Stray Birds

Underneath moonlit skies, on curving yellow roads we walked, Over elating highlands, warm rainforests her shadows I stalked. In some silent whispers, couple of nameless songs she hummed, Insinuating ideas dusted and newfangled alike, and we talked! Enjoying unblemished sunshine a marsh harrier upon us flew, Fresh smells of flowing seas of blue mountains and rambling squirrels it blew. She told me of her grandpa’s old clock, about how much he cared, Other funny little stories of her childhood she shared. And I listened wondering all the while, Upon a green leaf and little orange flowers, a butterfly hovered meanwhile. “So Cute!” Pointed Mrs. Wayne to her husband and their only son, A small fist extended as the boy captured the fly, just for the sake of fun! A lion roared in vicinity, out Mr. Wayne took his shredded gun, Four thousand feet above us all a German fighter-plane flew, under the hooded sun. The butterfly escaped the fists, the plane dived, The l...

I want to make it clear that, through this article I do not wish to support nor condemn Operation Bluestar. I just wish to report the reasons, operation itself and its aftermaths, trying not to take up sides with any particular party. Another thing I want to make clear is that the operation itself was not much different from any other regular army mission, it's the reasons and the aftermath which makes it much more significant, as much more disturbing. This incident has, indeed, hurt both the Indian army and the community of Sikhs throughout the period of time. In the decade of 1980’s Pakistan  backed terrorism had acquired major proportions in Punjab . The demand for Khalistan, a separate nation for Sikhs, was increasing with every passing day, and so was the number of  innocent common civilians  killed in the terrorist activities. Sikh terrorists killed Hindu political leaders, common Hindus, Sikhs, migrant workers and all who dared oppose their deman...