Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (2 June 1947) –(6 June 1984) (Punjabi: ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਭਿੰਡਰਾਂਵਾਲੇ) was the leader of the Damdami Taksal, a Sikh religious group based in Punjab India during the late 1970's and early 1980's. Sant Bhindranwale carried heavy influence among many Sikh youth in Punjab during this time as the leader of the Taksal.
He spread the original values of Sikhism and persuaded people young and old to follow the original rules and tenets of the religion. He was known for his support for the creation of the Sikh-based theocratic state of Khalistan.
In 1981, Sant Bhidranwale was arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder of Jagat Narain, the proprietor of the Hind Samachar Group. Although he willingly surrendered to police (he was later released due to lack of evidence) Sant Bhindranwale was kept on close watch by Indian police officials.
Sant Bhindranwale is more notable for his involvement in Operation Bluestar in which he and other freedom fighters occupied the Akal Takht complex, including the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. For years it was maintained that he had survived the attack and was in seclusion, but many people stated that they had seen his body among the dead martyrs.
In the days before the attack he had denied the wishes of one of the later martyrs in the skirmishes with the police and Indian army across Punjab, who had asked to stay and die as a martyr in the coming battle. In the same way that the Sikhs in the Haveli at Chamkaur had 'voted' to press a reluctant Guru Gobind Singh to escape and live to fight another day, he told his friend that he had to live to fight and organize later battles, because all that had chosen to stay with him to defend the Akal Takhat and the Harmandir Sahib had taken an oath to die as martrys in the manner of Baba Deep Singh Shaheed fighting to the last drop of their blood.
Since his death, Bhindranwale has remained a controversial figure in Indian history. Most view him as a freedom fighter who was fighting for the best interests of Sikhs, while some others see him as a terrorist and extremist due to the Indian Government's False Propaganda.

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