H. S. Phoolka
Encyclopedia
Harvinder Singh Phoolka, commonly known as H. S. Phoolka, is a senior advocate of Delhi High Court
, Human Rights activist, and author. He is known for spearheading one of the longest and most tortuous legal "crusades" to gain justice for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots
and fighting individual cases on the involvement of Congress-I leaders H. K. L. Bhagat
, Sajjan Kumar
and Jagdish Tytler
despite the government cover-up. He received threatening letters for unearthing involvements of ruling political party leaders in what the Asian Age
called "the Mother of all Cover-ups" in a front-page story. The special anniversary edition of the Outlook (magazine)
included Phoolka in its list of 50 people that make a difference in India, alongside Amartya Sen
and Abhinav Ghosh.
district of Punjab, India.
His education began in a small school in his village. He graduated from Ludhiana, and went to Law School in Chandigarh
. He comes from Jat Sikh family of Phoolka
clan (a sub-clan of Sidhu
Jats).
, Kansas
. She is said to have declined job offers in the United States
and returned to India to support her husband's struggle for justice
in New Delhi that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi and resulted in killing of 2,733 Sikhs within 2 days.
He was then just 28 years old and new to practicing law and the city of Delhi.
He has put the cause of justice for 1984 Sikh massacre victims before his career and family life.
When informed by a friend of the attacks on Sikhs, he avoided the main roads to reach his home in South Delhi via the slums of Kotla Mubarakpur.
Phoolka's landlord drove the mob away by telling them that the Phoolka family had left Delhi and hid them in his store room. There the Phoolkas spent 2 days, and came out under escort. They then flew to Chandigarh in the cockpit of an overcrowded plane.
The sight of orphans, bereaved mothers and wives in the relief camp prompted the Phoolkas to change their plans. Instead of relocating to Chandigarh, they chose to stay and help the victims of the massacre.
Since then, Phoolka has fought cases relentlessly for the victims despite government cover-up.
(CJC). The CJC served as an umbrella organization for several human rights activists and legal luminaries.
Floated in May 1985, the CJC has been pivotal in representing the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre victims before the various judicial commissions that have been formed for inquiry into the massacres.
Membership included Justice Ranjit Singh Narula, Soli Sorabjee
, General Jagjit Singh Aurora
, Justice V. M. Tarkunde and Khushwant Singh
.
As a counselor for the CJC, Phoolka represented the victims before the first formal sitting of the Mishra Commission
on 29 July 1985.
The proceedings of the sitting were not made public and were closed to the press.
In March 1986, the CJC withdrew its cooperation from the Mishra Commission because it disagreed with the commissions decision to hold secret proceedings, and started filing individual court cases.
Blog on 1984 trials and related issues.
Mr. Phoolka has recently started to write a blog on matters relating to the 1984 riots. His blog can be accessed at www.phoolka.net.
Mr. Phoolka has also decided to tweet on issues relating to 1984 riots. His twitter address is www.twitter.com/hsphoolka
Delhi High Court
The High Court of Delhi was established on 31 October 1966. The High Court of Delhi was established with four judges. They were Chief Justice K. S. Hegde, Justice I. D. Dua, Justice H. R. Khanna and Justice S. K. Kapur.-History:...
, Human Rights activist, and author. He is known for spearheading one of the longest and most tortuous legal "crusades" to gain justice for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots
1984 anti-Sikh riots
The 1984 Anti-Sikh pogroms / riots or the 1984 Sikh Massacre was a sikh genocide there was four days of violence in northern India, particularly Delhi, during which armed mobs killed Sikhs, looted and set fire to Sikh homes, businesses and schools, and attacked gurdwaras, in response to the...
and fighting individual cases on the involvement of Congress-I leaders H. K. L. Bhagat
H. K. L. Bhagat
Hari Krishan Lal Bhagat was a controversial Indian politician of the Congress party. Earlier he served as Deputy Mayor, Mayor of Delhi and as the chief whip of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee .- Mass leader of Delhi :...
, Sajjan Kumar
Sajjan Kumar
Sajjan Kumar is an Indian politician belonging to the ruling Indian National Congress party. He was a member of 14th Lok Sabha representing Outer Delhi constituency....
and Jagdish Tytler
Jagdish Tytler
Jagdish Tytler is a controversial Indian National Congress politician, and former member of Indian Parliament...
despite the government cover-up. He received threatening letters for unearthing involvements of ruling political party leaders in what the Asian Age
Asian Age
The Asian Age is an Indian daily newspaper with editions in four major cities in India and one in London. The newspaper was launched in February 1994, simultaneously in Delhi, Mumbai and London. At present, it has editions in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and London. The Asian Age brings out...
called "the Mother of all Cover-ups" in a front-page story. The special anniversary edition of the Outlook (magazine)
Outlook (magazine)
Outlook is one of India's four top-selling English weekly newsmagazines. Like many other Indian magazines, it is reluctant to reveal its circulation, but the 2007 National Readership Survey suggested 1.5 million copies...
included Phoolka in its list of 50 people that make a difference in India, alongside Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen, CH is an Indian economist who was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory, and for his interest in the problems of society's poorest members...
and Abhinav Ghosh.
