- All India Sikh Students Federation
The All India Sikh Students Federation is a
Sikh students' union and political organisation inIndia . Although largely political in its activities, the organisation also seeks to promote the values and heritage ofSikhism .History
Before the federation came into being, the w Sikh youths were organised into "Bhujangi Sabhas" in schools and colleges across the
Punjab region that promoted Sikh values, heritage and social service. Under the influence ofBritish Raj , Sikh politicians formed the "Sikh Youngmens' Association", whose first president wasBhai Harnam Singh . Although small in size and activity, the association published the "Khalsa Youngmens' Magazine" and sponsored work on religious and social subjects. Sikh youths were an integral part of organisations such as theShiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee ,Shiromani Akali Dal and theAll India Students Federation .Foundation
The All India Sikh Students Federation was formed as a students' organisation independent and committed to the political representation of Sikhs. The motivation for a distinct organisation for Sikhs came from the heightening communal and political tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities. In 1937, a large group of Muslim students split from the Hindu-majority
All India Students Federation to form theAll India Muslim Students Federation , which became the youth arm of theMuslim League and thePakistan movement . Seeking to protect Sikh political rights and representation, organisations such as the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee sponsored the creation of the All India Sikh Students Federation in 1944. It was headquartered inLayalpur/Faislabad (now inPakistan ) and its organisation spread across colleges and universities in Punjab and northern India. Following thepartition of India in 1947, the organisation moved its headquarters toAmritsar in Indian Punjab.Post-independence
During the communal riots and mass migrations at the time of India's partition, the AISSF helped organise relief and rehabilitation camps for Hindu and Sikh refugees arriving in India from Pakistan. In independent India, the AISSF became closely linked as the youth arm of the Akali Dal. The federation would expand its organisation across India and become one of the nation's leading student political organisations. It would also help build support and lead the Sikh political demand for the establishment of a Sikh-majority state within the Indian union. As the agitation reached its peak in the mid-1960s, the federation helped organise student marches and rallies to increase pressure on the Indian government.
At the outbreak of the Khalistan insurgency, the federation was wrought by internal divisions and a hard-line faction of Sikh students who supported the insurgency and its leader
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale . FollowingOperation Bluestar in 1984, the federation led agitations to condemn the action of the Indian government and the resulting damage of theHarimandir Sahib and the deaths of civilians.Present Setup
Sikh Students Federation was reorganized in 2001 and Sewak Singh, a Student from Punjabi University was elected as President. After Sewak Singh, Mandhir Singh headed the organization till 2007 January. Presently Parmjeet Singh alias Gazi is President of the organization.
ee also
Official Website
* [http://www.sikhstudentsfederation.com Official website of Sikh Students Federation]
References
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-15871/All-India-Sikh-Students-Federation Punjabi politics and autonomy issue - Britannica.com]
* [http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/institutes/sikh_students_federation.html All India Sikh Students Federation]
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