Operation Blue Star: an attack on the SikhsMasses of innocent Sikh civilians, dressed in traditional Indian clothing, gathered at the Golden Temple on June 8 1984. People gathered to celebrate an important religious festival, the death anniversary of their fifth guru, Arjan Dev Ji. Women dressed in salwar kameez and men dressed in kurta pajamas. Priests recited daily prayers, while individuals listened and paid homage. Then they sat together on the ground and ate langar (simple food provided by the temple), as equals. In this way, Sikhs expressed the ideals of equality and unity. However, this sacred shrine and its pure marble floors would soon be stained with corpses and blood. Nearly 36 hours of horrific fighting between Sikh militants and Indian government soldiers followed soon after. For the first time in 400 years, the 24-hour prayer vigil had ceased. At 19 years old, Manny heard this terrifying news while sitting in front of the television in Patara village, just 65 kilometers from Patara village. violence. He was instantly paralyzed by fear. Questions were racing through his mind at a million miles an hour. Was he safe from danger? Were any of his relatives involved in the violence? Should he stay in Punjab or flee? His military background conflicted with his personal beliefs and prevented him from finding a rational answer to any of these crucial questions. It was on this day that Operation Blue Star took place. In government terms, Operation Blue Star was a necessary military operation to get rid of terrorists and recover the artillery from the Golden Temple. However, in the opinion of the Sikhs, this was a desecration of the Golden Temple and an attack on their religion. According to the Ind...... middle of paper ......ate, was cut in two in the western region by the newly established border. Major tensions have persisted for years between Muslim and Sikh communities, who directly suffered from the violence and loss of land resulting from Partition. In the eyes of many, the Sikhs obtained their revenge by ending Gandhi's life. Today, Manny finds that Prime Minister Gandhi had the resources and authority to carry out the attack in another way. There was no need to kill many innocent Sikhs, especially on a holiday when the temple was very busy. Above all, there is no justification for the disrespect and destruction of the Golden Temple, which is often equated with the Mecca of Muslims. Ultimately, in the opinion of Manny, a Sikh with both religious and military knowledge, Operation Blue Star was not worth it. The costs of this controversial event far outweigh the benefits.