By Rasamrit Singh Khalsa & Satnam Kaur Khalsa

WISCONSIN, II: Six weeks after Jasbir Singh ‘Sandhu ended his hunger strike for the right to wear a turban, and ‘their issues, he still feels the authorities have not satisfied his demands, Although they are allowed to Wear the turban, one of the demands that was not met is that Jasbir Singh should not be kept in the same cell as a smoker.

Sukhwinder Singh and Virinder ‘Singh, although not related, are Tnistaken as brothers by the prison ‘Officials. So they are fortunately kept in the same cell. They are known by all as “the Singh brothers”, Virinder Singhis a thoughtful, quiet boy, and although younger than the others, he is known as Sukhwinder Singh’s older brother. ‘Sukhwinder Singh, with his ready Smile, is artistic and outgoing. Jasbir Singh, after the release of Jatinder Singh Ahluwalia, has

been in a stressful situation. He is stuck with one after another cellmate, smokers, and persons with bad habits. Jasbir Singh has an intense personality with a strong sense of commitment, It appears that once set on an issue, he will not compromise. When we spoke to him during our second kirtan program at the prison, he had prepared a letter to the Director of the Prisons, He stated that this is a very important issue as the problem of his being exposed to smokers in his cell had not been solved. He was especially upset because he had been reassured that this would not occur. The other point is that the boys feel very inhibited in their religious practice because they are made to stay in their cells until 6:00 a.m. with no shower. They wish to rise by 4:00 a.m, at least and be allowed to bath, then recite PanjBanis and practice nam simran. If they may not use the shower until 6:00 a.m. when all inmates are forced to get up, there is confusion and so much noise. They must eat breakfast only a half hour later. This leaves them with with no time for religious practice.

We spoke to the Chaplain of the prison to try to remedy the situation. It appears that they will try to keep smokers away but the issue of early showers proves to be a difficult problem. We proposed that Jasbir Singh be given a single cell, or the smoker problem will reoccur. Also now he is not able to rise early without incurring the anger of a sleepy non-Sikh cellmate.

We should give these boys our Support. They are not ordinary people, how many of us take advantage of our freedom and rise early in the Amrit Vela to meditate (Nam Simran) and to recite Nit Naam, Just think that these boys must fight for this right. Who is more fortunate, we, who have our freedom and misuse it, or the persons who must fight for what we take for granted, Another point worth noting is that these boys exhibit such religious fervor. How is it that some people consider them to be common criminals. We explained to the Chaplain that they do not have in their hearts the consciousness of criminality. They are political prisoners. it is because of their commitment to a lofty ideal that they are paying. so heavy a toll. It is hard for them to handle the prison treatment because they feel no sense of guilt or wrong doing.

We would like to increase the library of Gurbani Shabad tapes in the prison. Now the prison is also accepting video cassettes (VHS only) and books on Sikhism in both English and Punjabi. Anyone having tapes or books to donate to the prison library should send them as soon as possible to the address below:

Sikh Religious Society of the Midwest, 600 E. Main

St., Mt. Horeb, Wi, 53572 (608) 4374555

No political books will be allowed by the prison officials all donations are tax deductable.

The bimonthly Kirian was attended by Ragi Kishan Singh Parwana, Ragi Jatha Lal Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Lakhan Singh, Bhai’ Mohinder Singh, Rasamrit Singh Khalsa, and Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Some were not allowed to ‘meet the Sikh prisoners because of a bureaucratic snag, but the Kirtan was enlivening to all. The prison officials are becoming more familiar with us and even joked that they liked us so much they wanted to keep us there, this joke was met with a few raised eyebrows by some who know that in fascist India, it would not be a joke at all.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 2, 1987