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Undertrial turns a role model

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Superintendent of Berhampur Circle Jail Bankim Charan Mohanty with Rabindra Das in Berhampur on Sunday. —

BERHAMPUR: The days of restrain as an undertrial prisoner in Berhampur circle jail proved too fruitful for Rabindranath Das, who could manage to pass the matriculation examination in first division.

The success of this undertrial prisoner had its immediate impact on the other prisoners of the jail. “Another 11 prisoners of the jail have already requested us to appear for matric board examination next year,” said senior superintendent of jail Bankim Chandra Mohanty. He claimed Das to be a proud product of the experimentation of jail reform programmes.

Before entering into the world of crime, around 30-year-old Das had earlier unsuccessfully appeared for matric examination twice in in 1996 and before. This youth from Haripur village of Khallikote area in Ganjam district was lodged in the jail since 2004 as an undertrial prisoner in a murder case. But he had always tried to keep up his reading habit even inside the jail. Seeing his interest, last year Mr Mohanty and jail teacher Bhaskar Behera persuaded him to appear for the matric examination. And their efforts have brought exemplary results.

This year four from the Berhampur circle jail appeared for the matriculation examination. Of them Das has secured first division while the results of the rest is awaited, said Mr Mohanty. Das said this examination had become a turning point in his life. “I have never believed that I have the knack for education. Thanks to the jail officials I could sense my potential,” he said. According to him mathematics is his favourite subject and he wanted to take up computer science as his future course of education.

Time will show how much transformation occurs in his life. But his feat has already brought in enthusiasm among the prisoners as well as jail staff towards education. Every other day warders are applying to the jail superintendent to use the facilities of IGNOU campus in the prison to pursue higher studies along with the prisoners. Eleven prisoners have requested to appear for matric next year.

Two prisoners are taking admission into PG courses related to rural development under IGNOU this year. “We are using services of our educated warders and best teachers from the city for teaching at jail campus,” said Mr Mohanty.

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