|
| Inmates watch the film on Sunday. Picture by UB Photos |
Jan. 6: Central Jail inmates today got a taste of Gandhian principles by watching Lage Raho Munna Bhai where the tapori undergoes a complete change by adopting principles of non-violence after he meets the soul of Mahatma Gandhi.
Sunday for the inmates turned out to be entertaining and informative with Nagen Sarma Memorial Society, an NGO, in collaboration with Sunrise Global Society screening Lage Raho Munna Bhai for them on Centrail Jail premises.
The film was screened as part of Gandhi Vichar Abhijan programme.
The members of the NGO also distributed copies of Gandhiji’s autobiography My Experiments with Truth among the inmates.
Gandhiji’s preaching “hate the sin, not the sinner” is what motivated the NGO to approach these inmates many of who expressed desire to start life afresh forgetting their scarred past.
“We screened Lage Raho Munna Bhai at Central Jail today and the inmates quite liked it. Gandhiji always asked people to hate the sin and not the sinner. We felt that we should give the inmates a chance to lead a reformed life. We had an interaction with the inmates on October 2 during which we had donated copies of My Experiments With Truth and another book of anecdotes to them. Today, we chose this movie as the Gandhian principles of love, brotherhood and non-violence are beautifully expressed through it,” former MLA of Nalbari and president of the Nagen Sarma Memorial Society, Alaka Sarma Desai, said.
“During our interaction, many inmates shared their experiences with us and said they are eager to live a reformed life and contribute to society as good citizens. There was one particular person who is serving a life term for murder. Though he knows that he will have to spend the rest of his life behind bars, he is eager to help others in whatever manner he can. If society accepts these people and help them improve themselves, they will not return to their old ways and will lead a respectable life. The inmates who have read the life of Mahatma Gandhi also appreciated his principles,” Sarma Desai said.
The NGO has plans to conduct short written tests for the inmates to motivate them to read books on Gandhiji. The questions will be framed on his life and work.
“We will also provide vocational training to the inmates in the near future so that after they leave the prison, the vocational skills they develop can help them earn a livelihood,” said Sarma Desai.
| 
