University of Arizona - Desert Yearbook (Tucson, AZ)

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THE GOLDEN TEMPLE in Amritsar provided a peaceful sanctuary for Sikh separatist larnail Bhindran- wale (center) until an attack by In- dian Army troops killed him. INDIA IN TURMOIL 1984 was a violent year for India, a year which culminated in the death of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Al- though her death was mourned by millions, few were sur- prised by it. The chain of events leading to Gandhi ' s death began in the northern Indian state of Punjab. In this predominately Sikh state, a Sikh leader named Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was waging a terrorist campaign against the Indian government aimed at making Punjab an independent Sikh nation. For his headquarters and arsenal, he chose the Golden Temple, lo- cated in the city of Amritsar in Punjab. The Golden Temple was the Sikh ' s holiest shrine. When Bhindranwale ' s raids became serious, pressure be- gan to mount on Gandhi to take action. In early June, 1984, two battalions of Indian Army commandos surrounded the temple under cover of darkness and stormed the shrine at sunrise in hopes of forcing Bhindranwale ' s people to surren- der. Instead, the raid became a full-scale battle, killing over 70 troops and 350 Sikh separatists. Bhindranwale and many of his chief aides died in the attack. However, Gandhi lost more than the 70 troops. Outraged at the attack on their most sacred temple, many previously- moderate Sikhs took to the streets in protest, calling for Gandhi to step down. Many predominately-Sikh military units, called to quell the riots, deserted and joined the pro- tests. Although calm was restored, many predicted Gandhi ' s days were numbered. WIDESPREAD RIOTING ERUPTS in New Dehli after Indira Ghandi ' s death was announced. Over 500 people, mostly Sikhs, died in the first week of rioting in the capital. WITNESSES CARRY AWAY the body of a man trampled to death in the crush to view Gandhi ' s body. Over a dozen Indians died in the rush to pay respect to Gandhi. 20 NEWS

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MID-EAST CONFLICTS RED SEA: The Red Sea, between the Sinai Penninsula and Northern Africa, is another major oil tanker route. When tankers began reporting mine damage while in the Suez Canal, the major oil-dependant powers immediately went into action. Naval minesweepers from the United States, Britain, France, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia descended on the area, clearing several dozen mines. The group, Islamic Holy War, which claimed responsibility for the embassy bomb- ings in Beirut, took credit for the minings. LEBANON: Tragedy repeated itself in Beirut in 1984, as another U.S. Embassy suffered a terrorist bombing attack. In September 1984, TNT-laden station wagon raced through a hail of gunfire at the gate of the U.S. Embassy Annex, and barreled toward the building. A visiting British Embassy guard opened fire from his vehicle, killing the driver. The station wagon swerved into a car parked in front of the annex and exploded, killing 12 people and injuring 60. Two of the dead were U.S. servicemen, and the others were Le- banese visitors and employees. The attack caused a furor at home. President Reagan said in an emergency press conference following the attack that security at the annex had been adequate, and that there was little the U.S. could do about preventing kamikaze attacks on U.S. diplomats. The controversy eventually became a major issue in the 1984 presidential race. This forced the passage of an emergency funding bill to strengthen the security of U.S. embassies. AN UNIDENTIFIED MARINE re- |j ceives first aid from members of the Lebanese Red Cross following the a bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy z East Beirut Annex. BODIES LITTER THE streets of Tripoli surrounding Muammar Ka- dafy ' s residence following an un- successful assassination attempt. 19

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tt GANDHI ' S SON RAJIV lights his mother ' s funeral pyre in the Woods of Peace. Over 50,000 people, in- cluding dignitaries from many na- tions, attended the funeral. THE AFTERMATH OF A MURDER On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi left her residence for an interview with English actor Peter Ustinov. As she passed through her garden gate, two of her previously-loyal Sikh bodyguards lowered their weapons and opened fire, mortal- ly wounding her. She died after several hours of surgery to repair the 22 gunshot wounds she suffered. The news of her death sparked a massacre. Yelling Blood for Blood, mobs rampaged through the cities and country- side of India, killing Sikhs and looting or destroying their property. Indian Army Command ordered troops into the cities to stop the rioting, and gave them shoot-to-kill orders. Gandhi ' s body was burned in the woods of Peace, where the remains of Mohandas Gandhi and Indira ' s father Jawa- haral Nehru were also cremated. The pyre was lit by her son, Rajiv, who had been chosen to succeed his mother as Prime Minister. Indira Gandhi was born in 1918 in Allahabad, India. Dur- ing her youth, Gandhi was active in the Indian liberation movement of Mohandas Gandhi. In 1941, she married Fer- oze Gandhi, who was not related to Mohandas. She stayed with him until her appointment as official government hos- tess in 1947. She succeeded her father, Nehru, as Prime Minister in 1966. PRIME MINISTER GANDHI ' S body lies in state in New Delhi. Officials estimated over 2,500 people per hour viewed the slain Indian leader. INDIA 21