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40-540: The organization was created On 12 April 1980, when separatist leader Jagjit Singh Chohan officially announced the formation of the Council of Khalistan at Anandpur Sahib and declared himself to be the president. Balbir Singh Sindhu as its Secretary-General. Chohan presented himself as the president of the Republic of Khalistan, set up a cabinet, and issued Khalistani passports, stamps, and currency. On 13 June 1984, Chohan announced

80-581: A government in exile . The Cabinet of the Council of Khalistan was elected at a large meeting of several thousand Sikhs on 23 June 1984 in Southall, west London. And the meeting severely criticized Akali Dal leader Giani Amolak Singh and his associates who had led the Punjab autonomy campaign from 1981; all of them were forced to retire. The Akali Dal was swept aside by the new organization, the Council of Khalistan. Dr. Jagjit Singh Chohan, long ostracized for his idea of

120-561: A Sikh government. Chohan was invited by Pakistani army dictator Yahya Khan and was proclaimed as a Sikh leader. Certain Sikh relics that were in Pakistan were handed down to him and taken to UK. The relics had helped Chohan to gather Sikh supporters and followers. He then visited the United States at the invitation of his supporters among the Sikh diaspora. On 13 October 1971, he paid for an ad in

160-469: A major diplomatic row erupted. It was the first of many fissures to run through Indo-British relations, which were thought to be progressively worsening due to the Sikh factor. On 24 January 1993, It was briefly admitted in the UNPO , as a representative organization of Khalistan, but was suspended in just a few months. The president of the Council of Khalistan is the leader and head of the organization. The title

200-455: A martyrdom that led Sikhs to rename the town to Anandpur and crown his son Gobind Das as per his orders (also known as Gobind Rai) as his successor and famous as Guru Gobind Singh . The village grew into town, likely dramatically state Louis E. Fenech and W. H. McLeod, as Sikhs moved near Guru Gobind Singh. The growing strength of Sikhs in Anandpur under the tenth Guru, after the execution of

240-540: A militia of their own, consisting of infantry, cavalary, and elephants. Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum campus links, particularly with the need of the population, providing business to the locals and makes the city marked on urban literature globally. Punjab Heritage Tourism Promotion Board paid to have it installed in order to attract worldwide tourism. Open spaces which are going to be used by ritual activities during ceremonies and festivals also serve as alternative parking grounds, reserved grounds for political rallies which brings

280-527: A separate Sikh homeland, was given support and a free hand to lead it. The council announced its other four members: Gurmej Singh of the Babbar Khalsa, Sewa Singh of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Karamjit Singh representing the youth, and Harmander Singh from the reorganized Akali Dal. A business- man offered an office in central London, appropriately named Khalistan House, where several volunteers undertook

320-609: Is a pilgrimage site in Sikhism. It is the venue of the largest annual Sikh gathering and festivities during the Hola Mohalla in the spring season. Anandpur Sahib is located on National Highway 503 that links Kiratpur Sahib and Chandigarh to Nangal , Una and further Kangra, Himachal Pradesh . It is situated near the Sutlej river, the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroads region of Punjab. Anandpur Sahib

360-511: Is also authorized to build roads within Municipal Council limits and impose taxes on properties coming under its jurisdiction. Villages administered by the tehsil of Anandpur Sahib include: Anandpur Sahib features a major festival and gathering of Sikhs every year on the occasion of Hola Mohalla , which is celebrated one day prior to Holi. This tradition dates back to the times of the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh . The guru decreed that

400-511: Is of 905 against state average of 895. Moreover, Child Sex Ratio in Anandpur Sahib is around 932 compared to Punjab state average of 846. Literacy rate of Anandpur Sahib city is 82.44% higher than state average of 75.84%. In Anandpur Sahib, Male literacy is around 85.75% while female literacy rate is 78.78%. Anandpur Sahib Municipal Council has total administration over 3,270 houses to which it supplies basic amenities like water and sewerage. It

