Poojari is the first inmate of city central jail to become a graduate from Ignou.
Sudhakara Rama Poojari, 29, who was seated close to the front row at the 26th convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) organised on Friday, was no different than the any other graduate sitting at the JSS Auditorium at the regional convocation.
What perhaps set him apart from the rest of the crowd was perhaps the fact that while other graduates were accompanied by their families and friends, Poojari, the first inmate in a decade from the Bangalore central jail to receive a degree from IGNOU, was flanked on either side by policemen.
Poojari’s tale reads like the plot of a Bollywood thriller. He was tried and found guilty of murder in 2001 and was incarcerated for 14 years. In 2004, he enrolled for a BA course in HEPS with IGNOU.
“I initially quit the programme, but was persuaded to take it up again. Being in jail makes one obviously depressed, but I had to overcome that depression to complete this course,” he said.
He refused to talk about the circumstances that led him to being jailed because he deemed that chapter of his life “closed”.
Currently, he is pursuing his masters in public administration and says that he will figure out his career once he leaves jail. Apart from studying by himself and taking the requisite examinations to pass the course, Poojari also coached the 60-70 inmates in his jail who are also pursuing higher studies, Some through KSOU (Karnataka State Open University) and others from other universities.
Poojari, who graduated in June last year, received a thunderous applause from the audience, when he received his degree.
More choked with emotion than Poojari himself was his teacher, the regional district director, a woman who refused to be named but visited him in jail often, sometimes with even fruits and sweets, and tutored him.
“The DGP was very supportive through the whole process and Sudhakar himself proved to be a very sincere student,” Sudhakar’s tutor said, adding that Poojari often asked for books and sent queries about doubts through his jailers and even wrote his examinations in the prison.
As for the low rate of admissions among inmates, she said there were still many hurdles but both institutions (the jail and the institute) should be cooperative for it to be successful.
The regional convocation was attended by Dr R Venkata Rao, vice-chancellor of National Law School India University, Bangalore, who encouraged more people to take up distance learning. Overall, 1.6 lakh students in the country were awarded degrees and diplomas. The main convocation, held in Delhi, was addressed by president Pranab Mukherjee.
@dna
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}