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The Air India Flight 182 Tragedy: A Testimony to Collective Amnesia and Failure of Acknowledgment

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, has sent deep reverberations among the families of those who lost loved ones in the 1985 terrorist bombing of Air India Flight 182. This tragedy, which killed all 329 passengers and crew, including 268 Canadians, has been a hauntingly similar experience for these families, who continue to live in the shadow of a historical event that has largely been forgotten by the Canadian public. As researchers and advocates, we have witnessed firsthand the pain, advocacy, and emotional turmoil of these families as they strive to keep the memory of their loved ones alive.

Key Takeaways:

  • The bombing of Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, was a Canadian tragedy that has been largely forgotten by the Canadian public, with only 10% of Canadians aware of the incident, according to a 2023 Angus Reid poll.
  • Despite its significance, the bombing has not been widely discussed in schools or in public discourse, with many Canadians continuing to deny its Canadian significance and view it as a foreign event.
  • The Air India Flight 182 families have organized annual memorial vigils every June 23, but few others attend, and many victims' relatives have died since 1985, leaving behind spouses, siblings, and parents who continue to carry the torch of remembrance.
  • In an effort to counter collective amnesia and lack of acknowledgment, researchers have launched the Air India Flight 182 archive, a publicly accessible record of the tragedy that includes artefacts, first-person narratives, memorabilia, and creative works related to the tragedy produced by family members.
  • The archive serves as a repository for the memories and experiences of the families affected by the bombing and aims to ensure that the tragedy is remembered and honored by future generations.

Sources:

  • Angus Reid poll (2023) cited in the conversation
  • "Remembering Air India The Art of Public Mourning" edited by Chandrima Chakraborty, Amber Dean and Angela Failler. University of Alberta Press
  • Conference on McMaster University commemorating the 40th anniversary of Flight 182
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

Statistics:

  • 10% of Canadians are aware of the Air India Flight 182 bombing, according to a 2023 Angus Reid poll. (Source: Angus Reid poll (2023))
  • 268 Canadians lost their lives in the bombing of Air India Flight 182. (Source: Conversation article)
  • At least 279 people died in the crash of Air India Flight 171. (Source: Conversation article)
  • The Air India Flight 182 archive includes artefacts, first-person narratives, memorabilia, and creative works related to the tragedy produced by family members. (Source: Conversation article)
  • The archive is a publicly accessible record of the tragedy, where scholars and everyday citizens can learn about the victims and their families. (Source: Conversation article)

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