440-562: The New York Times claiming an Independent Sikh state. Advertisement of Khalistan enabled him to collect millions of dollars from the Sikh diaspora . In later part of 1970s, Chohan was in touch with the Pakistani diplomatic mission in Pakistan with objective of encouraging Sikh youths to travel to Pakistan for pilgrimage and indoctrination for separatist propaganda. On 12 April 1980, he declared

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480-675: The Akali Dal -led coalition Government took office in Punjab. When Lachhman Singh Gill became Chief Minister, Chohan was made Finance Minister. In 1969, he lost the Assembly election. Two years after losing the Punjab Assembly elections in 1969, Chohan moved to the United Kingdom to start his campaign for creation of Khalistan. In 1971, he went to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to attempt to set up

520-614: The Council of Khalistan at Anandpur Sahib on 12 April 1980 and became its first self‐styled president. Jagjit Singh grew up in Tanda in Punjab 's Hoshiarpur district, about 180 km from Chandigarh into a Sikh Rajput family. He was a dentist. Chohan was first elected to the Punjab Assembly from the Tanda as a candidate of the Republican Party of India in 1967. He became Deputy Speaker when

560-466: The Singh Sabha movement , based upon older edifices that stood at their spot. There were formerly mural paintings and floral embellishments decorating the walls of Gurdwara Akal Bunga but these are no longer extant, though surviving traces of these wall paintings could be seen on the wall skirting the roof of the structure. Qila Sodhian was the last surviving remnant of a fortification in Anandpur Sahib in

600-588: The "Republic of Khalistan", named a Cabinet, and issued symbolic Khalistan "passports", "postage stamps", and "Khalistan dollars". It is reported that with the assistance of a wealthy Californian supporter, a peach magnate, he opened an Ecuadorian bank account to support his operation. In June 1983, Bhindranwale was asked: "If Jagjit Singh Chohan attacks India with assistance from England, America, and Canada, whom will you help?" Bhindranwale hedged and did not indicate his support. On 12 June 1984, in London Chohan

640-618: The Indian state of Punjab . Located near the Sutlej River , the city is one of the most sacred religious places in Sikhism , being the place where the last two Sikh Gurus, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh , lived. It is also the place where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699. The city is home to Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib, the third of the five Takhts in Sikhism. The city

680-542: The Khalistan movement alive democratically and pointed out that he has always been against violence. After Chohan returned to India, he started a political party in 2002 named the Khalsa Raj Party and became its president. The stated aim of the political party was to continue his campaign for Khalistan. Chohan could not attract the support from the new generation of Sikhs. The Pioneer (newspaper) stated that his party

720-452: The Mughals routinely. After the city was sacked in 1704, its control passed into the hands of Budh Singh, a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh. Budh Singh later handed over control of the city over to Patiala State under the reign of Ala Singh . In 1764, the descendent of Sodhi Suraj Mal (one of the sons of Guru Hargobind), Nahar Singh, purchased the city plus a fort called Manji Sahib (which

760-421: The Sikh gurus or other aspects related to the history of Sikhism. The architecture of the Sikh shrines of Anandpur have commonalities in their themes but also have unique quirks and aspects to their design that do set them apart from each-other. Anandpur has been significant to the Sikh history. These historical locations now feature the following Gurdwaras: 10th Sikh Guru Guru Gobind Singh made five forts on

800-471: The border of the city. The buildings to commemorate each of these were built between late 1970s and the late 1980s: As of 2011 India census , The Anandpur Sahib Municipal Council has population of 16,282 of which 8,545 are males while 7,737 are females as per report released by Census India 2011. Population of children with age of 0-6 is 1774 which is 10.90% of total population of Anandpur Sahib (M Cl). In Anandpur Sahib Municipal Council, Female Sex Ratio

