Sarabjit Singh, the masterchef of Kot Lakhpat

Over time he grew friendly with many of his inmates. Some of them swore by his cooking skills. He could make a mean dish of handi chicken.

 

LAHORE: Indian death row convict Sarabjit Singh, who died in the Jinnah hospital early on Friday following a deadly assault by fellow convicts last Friday, spent more than two decades in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison. Over time he grew friendly with many of his inmates. Some of them swore by his cooking skills. He could make a mean dish of handi chicken.

Sarabjit was in his late 20s when he was brought to Kot Lakhpat, a jail plagued by corruption and inefficiency, keeping in check more than 6,000 prisoners when it had space only for 1,800. During time behind bars that ran into 20 years, Sarabjit came to know people from many shades of life -- hardcore criminals, prisoners of high social status and petty goons from poor backgrounds who were packed into the 'C' class confinement that had virtually no amenities.

Sarabjit spent a long time in 'C' class until, around six years ago, he was shifted to 'B' class confinement. The condition of 'B' class prisoners is better in Pakistan's jails as they have two to three fellow inmates in a separate cell with a bathroom, though always in bad shape.

If the prisoner is high-profile or faces threat from other inmates, he can be kept alone in a separate cell. According to jail officials, Sarabjit was given a separate 'B' class cell for security reasons and got a 'C' class prisoner named Akram as servant (usually called a 'mushaqatti' in jail jargon), a provision available to all B class inmates. 'C' class prisoners normally prefer to serve well-off prisoners in 'B' class confinement hoping for a reprieve from the jail's bland food. According to Akram, Sarabjit was a chain smoker and 'Gold Flake' was his favourite brand.

"He was jolly but also sensitive and emotional. You just had to say few words against India to make him angry. He remained a die-hard Indian nationalist until his last day," a jail source said, quoting Akram.

Akram, also tasked with cooking food for another, some say rich, 'B' class prisoner, was Sarabjit's good friend. According to prison sources, Akram and Sarabjit got along well and shared food. They also say Sarabjit, who was unlettered, always asked Akram to write to top government and jail authorities about his fear that he would be poisoned. "I cannot confirm whether or not Akram wrote the letters but he was always very helpful," sources added.

Another fellow inmate in jail had some eight years ago told TOI that Sarabjit, then a 'C' class prisoner, was given to him as chef. "He was an excellent chef and specialized in making chicken handi. He had a good sense of humour and always shared Punjabi jokes. I used to call him 'sardarji'," the ex-prisoner had said then.

Sarabjit's main problem was financial. Being a chain-smoker, he always had difficulty buying cigarettes. His threat, in jest, was always: "Paaji, get a packet of cigarettes for me or I'll not let you eat good food."

Source:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sarabjit-Singh-the-masterchef-of-Kot-Lakhpat/articleshow/19853308.cms