In an effort to keep the inmates in harmony, the Arthur Road jail authorities have taken the help of religious verses.
In an effort to keep the inmates in harmony, the Arthur Road jail authorities have taken the help of religious verses. Compiled by Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal, a Tardeo-based Gandhian organisation, these verses are an assortment of hymns from various religions and are being sung by the inmates.
“It just takes a comment or a joke for their tempers to flare up,” said a jail official. With inmates belonging to different religions, many of them devouts, the jail authorities are always on high alert to avert religious clashes.
TRK Somaiya of the Mandal who is the manager of this project, said, “It is a conscious effort. We want to spread Gandhi’s preaching about respecting every religion. Undertrials are anyway frustrated and are erratic in their behaviour. We want to drill a sense of tolerance in them.”
Prayer sessions are held for 30 minutes every morning in the prison barracks where inmates are taught the prayers. They are also explained the significance of the verses. “God is one, but worshipped in various forms. This project may help in averting religious clashes,” said Somaiya.
High-profile inmates such gangsters Abu Salem, DK Rao and Mustafa Dossa have also attended a few prayer sessions, said the jail sources.
“I have attended a few prayer sessions. They explain the essence of various religions. It is informative and interesting,” said an undertrial, while being produced in a sessions court. He was arrested for allegedly murdering his friend and has been lodged in the prison since February 2008.
Many prisoners see this as an opportunity to make up for the lost time with their family. They feel that they might not have got this opportunity to know about other religions. “I know more about Islam and Muslim traditions now. We chat during the afternoons discussing each others’ lives and religion,” said another undertrial, arrested in a case of robbery. Jail authorities feel this project has been fruitful and hope that when the inmates leave, they go out as better human beings. “We really hope inmates gain from this exercise. It’s for their benefit,” said a senior jail official.
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