibagh has ignored such entries.
There may be many more items like these, which should be included in future
editions.
[ *Dr V P Singh E-3116, DRDO Colony April 4, 1999 Technology Park Bangalore
]