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League of Nation: The international organization between two World Wars

  The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded on January 10, 1920, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I. It was established with the aim of promoting international cooperation, resolving disputes, and preventing future conflicts. The League of Nations was proposed by President Woodrow Wilson of the United States as one of his Fourteen Points for peace. The League's charter was included in the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed by the victorious Allied powers and Germany. The League's headquarters were located in Geneva, Switzerland. The League of Nations consisted of two main bodies: the Assembly and the Council. The Assembly served as a forum for all member states to discuss and vote on important issues, while the Council was responsible for making decisions and taking action on matters of international concern. The Council consisted of permanent members (the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan) and non-permanent members e...
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Operation Blue Star, 1984

 Operation Bluestar, also known as the Golden Temple Raid, was a military operation conducted by the Indian Army in June 1984 to flush out Sikh militants from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, Punjab. The operation was launched on the orders of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, after negotiations with the militant leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, failed.

Image Credit: Indian History Collective


The Golden Temple complex is a revered site for Sikhs worldwide and is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. It was occupied by Bhindranwale and his armed followers who had turned it into a fortress. The militants were demanding a separate Sikh homeland, Khalistan, which would be carved out of the Indian state of Punjab.

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The Indian government had been grappling with the issue of Sikh militancy for several years before Operation Bluestar. The situation had escalated with the rise of Bhindranwale, who had gained a large following among Sikhs, particularly in rural Punjab.

The operation was conducted by the Indian Army's elite commando unit, the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (1 PARA), and other units. The army had to enter the complex through narrow passages and face heavy resistance from the militants. The militants were heavily armed and had fortified the complex, which made the operation even more challenging.



The operation lasted for three days and resulted in a fierce battle between the militants and the army, causing significant loss of life and damage to the temple. The exact number of casualties is disputed, with the government claiming around 400 deaths, while Sikh groups claiming the number to be in the thousands.

The operation was controversial and sparked widespread outrage, not only among Sikhs but also among the general population of India. The military action was seen as an attack on the Sikh community and a violation of their religious sanctity. The Indian government's decision to use force to resolve the issue was criticized, and many believed that it could have been handled better through negotiations.

The operation also had political repercussions. It led to a breakdown in relations between the Indian government and the Sikh community, which felt that they had been targeted unfairly. The Sikh diaspora around the world also reacted strongly to the operation, and protests were held in several countries.

The aftermath of Operation Bluestar was equally tragic. In retaliation for the operation, two of Indira Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards assassinated her in October 1984. The assassination sparked widespread riots and violence against Sikhs in many parts of India, leading to the deaths of thousands of people.

In conclusion, Operation Bluestar was a tragic event in Indian history that had far-reaching consequences. The use of force to resolve the issue of Sikh militancy was controversial and remains a contentious issue to this day. The operation resulted in the loss of many lives and damage to a revered site for Sikhs worldwide. The fallout from the operation also had political and social repercussions, leading to a breakdown in relations between the Indian government and the Sikh community and sparking widespread violence against Sikhs. The events of Operation Bluestar and its aftermath serve as a reminder of the need for dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

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