Hostage to History: How the Canadian Sikh Diaspora Affected Canada-India Relations After 1984

Abstract

The Canada-India relationship held tremendous promise, but its vast potential largely remained untapped. The rigid bipolar system and disagreements over nuclear proliferation severely undermined the development of cordial bilateral relations during the Cold War. Since the unfolding of Operation Blue Star in 1984, however, Canada-India relations were predominantly dictated by the Canadian Sikh diaspora. This thesis examines to what extent the Canadian Sikh diaspora’s experience of Operation Blue Star affected Canada- India relations after 1984. By analyzing and integrating scholarly material from a broad range of academic disciplines, this study offers a comprehensive interpretation of Canadian Sikh influence on Canada-India relations. This thesis shows that despite persistent allegations of extremism and the securitization of the entire Sikh community in Canada, Canadian Sikhs were able to raise their voice both nationally and transnationally due to multiculturalist policies, Canada’s pay-to-play nomination system and the political wit of the tight-knit Sikh community itself. By clinging to its cherished liberal ideals, the Canadian leadership has been unable to simultaneously woo the electorally significant Sikh constituency and assuage New Delhi’s concerns about the omnipresence of Sikhs in Canada’s political domain, and has consequently put a potential partnership with rising global power and realpolitiking India in jeopardy.