As you know I have been incarcerated for 4 1/2 years now. It gives me ample of time to look back at my fife and the problems, first generation Sikhs are facing in U.S.A. Instead of listing all of them, I will try to focus my energy on just two of them… major ones: I Have written a Letter to Sikh Welfare Foundation of North America,” a copy of their reply is enclosed for you.

First problem only pertains to Sikh Prisoners regarding religious books, tapes and Sikh Preacher. Dr. Hakam Singh has assured me in his reply, that It will be solved in due time.

 Second problem is about Sikh lonely men and women in a strange country. It is not easy to give up one culture and adopt altogether different social life overnight. These middle aged single people or divorced or widows have no place for comfort. Sometimes Sikh leaders do talk about these things but nobody has taken any step in this direction. For first generation Sikhs, there are no clubs, no associations, nowhere going situation.”

Sikh inmates in all prisons face the same problem. There are over 200 Christen prison Ministries and more than 50 christen pen pals ministers. What the Sikhs have is only one matrimonial column, which sometimes makes me laugh and sometimes make me throw up.

 Let us took at these ‘all men have to be 6’ tall and have to be either Doctor or Engineer.

 Sometimes U wonder, where farm workers, dishwashers, students or gas station attendants will 0222 And then all women got to be around 22-25 years old virgins, slim, tall, homely etc. Then I -wonder…where the fat, ugly, short, older, divorced or even singles who decided not to married i till 305 will go! Also to answer these ads, you need a professionally prepared resume covering every single event of your life time. Get the Picture???

I  have discussed this problem at length with Dr. Hakam Singh who suggested to cheek with you (WSN).

To start some kind of pen pal organization – two things are badly required!

1) Advertising 2) Time (a person who wants to match these people).

I have studied various Christian Pen Pal organizations and I am willing to invest my time, since God ‘has blessed me with plenty of time.  Already have designed application forms. I need help from WSN, ‘if an ad can be put under Matrimonial column for, “Sikh Pen Pals” for 6 month son trial basis. We can see if these lonely Sikh brothers and sisters want to come out of their closets. I will write first ‘covering Letters on religious basis to give them some comfort and warmth.

Darshan Grewal,

lone, CA

Article extracted from this publication >> August 19, 1994