Dear Editor:
This is a report on Virinder Singh, Sukhwinder Singh and Jasbir Singh who as you know are in prison serving terms for conspiring to murder Bhajan Lal.
Earlier this month, we had the good fortune to visit Virinder Singh and Sukhwinder Singh in Oxford, Wisconsin prison. We got to know them by correspondence when they were in New Orleans prison. After hearing of their plight we organized petitions on their behalf and wrote many letters. Although they were not released as we had hoped, with the exception of Jatinder Singh, we were overjoyed to hear that at least they would spend the rest of their sentences in Wisconsin, which is also our home. We live about two hours from Oxford. We found our boys to be wonderful people, as we expected. They seemed in high spirits and full of faith in God. Before being able to see them, we were forced to remove our kirpans which were just a hint as to how the officials view our religious symbols. Luckily we kept our small kirpans because they decided not to check our turbans. We found that jail policy allowed us to see only one prisoner at a time. We thought it was better to see both. We had to be persistent, asking permission and being denied four times, then finally the officials agreed on the basis that we were ministers of our faith, We spent five hours with our boys, before the visiting hours were over. We found that all their books had been sent away, and they do need reading material. An individual cannot send them books or periodicals. The one way they can receive newspapers or magazines is directly from the publishers. They would enjoy reading papers like Sikh News or Chardhi Kala that express Sikh views. We can also send books on Sikhism and scriptural books through the head chaplain who has agreed to check them out. Tapes with Gurbani kirtan can be used in the chapel. Sukhwinder Singh would like to learn kirtan. He needs a harmonium, one who would like to help fulfill any of these needs, please contact the address below:
Sikh Religious Society of the Mid West 600 E. Main Street Mt. Horeb, Wi. 53572 Our boys expressed the need for hearing kirtan so we wrote a letter to the chaplain explaining why kirtan is an important part of Sikhism. We requested that just as they allow services for Christians, Sikhs should have equal time. To our surprise, the Chaplain called and said he could arrange for a gurdwara program actually within the prison, where any inmate could attend. This will be the first time in American history that such a kirtan will take place. Also, even though food from outside is strictly prohibited, we got the permission to bring karah prasad. We first had to explain how it was a necessary part of the program, we told them that if they allow the bread wafers for communion services of the Catholics, then karah prasad must also be allowed. We are arranging a kirtan for the last week of August and for the first kirtan only six people will be permitted. After that, more can attend.Bhai Mohinder Singh, Granthi in Chicago Gurdwara has kindly offered his services to preside over this event. We hope that Sikhs living near other jailed freedom fighters such as Gurpartap Singh Birk in Pennsylvania will contact the prison to offer kirtan, now that Oxford has set the precedent.
Our boys also told us that although Jasbir Singh’s hunger strike for the turban was over, still unless they come up with automotive statements on the need for turban, the officials would again not allow it. To this effect we wrote a letter to the assistant warden, who was in charge of the turban issue.
Reported by:
Rasamrit Singh Khalsa Satnam Kaur Khalsa Mt. Horeb, Wi.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 28, 1987
