Spending almost a decade in prison has turned former RJD MP from Siwan Mohammad Shahabuddin into an author.

Inspired by the life of Nelson Mandela, the 47-year-old strongman, lodged in Siwan divisional jail for his alleged role in offences such as murder, abduction and extortion, is busy penning down his thoughts in the form of a book, History of Modern India.

Shahabuddin, whose name once spelt terror not only among people of Siwan but also police personnel during the Lalu-Rabri era, had been awarded a PhD by Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, in 2005 for his research work "Era of Coalition Government".

At least four bahubalis (strongmen) - Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, former Sheohar MP Anand Mohan, sitting JDU MLA from Tarari Sunil Pandey and former JDU MLA Munna Shukla - have penned poems and books from behind the bars.

Sunil Pandey, arrested last Saturday on the charge of facilitating the escape of Ara bomb blast accused Lambu Sharma, was awarded PhD on "Mahavir ke updesh aadhunik paripeksha mein" (Mahavir's teachings in the present context).

Similarly, Anand Mohan, in his 50s and serving life term in Saharsa divisional jail for allegedly killing the then Gopalganj district magistrate G. Krishnaiah in 1994, has been credited with a book on "Mountain Man" Dashrath Manjhi and a collection of poems, Qaid ke Azad Kalam (pen is free from bars).

Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav (47) penned a book titled Drohkal ka Pathik (Traveller of Betraying Times).

Another gangster-turned-politician Vijay Kumar Shukla, alias Munna Shukla, was awarded PhD for his thesis "Rajnitik Chetkna ki Abhivyakti (expression of political consciousness)" from BRA Bihar University, Muzaffarpur.

However, JDU MLA from Mokama Anant Singh is an exception. "He is not even a matriculate. Nobody can expect such creative work from him," said a diehard supporter of Anant, who is cooling his heels in Beur Central Jail after being accused of abducting a realtor from Patna.