South Asian American Civil Rights

Question 1

When and how did the Ghadar Movement begin? What were the major impacts of the Ghadar Movement?

Answer 1

• 1913 in CA by Punjabi Sikhs
• Supported it because of anti-colonial feelings and discrimination
• The Ghadar newspaper spread revolutionary ideas and encouraged Indians abroad to rebel
• 1915 uprising failed due to British intelligence
• Inspired future nationalist struggles against imperialism

Question 2

What was “The Hindu Question”? What does this “question” tell us about how ethnic minorities were perceived (and treated) in the United States?

Answer 2

• Hindu Question: debate about whether South Asians could immigrate, own land, or become U.S. citizens
• Changing racial definitions excluded them from legal rights
• Like other minorities, they were seen as threats

Question 3

What connections can you make between the goals of the Ghadar Party and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States?

Answer 3

Fought against oppression, emphasized global unity against imperialism and racism

Question 4

What role does memory play in “Defend Yourself Against Me”?

Sidhwa

Answer 4

Both a burden and a means of processing collective trauma, showing how individuals and communities carry the weight of historical violence

Question 5

What are the major themes and issues explored in “Defend Yourself Against Me”?

Sidhwa

Answer 5

Gender-based violence
Trauma
Survival
Cyclical nature of revenge during Partition

Question 6

How does “Defend Yourself Against Me” depict the intersection of gender and violence during Partition?

Sidhwa

Answer 6

Shows how women were targeted during Partition as symbols of community honor
Sexual violence was used as a weapon of war

Question 7

In what ways does “Defend Yourself Against Me” rewrite an alternative history of Partition violence, challenging dominant historical narratives about the event?

Sidhwa

Answer 7

• Challenges the idea that Partition was just a religious conflict
• Highlights women’s experiences, which are often ignored in history
• Shows human cost of violence
• Focuses on gendered trauma as an alternative perspective

Question 8

What are the implications of the Sikh men’s plea for forgiveness and Ammijee’s eventual forgiveness in “Defend Yourself Against Me”?

Sidhwa

Answer 8

• Sikh men’s plea for forgiveness shows they recognize their guilt and seek reconciliation
• Ammijee’s forgiveness is personal but raises questions about whether it can heal historical wounds
• Challenges the idea that justice should be about punishment, suggesting that acknowledgment and remorse may offer better healing