Lessons from Punjab: The perils of fanaticism

The book teaches us how a hegemonic state, unchecked religious fanaticism, political arrogance and incompetence, can create a perfect storm

Turmoil in Punjab: Before and After Blue Star

Author: Ramesh Inder Singh

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 572

Price: Rs 799

In 1979, IAS officer Ramesh Inder Singh was posted as additional district magistrate (ADM) at Faridkot in Punjab. One morning, he was invited to the house of the senior superintendent of police (SSP) — right next door — for a casual meeting with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, where he urged the ADM to be liberal in granting arms licences to his men. The SSP who invited the ADM to this meeting later faced a departmental inquiry for his role in granting arms licences (but escaped