Kharku

 ( Nationalism In India ) 

Kharku (Punjabi: ਖਾੜਕੂ , ; khāṛakū, khaarakoo; literally meaning courageous, bold, brave, dreaded, feared, or domineering; alternatively spelt as Kharaku) is a Punjabi language term used as a self-designation by Sikh militants of the Punjab insurgency who were followers of the Khalistan movement.

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History During the later years of British Raj and early decades following Indian independence, some slogans were coined during those times which invoked another similar sounding word to serve a political message, an example being "Khaṇḍā khaṛkū, Náirū pàjju", meaning: "When the double edged swords begin to clatter, Jawaharlal Nehru shall run".

Gokul Chand Narang (1960). 9788170963301, Kalyani Publishers. ISBN 9788170963301

The Kharkus fought an insurgency primarily between the years of 1978–1993, sparked by the 1978 Sikh-Nirankari clash, which led to the deaths of 13 Khalsa Sikhs.

Their ultimate goal was the establishment of a sovereign Sikh state ( Khalsa Raj) based upon political justice. The movement gained further strength in the 1980's after Operation Blue Star, Operation Woodrose, and Operation Black Thunder, and fallout from the assassination of Indira Gandhi, which sparked country-wide anti-Sikh pogroms. The Kharkus of the 1980's and 1990's were associated with martyrdom and respected as (martyrs for a religious cause).

The Kharku movement was especially strong in rural areas of Punjab. The ranks of militants drew primarily from the Majha region from those belonging to a lower socio-economic status and Jat Sikh and Ramgarhia background.

They were generally supported by the Sikh masses, especially during the beginning of the insurgency. Support waned during the latter years until the movement faded, eventually relegated to the underground. The reasons for their decline are a lack of common vision, lack of a commitment to a worthwhile cause, and losing trust of the common folk. Hundreds of Kharkus were killed by police and military forces during the insurgency. Many of those who survive remain in hiding or have Sikh diaspora.

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Terminology

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Etymology Kharku is etymologically derived from the word 'kharag' (honed), which originally referred to an iron scimitar.

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Other names They were also referred to as 'Kharku ' or simply as 'Mundey' (boys).

Harish K. Puri (1999). 9788124106198, Har-Anand Publications. ISBN 9788124106198

Other terms for them were 'Jujharu' (hardworker), 'Jangju Sikhs' (fighter), 'freedom fighters', and even 'Khalistani '.

Subramanyam lakshmi (2025). 9788170998150, Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788170998150

Controversially, the term is also used by some to describe Sikh terrorists who indiscriminately massacred local Punjabi Hindus and other innocent civilians.

Mṛdulā Sinhā (2025). 9788187100515, Ocean Books. ISBN 9788187100515

Kharkus viewed themselves as revolutionaries rather than as terrorists.

(1998). 9788186912010, Published for K.K. Publishers for Institute of Punjab Studies, Chandigarh. ISBN 9788186912010

The English-language media outlets and the government referred to the militants as 'Uggarwadi' (ferocious).

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Titles

Kharkus took titles and names quite seriously and it was risky for media outlets to report on individual Kharkus without using their preferred terminology and honorifics. They were against being labelled as "militants" or "terrorists" ('dehshatpasand', 'dehshatgard, or 'atankawadi') and demanded that Sikh titles, such as "Bhai", "Sant", and "Sardar", be appended as prefixes when reporting their names. Journalists and editors who dared to not heed these demands put their life in danger.

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See also

• List of terrorist incidents in Punjab, India
• List of actions attributed to KCF
• Timeline of the Punjab insurgency
• List of Pro-khalistan movement organizations
• Martyrdom in Sikhism
• Punjabi Suba movement
• Dharam Yudh Morcha
• Anandpur Sahib Resolution
• Sutlej Yamuna link canal
• Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
• National Security Guard, commonly known as 'Black Cats'
• Khalsa bole
• Encounter killing

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Further reading

• Cynthia Keppley Mahmood (2025). 9780812200171, University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 9780812200171
• Kirpal Dhillon (2025). 9789385890383, Penguin UK. ISBN 9789385890383

Categories: Nationalism In India, History Of Punjab, India, Sikh Politics, Religiously Motivated Violence In India, Pro-khalistan Rebel Groups

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