Mangalore: Former dacoit from Chambal on mission to spread peace

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 24: Pancham Singh, who was once a dacoit, and whose name spelt terror in Chambal valley in the past, is now on a mission to spread love and peace among the people of the world. Singh, who is in his nineties, admits he was heartless when young. But, having been transformed into a gentle human being, he advocates that aggression and cruelty lead us nowhere, and peace and love are the only leading lights which enable people to transcend the ocean of hate and other vices.

Pancham Singh has been actively involved with spreading moral values and need to remain peaceful, under the aegis of Prajapita Brahakumari Ishwariya Visha Vidyalaya having its central office at Mount Abu, Rajasthan. During his visit to the city office of the Vidyalaya near Urva Stores in the city on Sunday February 23, Singh shared his experiences and thoughts with the people.

He recollected that his association with crime began when he got 12 persons, who had assaulted him during the gram panchayat election in 1958, killed with the help of some dacoits. He explained that four decades ago, the police department had announced a reward of two crore rupees for providing information on the movement of his gang.

“In 1972, influenced by the thoughts and preaching of Jaya Prakash Narayan, our gang surrendered before the central government headed by Indira Gandhi. Our gang was facing 250 cases including 100 cases of murder, and I was awarded death penalty. But the government, as per the promise it had made previously, converted death sentence into life imprisonment,” he recollected.

Singh said that the volunteers of Brahmakumaris used to visit jails in an effort to bring positive changes in the thinking process of the prisoners, and that their preaching left a lasting imprint on his mind. He said he had got transformed into a pious individual by the time he was released in 1980, taking into account his good conduct inside the jail. “Since then, I have been spreading the message of peace and love across the country,” he added.

Head of the local service centre of Brahmakumari Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, B K Vishweshwari, and B K Suresh, a resident of Chambal area, were present.