Gandhi Jayanti sees 92 prisoners being tested on the Mahatma

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, 92 inmates of Taloja Central jail in Kharghar appeared for the Gandhi Peace Exams. The exams were conducted by Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal.

According to Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal chief TRK Somaiya, the exam was carried out to evoke a sense of regret in the minds of jail inmates for their wrong deeds, as well as to reform and help them be responsible citizens of society.

Prizes and certificates were also distributed to the inmates who appeared for exams. The topper secured 76 marks out of 80 and a Nigerian inmate scored 65 marks. The jail superintendent was given the task of presiding over the function.

"Books written by Gandhiji and also Gandhi's autobiography 'My Experiments with Truth' were made available to the inmates free of charge" Somaiya said.

Somaiya also informed that Laxman Gole of Sarvodaya Mandal and Salve Guruji and Gholap Guruji of Taloja Jail conducted the exam. Interestingly, Gole had confessed his crimes before a judge after reading Gandhi's autobiography and now visits jails and inspires prisoners to follow Gandhi's teachings.

Prisoners were also requested to give written feedback about how the exam benefitted them.