Earlier this week Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, and his wife, Sophie, were photographed at the Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar. It is an exceptionally beautiful building with water in three sides. In India, perhaps only the Taj Mahal is finer.

Despite its visual delights, however, it is hard for Amritsar to escape controversy. For example, the Indian government wasn’t pleased with Trudeau’s visit. He is credited with advocating a separate Sikh homeland, called Khalistan, in the Punjab region of which Amritsar is part. That would mightily displease the Prime Minister of India, Narenda Modi, who is a Hindu nationalist.

But for people who know Britain’s record as a colonial power, Amritsar, even with its marvellous temple, has negative connotations. What happened there in 1919 may be the greatest blot on the reputation of the British Empire – and that’s saying something. For that is where a British general gave orders to fire into a huge crowd of peaceful demonstrators.

MORE:   http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/amritsar-india-justin-trudeau-india-british-empire-general-dyer-a8227646.html