840-503: The campaign amid meetings and enquiries. The council's appeal for funds was given a generous response, and within two months its funds reached £100,000. The community's turmoil was under close watch by the Indian authorities. As the BBC broadcast a short statement from Dr. Chohan, regarding the consequences of sacrilege committed by the Indian prime minister through attacking the Golden Temple,

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880-518: The centre of the city and less height as one moves away from the city centre, central focus the enshrined centre, whose access was restricted and where Gurudwaras predominated. Anandpur Sahib is in Punjab state of India, close to the Himachal Pradesh border. It is about 31 kilometres (19 mi) north of Ropar (Rupnagar) and 29 kilometres (18 mi) south of Nangal. The gurdwaras of Anandpur are classified as historical since they are connected to

920-536: The formation of a "National Council of Khalistan", at Anandpur Sahib . He declared himself the President of the Council and Balbir Singh Sandhu as its Secretary General. In 1977, he returned to India. Chohan travelled to Britain in 1979, and established the Khalistan National Council . In May 1980, Jagjit Singh Chohan travelled to London and announced the formation of Khalistan. A similar announcement

960-521: The headquarters of the Nihangs, opposite Gurudwara Anandgarh Sahib, and passes through the bazaar, goes to village Agampur and reaches the fort of Holgarh, the place where Guru Gobind Singh used to celebrate this fair. Thereafter, the procession heads toward the sandy bed of Charan Ganga, where demonstration of martial games including riding, tent pegging, sword-wielding, etc. are witnessed by a large number of people. Baisakhi in 1999, at Anandpur Sahib marked

1000-492: The intact ingredient of Indian cities together “The Interaction”. Historical sites and structures in the city have been poorly maintained and the vast majority have been destroyed. Buildings, such as forts, that are associated with the lives of the Sikh gurus have been demolished and renovated beyond recognition, including the Anandgarh Baoli. Much of this defacement involves encasing historical structures in marble. Though

1040-484: The late 17th century and early 18th century was complex and war prone because the relationship of Guru Gobind Singh with his neighbors was complex. Sometimes the hill chiefs and Guru Gobind Singh cooperated in a battle, sometimes they fought against each other, where the difficult mountainous terrain made it difficult for the Mughal to subdue everyone with force and the terrain made it easier for Pahari chieftains to rebel against

1080-404: The locality once was littered with various forts, these have been destroyed over the years as the city has expanded and changed. In the 1930s, a new structure was constructed over the original site and structure of Anandgarh Qila . By 1988, essentially all of the principal standing shrines of Anandpur Sahib had been reconstructed at some point in either the late 19th or early 20th centuries during

1120-608: The ninth Guru, raised concerns of the neighboring Pahari rajas - the vassals of the Mughal Empire, along with the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. In 1693, Aurangzeb issued an order that banned large gatherings of Sikhs such as during the festival of Baisakhi . On the Vaisakhi day of 1699, the Guru sent out invitations across the land to distant and nearby Sikh congregations to convene at Anandpur for

1160-542: The occasion of the festival of Holi be the occasion for the display of the martial spirit of his people. He gave this festival of Holi the Sikh name of 'Hola Mohalla'. Each year Hola Mohalla marks the congregation of nearly 20,00,000 (2,000,000) Sikhs from all over the country for a festival of colour and gaiety. The festival, among other things, remembers the creation of Khalsa on the Baisakhi day in 1699. The fair lasts for three days. The Gurudwaras are specially decorated for

1200-458: The occasion. During Hola Mohalla, Anandpur Sahib wears a festive appearance and hums with activities in March. Community conferences and religious functions are also organized. On this occasion, Nihangs from all over the country gather for the celebrations. The highlight is a huge procession by the Nihangs, clad in their traditional dress and weapons, on the last day of the fair. The procession starts from

