Operation Blue Star, the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, traumatised Sikhs worldwide. Mark Tully examines how this event has shaped the emotions, political outlook and identity of Sikhs both in India and overseas.
The Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards. Violence against Sikhs all over India followed.
Many who had been westernised were prompted by Blue Star to return to their Sikh roots and the separatist movement for an independent Khalistan, a Sikh state in Punjab, still has a strong following from Sikhs in Britain and the United States.
