Avtar Singh Azad says, "Then we started our movement. At that time, our union said that if a majority of the members voted in favor of the proposal, the union would stand by us and help us. Without support, they would not be able to do anything."
"With a lot of effort we won the union vote. Muslims and Jamaicans helped us a lot at that time. Even Hindus, who did not believe in turbans, supported us."
With the support of other minority communities, Sikh bus drivers won in the transport sector unions. They then began a movement against the Wolverhampton Bus Company. Over the next few months, the movement gained momentum. Procession meetings are organized. Protests were even staged in the Indian capital, Delhi. The largest protest on the issue was held in March 1986. More than 4,000 people marched in silence on the streets of Wolverhampton that day.
The Sikh community continued to write letters on the subject. Den-Darbar started at different stages. An application was also sent to the Prime Minister's Office on Downing Street.
And this movement started to hurt Avtar Singh Azad personally. "During this movement, a racist group - I can't say for sure - they set fire to the garden behind my house. Probably their goal was to intimidate me and get me out of that movement."

Photo source, PA
Photo caption,
Baishakhi procession of Sikhs in London.
But this is a turning point in the movement. Sohan Singh Jolly, a leader of the Sikh community, announced that he had set fire to his body, demanding the lifting of the ban on turbans. He said he would commit suicide on April 13, 1989, the Sikh New Year. In an interview at that time, Mr. Jolie was asked what she was afraid of for this suicide? In response, he said he was not afraid of anything. This ban is a direct blow to his religion.
Mr. As the days of Jolly's suicide approached, the pressure on the authorities increased. On April 7, 1969, a government deputy was sent from London to discuss the matter with Wolverhampton city authorities. Within the next 24 hours, Sikh bus drivers and conductors were allowed to return to work wearing turbans.
The next day, celebrations were held at Sikh gurdwaras in London. Avtar Singh Azad was overjoyed at this victory. He was then contacted from the Wolverhampton bus garage.
Avtar Singh Azad said, "Mr. Bartle called me. He said the corporation had agreed to our demands. He wanted to know what changes should be made to their uniforms? Because the turbans for our uniforms would be bought by Wolverhampton Corporation. Blue. So we said the color of the turban should be blue. "
"Mr. Bartle provided the turbans bought by our corporation. After that turban, two of us drivers joined the duty for the first time. I was the first. Another driver named Didar Singh came after me."
After so many years, when you remember that day on April 9, 1989, how does Avtar Singh Azad feel? He was saying, "I was very happy. Because I got my religion back. Whatever religion you believe in, that religion will give you some strength. In my case too, I got that strength of faith back."
Avtar Singh Azad worked as a bus driver for the next 32 years. He retired in 2005. He is now retired after sharing time in Chandigarh, UK and India.
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