1240-606: The tension by accepting surrenders by the militants. Other organizations, mainly in UK and North America, continue to work for a Khalistan. The Indian government first permitted his wife to return and after he was pardoned by the Atal Bihari government, he was allowed to return to India in June 2001, after having been exiled for 21 years. The government decided to overlook his past activities. After his return, in an interview Chohan said he would keep

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1280-604: The upcoming festival. It was normal for the Guru to celebrate Vaisakhi at Anandpur with Sikh congregations annually but this time much more importance was placed on attendance than usual and more stringently. Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth in Anandpur on the day of the 1699 Vaisakhi festival after an elaborate ceremony and gathered a large armed militia. This triggered Aurangzeb and his vassal Hindu kings around Anandpur to blockade Anandpur. This led to several battles: According to Louis Fenech, Anandpur's history during

1320-560: The year 1999. Elements convening definitions of the city Anandpur Sahib are: Heterogeneous societies and discrete buildings as economic and administrative, social, institutional, political, neighborhoods and associated personnel, compacted and overlapped packing of residential and nonresidential structures, monumental core of unique buildings (for example, Keshgarh Sahib Gurudwara, bus stand structure), Five Forts of city and Khalsa Heritage Museum, special characteristic features “City profile” of Anandpur Sahib that shows maximum building height at

1360-577: Was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards in revenge for Operation Blue Star . Chohan visited Punjab in 1989 and hoisted the flag of Khalistan at a gurdwara in Anandpur Sahib . Chohan's Indian passport was cancelled on 24 April 1989. India protested when he was allowed to enter USA using the canceled passport. Vancouver fundamentalists Talwinder Singh Parmar and Surjan Singh Gill were at one time aligned with Chohan. Chohan gradually softened his stance. He supported India's attempts to defuse

1400-519: Was a ' Letterhead organization '. Chohan withdrew himself from the public life in his later years. He died on 4 April 2007, aged 78 due to heart attack at his native village Tanda in Hoshiarpur District of Punjab. Anandpur Sahib Anandpur Sahib , also referred simply as Anandpur (lit. "city of bliss"), is a city in Rupnagar district (Ropar), on the edge of Shivalik Hills , in

1440-433: Was a dwelling associated with Suraj Mal). As more Sodhi families moved into the city, four Sarkars were established, with them namely being: Badi , Dusri , Tisri , and Chauthi . The Badi sarkar was the most eminent of the four yet all of them were revered by the Sikh population of the era. Each sarkar had its own associated palace that was fortified, commune, and congregation of followers. The sarkars also maintained

1480-490: Was created in 1980 when Jagjit Singh Chohan declared himself to be the president. There have been three presidents of CoK since the post was established. Jagjit Singh Chohan Jagjit Singh Chohan (1929 – 4 April 2007) was an Indian political activist who was a leader of the Sikh Khalistan movement that sought to create a sovereign Sikh state in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Chohan established

1520-592: Was founded in June 1665 by the ninth Sikh Guru , Guru Tegh Bahadur . He previously lived in Kiratpur, but given the disputes with Ram Rai – the elder son of Guru Har Rai and other sects of Sikhism , he moved to village in Makhoval. He named it Chakk Nanaki after his mother. In 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur was tortured and beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ,

1560-490: Was interviewed by BBC. The interviewer asked: "Do you actually want to see the downfall of Indira Gandhi 's Government?" Chohan answered: "..within a few days you will have the news that Mrs Gandhi and her family have been beheaded. That is what Sikhs will do..". After this interview, the Thatcher government curtailed Chohan's activities. On 13 June 1984, Chohan announced a government in exile. On 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi

1600-608: Was made by Balbir Singh Sandhu, in Amritsar , who released stamps and currency of Khalistan. Operating from a building termed "Khalistan House", he remained in contact with the Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who was campaigning for a Sikh theocratic homeland. Chohan also maintained contacts among various groups in Canada, the US, and Germany. He visited Pakistan as a guest of leaders like Chaudhuri Zahoor Elahi. Chohan declared himself president of

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