From News Dispatches

BOMBAY: Two Sikh city college teachers, arrested in connection with the conspiracy to assassinate Thdira Gandhi, are riding a wave of sympathy among their friends, colleagues, students and neighbors most of whom feel that they have been held on trumped up charges which may not stick in the long run.

Prof Dalip Singh (57), vice principal of Khalsa College Matunga, and Prof Jagmohan Singh “Toni” acommerce teacher in Jaihind College Churchgate, were rearrested after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) implicated them in the alleged plot to kill Indira Gandhi.

Will Loose Job

The immediate fallout of the arrest will result in Prof Jagmohan Singh, who works as a temporary teacher, losing his job while Prof Dalip Singh will not be able to submit the doctorate thesis which he has painfully prepared after nearly 17 years of research.

When the two were released a couple of months back, all their friends and well-wishers heaved a sigh of relief, grateful that the nightmare was over. They did not imagine that the security agencies would pounce on the two teachers within weeks after their release.

Acknowledged Authority

Prof Dalip Singh due to retire in June 1992, is a history teacher and an acknowledged authority on medieval history. He came and studied at the Sanatan Dharam Degree College in Kanpur where he was inspired by his principal to found the Sikh Students Federation. Prof Dalip Singh used to organize religious camps for children, youths and students and which even policemen used to be present, His friends and relatives believe that Prof Dalip Singh is being penalized for precisely holding these camps and is being accused of “imparting training in warfare” at these small gatherings.

Organized Religious Camps

Prof, Jagmohan Singh was a student of Prof Dalip Singh and

also an activist in the Federation and involved in mobilizing students for the camps. He was appointed on a temporary basis nearly six years ago at Jai Hind College and was the virtual bread winner for the family.

After he completed his studies from the reputed Sydenham College, he got the job and was asked to acquire full qualifications for confirmation. Prof. Jagmohan Singh has been having financial difficulties since his four month salary for the period he was jailed earlier has not been released. Before he could bring his family back on the rails, he has been held again.

Financial Woes

His appointment for the current academic year expires shortly and he must reapply if he is to continue next year, his colleagues say. This does not seem possible considering the manner in which the case is dragging along. His wife, a two month old child an aged father, face a hard and uncertain future. The family lives in thesuburb of Malad.

Helping Hand For Others

Despite his own problems, Prof Jagmohan Singh, his friends say, has always been ready to help people in times of need. Those who know him refuse to believe that he harbored extremist or communal feelings. They fear that if he loses his job, his family will almost be on the streets since his father has been facing bad times in his modest business.

Prof Dalip Singh a strict disciplinarian adored by girl students and feared by the boys, is an academic to the core. He cannot countenance eveteasing and harassment of girls and has on occasions publicly slapped rowdy elements, his students say. He is considereda. hero by girls and their parents. He has also not adopted a vindictive attitude towards the errant boys and has forgiven them if they have mended their ways. A deeply religious person, Prof Dalipis popular among his nonSikh colleagues, though some of his Sikh colleagues

resent his friendly advice to them to concentrate less on materialistic aspects of life

Research on Bombay

Prof Dalip Singh had registered for his Ph.D under Prof GM. Moraes and his thesis entitled, “History of Bombay” 1885 to 1900” was due to be submitted soon, He has attended and addressed several national conferences on various issues. A voracious reader, Prof Dalip Singh also practices homoeopathy as a hobby.

Prof Jagmohan Singh takes keen interest in civil rights and liberties and regularly attends Peoples Union For Civil Liberties and Citizens For Democratic Rights meetings in the city. His friends in the CFDR refuse to believe that he would have involved himself in conspiracies and plots to kill a Prime Minister. They point out that the Thakkar Commission does not even mention the involvement of either Prof Jagmohan Singh or Prof Dalip Singh in the plan to assassinate Indira Gandhi. All it speaks of is about !* RK. Dhawan, a person who is now closest to the Prime Minister.

Prof Dalip Singh’s friends feel that the main reason why he has been arrested is his reported friendship with Simiranjit Singh Mann and some others. His family members deny any knowledge of this friendship and are of the opinion that this too, like many other things, has been cooked up by the official agencies.

His friends simply do not accept the official argument that he is antinational.

The Government action has instilled terror in the minds of the friends, relatives, colleagues of the two teachers. They speak in hushed tones only. They earnestly hope that the two will be released with their honor intact.

Prof Dalip Singh and Prof. Jagmohan Singh have now sought court’s permission to study law in Delhi University during their judicial custody.

Article extracted from this publication >>  May 19, 1989