CHANDIGARH: To inculcate values and morals in Sikh prisoners lodged in different jails in the United Kingdom, the Guru Granth Sahib World University, in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, will be sending books on Sikh history, biographies of Sikh gurus and those related to Sikh values to UK. In addition, CDs of Gurbani (Kirtan) will also be sent so that the inmates can connect with their religion. If this experiment is successful in the UK, then the University will replicate it in the jails of Punjab. In the first lot, to be dispatched next week, 100 sets of books and other materials will be sent.
The registrar of the University, Dr Pritpal Singh, said that there are around 500 Sikh prisoners in 136 UK jails serving time for various crimes from petty thefts to heinous crimes like murder. According to Prison Service instructions, faith and pastoral care is required in UK prisons, requiring a multi-faith team to both reflect and serve the religious make-up of the prison population.
The 1952 Prisons Act states the necessity for a chaplain in the prison. Prisons are directed to meet the faith and religious needs of prisoners and address their pastoral needs through chaplaincy provision. This includes the provision of weekly corporate worship for prisoners. Thus, there is Sikh chaplaincy in some UK prisons.
Singh said, “During the visit of Vice Chancellor, Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia, to the UK, the Sikh community of England apprised him about the need of providing religious literature to Sikh prisoners for making them civilized persons. After that Gagandeep Singh, Sikh Chaplaincy Service, UK, sent a mail to Walia for providing English and Punjabi religious literature to Sikh prisoners of 136 prisons in the UK.”
He added that a meeting was held at the University where it was decided to make the prisoners aware of the tradition, culture, history of the Sikh religion through books and other literature. “The process of sending this material abroad will start in two weeks. We were told that the prisoners of other nationalities there are allowed to follow their religion and every week-end there is mass held for the Christian inmates,” said Singh.
Walia, said, “It was further decided that after this experiment in UK prisons, the said materials will also be provided to prisons in Punjab after contacting the Punjab government and taking its permission. The University will arrange extensive lectures by university professors for the prisoners on the issues of value and ethics that will help in their rehabilitation.”
Walia said the vision of the University was welfare of humanity and spreading the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib in order to build a healthy society.