Interplay of Torture, Gender, and Fantasy during the Sikh Militant Movement

This paper examines the use of torture as a psycho-political tool during the 1980s–1990s Sikh insurgency, arguing that it targeted not only individuals but also the collective Sikh psyche. It explores the gendered nature of torture, demonstrating how patriarchal violence shaped the experiences of both men and women, particularly through sexualized abuse. Engaging with psychoanalytic theories from Freud, Sade, and Yeğenoğlu, the paper investigates how fantasies of dominance and subjugation informed both state violence and cultural representations. By drawing a comparative analysis with the Algerian War of Independence and its depiction in The Centurions, this study reveals how torture was framed as a means of reclaiming masculinity. The deliberate degradation of Sikh identity is analyzed as a tool of state control, illustrating the broader relationship between gender, power, and fantasy in modern India. This paper contributes to critical discussions on violence, subjectivity, and representation in postcolonial contexts.