The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : A red letter day for lifers

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Sunday, Mar 30, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

A red letter day for lifers

Special Correspondent

37 convicts awarded B.A. degree at BRAOU convocation

At least 40 per cent of convicts are victims of circumstances: Ravi
Computer programmes can help them
post-release, says jailor

- PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Great achievement: B. Ravi, a prisoner receiving Bachelor of Arts degree from Governor N.D. Tiwari at the sixteenth convocation ceremony of BRAOU on Saturday.

HYDERABAD: Seven of those at 16th convocation of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University here on Saturday were the cynosure of all eyes.

For the years put in as lifers behind the walls of the Central Prison, Saturday indeed was a day of reckoning for them. They all graduated and came to take their B.A. degrees. With years of sentence remaining, it may not change their prison life but gave them a sense of fulfilment, a ray of hope to begin a new life the day when they step out free.

Pat from Governor

Bandi Ravi, a lifer at Warangal Central Jail, even got a pat from Chancellor and Governor N.D. Tiwari for winning Anantha Sagar Bharathi Vishweshwar Reddy Book Prize, securing highest aggregate marks in BA.

Ravi who scored 997/1600, is serving life term with his father and brother in a murder case of his sister’s in-laws. When they were convicted, his sister and her husband too committed suicide. They had resigned themselves to fate. In jail since 2003, he thanks jail officials for their encouragement to continue education. Pursuing his MA now, the 25-year-old of Karimnagar district hopes to get B.Ed. training and start life as a teacher.

Ravi(27) and Bhaskar (32) are among six from Cherlapalli Central prison at the convocation. Ravi of Anjanpalli in Nalgonda, claims that he was rounded up in a murder case though he was not involved.

“But my appeals were in vain. I am not a criminal but ended up in prison. Education is the only way to divert my mind from harsh reality. I have compromised with the situation and hope to be free one day. I am keen on putting my time to good use while in jail.”

Disappointed that the 2007 GO to give pardon for life convicts for good behaviour was challenged, Ravi says not all convicts are hardcore criminals.

At least 40 per cent among lifers are victims of circumstances. “I wish the government takes a humanitarian view.”

Jailor V. Ramana Murthy feels if computer programmes and accountancy packages were introduced, it would prepare convicts to face life better, post-release.

In all 37 convicts from three central jails were awarded the degree.

Earlier, the Chancellor awarded five Ph.D., two M.Phil. and gold medals and book prizes for those who excelled in degree, post graduate, diploma and certificate examinations. In all 15,037 degrees were awarded at the convocation.

In his convocation address, Member, Planning Commission, B.K. Chaturvedi, said a nation’s progress depended on the skills of its human capital. Improving employability by providing the last mile reach was a focus area he said, adding that quality and access of higher education had to be in tandem with a better synergy between research and teaching.

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