Shaheed Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda’s Letter To Mother

Dear Mother, Your Sons Have Passed The Real Test Of Life

 

The day of 21st October 1989, was a day of great happiness for Khalistan. On that day, we were taken from the prison to court at 11 o’clock in a closed vehicle. When we arrived at the courts, we were still in the car when the police came and told us that we would have to take our shoes off before entering the building. We refused to take off our shoes. The judge was concerned that we might remove our shoes to throw at him. We sent the judge a message that we would never do such a lowly thing and that if he still had any doubts, he could have us handcuffed, but we would not remove our shoes. The judge agreed to what we said and did not even have us handcuffed. We were presented before the court. No sooner had he sat down, the judge announced a not-guilty verdict for brother Nirmal Singh. Then the judge told us that we are the accused in the ‘General Vaidya’ case. The judge asked our lawyers about a reduced sentence, but we had already instructed them from entering such a bargain. The lawyers came to us and asked if they could appeal to the judge to reduce our sentences. We said that they should not and that we ourselves would talk to him about it. The judge then called brother Sukhdev Singh to the stand. The judge told brother Sukhdev Singh that you have been accused in this case, and asked if he would like to say something about the punishment. Brother Sukhdev Singh replied, “On the day that the tyrannical rulers attacked Sri Darbar Sahib, we had decided that our lives belonged to the Panth and it mattered not whether we died today or tomorrow. At that time, we had determined not to sit comfortably until vengeance was made for the desecration of Sri Darbar Sahib, and the founding of Khalistan had been made. When this life belongs to the Panth, then what do we care for your punishment? You can pronounce whatever punishment you want.” Then my brother shouted a Jakara and roused us with war cries of Khalistan.

 

Then the judge called me. Brother Sukhdev Singh returned to retake his seat. The judge then told me that I had been accused in the General Vaidya case and asked if I wanted to say anything on the punishment. I told the judge that on the day when I began to walk this path, I gave my life to the Panth. While I still breathe, I will continue to punish the enemies of humanity like General Vaidya and will fight until Khalistan is achieved. When this life and existence belongs to the Panth, what fear have I of any punishment you mete out? You can announce any punishment. The judge then asked us if we were prepared to sacrifice for Khalistan. We replied with, yes, we are ready to sacrifice for Khalistan. By that time journalists had arrived. The judge did not announce our sentence immediately. The time for the sentence was set for one hour later at 1pm. As the judge was leaving, I told him that my mother and relatives were gathered at Shivji Nagar Courts and that they were to be called here. The judge ordered the DSP present to bring my mother and relatives here without any duress. He further added that he would not deliver the sentence until their arrival. Upon saying this the judge left. Dear mother and family members could not be found at the court however, as they had already departed for the Gurdwara. Accordingly, they were unable to be present for the sentencing.

 

The judge returned at five minutes past two and begun to deliver the sentence. At seventeen minutes past two he called brother Sukhdev Singh to the stand where he was awarded with a death sentence. He greeted the sentence with a Jakara and raised the call for Khalistan. Then brother Nirmal Singh was called to the stand where he was pronounced not guilty.

 

As the judge was reading aloud the sentencing, his voice trembled, as did his hands; he was having trouble speaking.

 

The judge then called me to the stand where he also awarded me with the death sentence. Just as brother Sukhdev Singh had done, I greeted the sentencing with a Jakara showing my happiness whilst hailing Khalistan as well as Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale, then we thanked the judge for our death sentences.

 

We then told the judge that today was a day of happiness for Khalistan, that we wished to throw a party for them all to celebrate.

 

The judge replied that he in turn was thankful to us for having helped him so much. We thanked him again. We went on to say that we wished to meet with members of the press, but the judge requested that we do not do so on this day and to leave it for another occasion. We said that was acceptable.

 

We were then taken back to prison. We distributed sweets upon our return, but when the prison staff came to know that we had been given the death sentence they did not eat it. So, we ate it ourselves.

 

Two days later, brother Balwinder Singh and brother Nirmal Singh went to court on account of the bank robbery case where the lawyers told them that on the night of our sentencing, the judge could not sleep. All night long, the judge called the lawyers and kept saying he could not sleep. He told them it was the first time he had given the death sentence. He did not want to award us with death sentence but felt that he had no choice. He revealed that he was fond of both of us; that he had never seen men like us before; that we were good men; that he would hang portraits of us in his home. But dear mother, know that your sons slept comfortably the night we were sentenced. We slept as the farmer sleeps having secured his crop.

