Varsity to reform Sikh prisoners in England

FATEHGARH SAHIB: In a unique initiative, a Punjab-based university will now try to "reform" Sikh prisoners lodged in England jails by sending them Sikh literature.
Fatehgarh Sahib-based Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, which is managed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), on Friday decided to dispatch the literature for Sikh prisoners lodged in various prisons in England.
"Some Sikh organizations in England have recently revealed that preachers of all major religions routinely visit jails with an aim to reform prisoners. Of late, even some Hindu organizations have also begun taking such initiatives. But we were told that there is no such exercise for Sikh prisoners," said university vice-chancellor Gurmohan Singh Walia.
"So, to start with, we have decided to provide religious literature to each Sikh prisoner or undertrial lodged in England. The purpose is not only religious but to also reform the Sikh prisoners as message of our religious texts is peace, harmony and wellbeing of entire world," he added.
Stating that 136 prisons were there across England, Prof Walia said the university was not aware about the exact number of Sikh prisoners lodged in each jail. "This information and consent from jail authorities would be facilitated by Sikh organizations active in England," he Walia.
The university will provide 'nitnem gutkas' (daily prayer booklets), religious history books, biographies of gurus and books relating to Sikh values and ethics to the Sikh prisoners. It was also decided that some important CDs of gurbani kirtan and interpretation will also be provided.