Final answer:
The Sikh nationalist movement in Punjab sought to establish an independent state called Khalistan, separate from the religious majorities of Hinduism and Islam in India and Pakistan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nationalist movement of Sikhs in the Punjab region long fought for an independent state known as Khalistan. This movement arose from the desire to create a nation-state for Sikhs, who have unique cultural and religious beliefs that differ from the Hindu and Muslim majorities in India and Pakistan respectively. During the time of the British colonial occupation of South Asia, the Sikhs wielded positions of power and later on, post-independence, the aspirations for a separate homeland persisted. Khalistan, envisioned as a land free from the domination of other religious groups, does not have support from the Indian or Pakistani governments and has faced severe crackdowns from the Indian government. Historically, the Punjab region has been the homeland of the Sikhs, with Sikhism emphasizing equality and rejecting caste, creed, and gender distinctions.