Early life and education
Phoolka's formative years were spent in a small village called Bhadaur in the SangrurSangrur
Sangrur is a city in the Indian state of Punjab, India. It is the headquarters of the Sangrur district. It is located at the intersection of the roads connecting Delhi with Ludhiana and Patiala with Bathinda, at a distance of 80 km from Ludhiana and 48 km from Patiala. The...
district of Punjab, India.
His education began in a small school in his village. He graduated from Ludhiana, and went to Law School in Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
. He comes from Jat Sikh family of Phoolka
Phoolka
Phoolka is a Jat Gotra found in Punjab and Punjab .- Genealogy :The Phoolka Sardars trace their genealogy from the Raja of Jaisalmer Rawal Jaisal , Yadu Bhatti Rajput of Chandra Vanshi clan and are descendants of Lord Krishna, Avatar of Lord Vishnu...
clan (a sub-clan of Sidhu
Sidhu
Sidhu is the most influential and prominent Jat/Jatt gotra .The Sidhu clan is mainly found in the Malwa region of Punjab state,Ganganagar district and the province of Punjab in Pakistan...
Jats).
Family
Phoolka married Maninder Kaur in 1983. She is a food technologist and was a 1990 "outstanding graduate" of American Institute of BakingAmerican Institute of Baking
The American Institute of Baking is a not-for-profit corporation, founded by the North American wholesale and retail baking industries in 1919 as a technology transfer center for bakers and food processors...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. She is said to have declined job offers in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and returned to India to support her husband's struggle for justice
Career
After completing his law degree in Chandigarh, Phoolka landed in Delhi to practice law. He served as member-secretary of the Justice Narula Committee formed in 1993 to probe the carnage. He was later appointed the counsel for Central Government in January 2001. He is known as a lawyer who won't take up a case if he finds that the client is in the wrong.1984 Anti-Sikh massacre
Phoolka is well known for spearheading the crusade to seek justice in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots1984 anti-Sikh riots
The 1984 Anti-Sikh pogroms / riots or the 1984 Sikh Massacre was a sikh genocide there was four days of violence in northern India, particularly Delhi, during which armed mobs killed Sikhs, looted and set fire to Sikh homes, businesses and schools, and attacked gurdwaras, in response to the...
in New Delhi that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi and resulted in killing of 2,733 Sikhs within 2 days.
He was then just 28 years old and new to practicing law and the city of Delhi.
He has put the cause of justice for 1984 Sikh massacre victims before his career and family life.
First encounter and escaping the massacre
Phoolka was caught in the massacre while driving pregnant wife Maninder Kaur home on his motorbike.When informed by a friend of the attacks on Sikhs, he avoided the main roads to reach his home in South Delhi via the slums of Kotla Mubarakpur.
Phoolka's landlord drove the mob away by telling them that the Phoolka family had left Delhi and hid them in his store room. There the Phoolkas spent 2 days, and came out under escort. They then flew to Chandigarh in the cockpit of an overcrowded plane.
Resolution to fight
Phoolka planned to move his residence to Chandigarh after the riots, but he learned that lawyers were needed to draft affidavits on behalf of the victims, and went to the Farsh Vihar relief camp to help.The sight of orphans, bereaved mothers and wives in the relief camp prompted the Phoolkas to change their plans. Instead of relocating to Chandigarh, they chose to stay and help the victims of the massacre.
Since then, Phoolka has fought cases relentlessly for the victims despite government cover-up.
Formation of Citizens Justice Committee
Phoolka conceived and pursued the formation of the Citizen's Justice CommitteeCitizen's Justice Committee
Citizen's Justice Committee is an umbrella organization of various human rights organizations and is known for pro bono representing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims in their legal battle to gain justice.-Formation:...
(CJC). The CJC served as an umbrella organization for several human rights activists and legal luminaries.
Floated in May 1985, the CJC has been pivotal in representing the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre victims before the various judicial commissions that have been formed for inquiry into the massacres.
Membership included Justice Ranjit Singh Narula, Soli Sorabjee
Soli Sorabjee
Soli Jehangir Sorabjee is an Indian jurist.-Biography:Soli Sorabjee was born on March 9, 1930 in Bombay, and after an education at Government Law College, Bombay, was admitted to the bar in 1953...
, General Jagjit Singh Aurora
Jagjit Singh Aurora
Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971...
, Justice V. M. Tarkunde and Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh is a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, is among the most widely-read columns in the country....
.
As a counselor for the CJC, Phoolka represented the victims before the first formal sitting of the Mishra Commission
Mishra Commission
National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, also called as Ranganath Misra Commission was constituted by Government of India on 29th October 2004 to look into various issues related to Linguistic and Religious minorities in India. It was chaired by former Chief Justice of India...
on 29 July 1985.
The proceedings of the sitting were not made public and were closed to the press.
In March 1986, the CJC withdrew its cooperation from the Mishra Commission because it disagreed with the commissions decision to hold secret proceedings, and started filing individual court cases.
Mooting of Carnage84 website
To make the many documents and findings of Citizens Justice Committee on 1984 Sikh massacre available to the general public, Phoolka mooted the idea of the "Carnage84.com" website, which was launched 10 July 2001 and claimed 150,000 visits from people of 30 different countries within only 10 days of it going onlineBlog on 1984 trials and related issues.
Mr. Phoolka has recently started to write a blog on matters relating to the 1984 riots. His blog can be accessed at www.phoolka.net.
Mr. Phoolka has also decided to tweet on issues relating to 1984 riots. His twitter address is www.twitter.com/hsphoolka