Khalistani

English

Flag of Khalistan

Etymology

Khalistan +‎ -i. Derived from Punjabi ਖ਼ਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ (xālistān, literally “place of Khalsa”).

Adjective

Khalistani (comparative more Khalistani, superlative most Khalistani)

1. (India) Related to Khalistan, a name for the Punjab region of northern India.
2. (Indian politics) Supporting a militant separatist movement that advocates for a separate Sikh state by waging war against the Indian government.

Usage notes

• This is a politically-charged term that was originally used to imply that Punjab belonged to Sikhs and Sikhs belong to Punjab. Now it is mostly used by separatists who want to separate the region from the Republic of India. See Khalistan on Wikipedia for more.

Synonyms

politics

• pro-Khalistan

 

Related terms

• Khalistan