Tihar prisoners learn the 'Art of Living'

NEW DELHI: A four-day ' Art of Living' camp was organised by Tihar authorities for around 5,000 inmates of the jail.

"For the first time, 5,000 prisoners participated in the four-day-course 'Mega Anand Anubhooti Shivir' organised by NGO Art of Living in the jail premises.

"The course was offered in all the ten jails within Tihar where all the participating prisoners (including convicts and undertrials) were divided into 67 groups and trained in meditation, yoga and pranayam for four-and-half-hours a day by a batch of 128 Art of Living teachers," Director General (Prisons) Vimla Mehra said.

The quarrels among jail inmates have reduced after the course, she said. Some criminals accused of serious crimes were also part of the programme.

Rakesh, one of the prisoners who did the course and has been in Tihar for the past nine years, said his problem, just like many others, was psychological. "My parents passed away following my imprisonment when I was Class XII," he said.

Going through depression, he said he had even planned to commit suicide in jail. "But after doing the course, my mind is free and I feel better," Rakesh said, adding that he is hopeful of living a good life after getting out of jail.

Rahees Ahmed, an asthmatic participant, shared he felt after the course that he has no breathing problems and feels much light-weight.

Purushottam (59) said he felt totally fit after doing the course.

According to a jail official, prisoners from all communities, including men and women participated in the course. "The participants -- 4700 men and 300 women --- belonging to various communities cooperated with the teachers and jail staff and came up with positive responses," he said.

Mehra, while thanking the Jail staff, Art of Living teachers and prisoners said, "We look for such programmes in future when the courts are closed."

This was the best time to organise such a programme as the courts are closed, she said.