A movement can only bring change. A movement designed with commitment, enthusiasm,
and above all an intention to serve can only bring a transformation from being alive to living life. This kind of a metamorphic movement changed the lives of the 293 inmates of Tenughat Jail, Bokaro district,
Jharkhand from February 23, 2011, a seven day course was conducted for the inmates of the jail, among which there were 35 Naxalites with two hard-core zonal commanders. The inmates never imagined that simple breathing techniques and meditation would alter the course of their lives. Ritu Chopra, Art of Living Teacher from Bangalore, pioneered this course to all the inmates. She imparted to them that through Yoga and meditation, one can be free from anger and stress. She remarked that the prisoners' mind is stressed out on the issues of family and society and the organization would lend its full support to mainstreaming these inmates after their release.
Tenughat jail had also witnessed this course once before in August 2010. During that course there were 80 participants, 22 Naxalites among which two were women. Balabhadra Karamkar, a yuvacharya said, “I was in this jail and was charged of many murders, I did the Prison course in 2010 and felt the change in myself. So, after release I started volunteering and now I am a Yuvacharya and volunteered the present Prison course.” Also, he became an inspiration to many inmates (including some Naxalites) to shed the old path.
Having led a life of complete chaos, despair and guilt, these inmates need to have a positive path for their future. The inmates shared that this course gave them that opportunity. This has influenced them in such a way that the convicted now have a conviction to lead a better life.
1991 Tenughat jail-breakthrough inmate, Shyam Bahadur Thapa expresses that, “through Yoga, in this complex life a senseof freshness and enthusiasm is instilled”.
Inmate Vinod kumar feels that this course has brought about lot of changes in him. Similar views are of inmate Khageshwar Pandey , ‘In life, Yoga has truly taught us how to live our life in true terms’.
Ramesh Prasad, the jail superintendent, has played a key role in supporting the reinforcement of human values in these inmates through the art of living courses.