 

That same day before everybody in the court, the judge asked brother Balwinder Singh and brother Nirmal Singh for our portraits as well as their own, which he wanted to hang in his home out of his fondness for us. Tears welled up for the judge as he said this. The lawyers told brother Nirmal Singh that the judge had recorded a twenty-year prison sentence in the Vaidya case at first which he had arrived expecting to deliver, but when Harjinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh raised slogans in support of Khalistan and exclaimed that they were willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause of Khalistan, the judge was compelled to rewrite the sentence from twenty years imprisonment to death. It was because of this that he had wanted a further hour before delivering his verdict as he was left no option but to give us death sentences. Today we have ordered a greetings card for the judge in celebration of Diwali which we shall send to him tomorrow.

 

Dear mother, dear father, and dear brother, do not feel despondent at this salubrious time. Dear mother, remain in high spirits as you were when in Poona. What greater happiness can a mother have than for her sons to be executed in the cause of righteousness! This moment of happiness should be celebrated with the distribution of Ladoo (sweets). Dear mother, those high-spirited statements you made to the press journalists when in Poona took everybody who read them aback. Dear mother, only we truly know inside how much happiness was felt upon reading those statements of yours. May you all remain in such high spirits ever more.

 

This world is a play, like a performance put on by an entertainer that pleases people and makes them happy before coming to an end one day. In that way this world too is a play. For a while we watch the spectacle. Alas, it does not take long to come to an end. Know this, that whoever is born will one day certainly die. Just as night follows daylight, birth will result in certain death.

 

How far can one run along a wall? At some point the end will come. In this way, the breaths that have been bestowed upon us will come to an end eventually. Whatever we see in this world is perishable except for the Divine (God). The immortal and life-affirming name of the Divine is everywhere and all around us. But it only falls into the mouths of those who are in the presence of the Guru. Those individuals who have connected their consciousness to the Gurbani of the Guru are elevated to a higher state of being. It is they who are accepted in the presence of the Divine.

 

Dear mother, we will not appeal in the Supreme Court. You already know of this. I read your statement and was very pleased to see you state that we will not appeal to the Supreme Court as if we did it would not only be a disgrace unto us, but to the Panth. No matter who approaches you to do so, do not appeal. I am proud of you. It is through your optimism that we remain cheerful. Dear mother, your sons have passed the real test of life.

 

This evening we met with brother Nirmal Singh. Our brother was in extremely high spirits. His accusation in the bank robbery case will be discharged by the judge on 4th November of this year. There is a case in which he is accused from Bombay which will also be discharged shortly. There is then a case in which he is accused in Lucknow for which he should be granted bail. We have connections to people in Lucknow. Brother, if you try just a little then brother Nirmal Singh will be released within three to four months. Other than that, brother Nirmal Singh will need a good lawyer representing him in the Supreme Court. I believe that the government has issued a writ to the Supreme Court for brother Nirmal Singh’s implication in the Vaidya case to be awarded with a sentence, however I don’t think that will happen.

 

Dear brother, none of the witnesses in my case acquiesced. I was awarded the sentence to death on the basis of my own statement to the court. This is also to be rejoiced.

 

Brother Sukhdev Singh was identified by one witness, the bodyguard of General Vaidya. The remaining one hundred and seventy witnesses were shown to be frauds and liars.

 

Elder sister-in-law, you must fulfill the promise you made when you came to see me. Both you and younger sister-in-law must write to me together and send it by registered post. You must tell Bikker nephew to write to me too. Please send me a telegram to inform of dear brother Inderjit Singh, was he freed or not? The master has been freed. Please send our greetings to maternal uncles and their families from Ratangarh. Please pass on our Guru’s greeting to family from Jandiala, Rana, Khalehra, Khabe, Chautala, Bahadurpur and all other relatives.

 

Please include news of the prosperity of our townspeople in your letters. I have not received any letters from you in some time. Dear brother Khalsa, please stay in high spirits. Please write to me of dear father’s state of health. The cold winter has come so prepare linseed for dear father and Mathura Singh to consume. Send us a few Pinia so that we too might be able to enhance our health. We are about to drink milk. It is eight o’clock in the morning. The newspaper is about to arrive. Whomever comes to visit us next should bring sister Kuku with them. In closing, we greet you, the congregation of the Guru, and all neighbours and well-wishers with the greeting of the Guru. If I have erred in writing anything here, please forgive me as your younger.

 

The Khalsa belongs to Waheguru!

To Waheguru belongs victory!

 

Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda

27.10.89