Issue 1, Vol.
GURUJI IN CONVERSATION WITH JAIL
INMATES AT BOKARO CHAS PRISON,
JHARKHAND IN JULY 2010
It gives us great pleasure
to launch Parivartan, a
quarterly newsletter
dedicated to bring you latest activities of
the Art of Living (AOL) Foundation in pris-
ons across India. Prison inmates often feel
“down in the dumps” with emotions of
guilt, despair, frustration, anger, mistrust
and depression running high within them.
To free them from such negative emotions
and bring back in them that long lost smile,
twinkle in their eyes, and zing in their
stride, and to fill up their hearts with love,
has been AOL’s earnest mission.
It is indeed heart-warming to note that
over 120,000 inmates across India’s Jails
have already benefited from AOL courses.
They have demonstrated a transformation
of their stay in prisons! A dreary outlook
towards life has been replaced by a produc-
tive usage of their time. They are now in-
volved in writing books, making innovative
products for sales, and inspiring fellow in-
mates to take to the positive path. Some of
them have become AOL teachers them-
selves. Kudos to the tireless efforts of AOL
prison teachers and volunteers who have
brought this much needed-transformation
in this oft-ignored area of society. We
would love to get your comments and feed-
back. Reach us on prisoncourses@vvki.net
UDAIPUR JAIL: A SPIRITUAL ABODE
Imagine a place where you start your day with a
morning ritual of Sudarshan Kriya and Padma Sad-
hana with 100 others. Later in the day you get to
showcase your talents through various activity
clubs, listen to Guruji’s knowledge sessions on a
Home Theatre , go for a nature walk into a serene
Rock Garden. Well, this sounds like an ideal stay in
the Bangalore Ashram, but it isn’t …!
Central Jail, Udaipur in Rajasthan (house to 1000 inmates)
is fast becoming a model AOL village, thanks to concerted
efforts of some very dedicated teachers and the support of
the Jail staff members. It is a place where AOL courses
have been institutionalized with regular introductory and
advanced courses, knowledge sessions and Satsangs. The
positive impact of this has been that the Jail has become a
bedrock for implementation of new inmate welfare
schemes. Around 18-20 activity clubs have been formed, a
beautiful rock Garden now adorns the Jail premises and
dental check-ups are a regular feature. As many as 18 Yu-
vacharyas (from the Youth Leadership Training Pragams)
are determined to keep this positive spirit alive.
Issue 1, Vol. 1
“This was
not always
the case. We used
to take a few
courses with a
handful of partici-
pants and the Jail
authorities were
reluctant to give
permission”, ex-
plains Giridhar
Garg, the man
instrumental in
bringing the
change. Though
UDAIPUR PRISON AOL activities had
started within the Jail
as early as 1999, it was only when the Jail Superin-
tendent and the staff members did the AOL intro-
ductory course in 2007, when things began to take
a new turn. To begin with, most disputes within
the 100-strong staff force got settled and a positive
team spirit was generated. Enthused, the Jail staff
began encouraging the inmates to do the course.
In January 2008, when the first advance course
was to be held, a surge of positive emotion swept
through the Jail. The Jail Band played wonderful
live music and the Advance Course teacher,
Meghalji, received a grand reception through a
shower of flowers. Inmates expressed their happi-
ness and gratitude in this way. “The last day of this
course when experiences were shared, the I.G., of
the police too was moved to tears,” remembers
Garg. Since then, several advance courses and
YLTPs have taken place in this Jail complex. In
2009-2010, the Women’s Cell in the Jail also
started organizing AOL courses for female inmates.
As AOL courses picked up momentum, new ideas
for the welfare of the inmates began to surface.
Numerous activity clubs for learning painting, pot-
tery, writing, calligraphy and astrology classes
were formed as a means to vent prisoners’ energy
in a productive way. Some inmates are seriously
pursuing writing. Mahaveer Modi (age 27) is writ-
ing his autobiography highlighting the life transfor-
mational experience in the Jail titled “Panchava
Dham Hai Jail”.
To see a video about this story,go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0EWAgkXKnU
A Painting institute is being run by a renowned art-
ist Dr. Meena Baya at the Jail premises. More than
40 prisoners are learning painting
The Jail’s library has also been enriched and en-
hanced. Comic books and magazines have been
added in the library.
Page 2
Computer training is also being provided in batches
and recently 20 new computers have been in-
stalled.
A Dental college and Hospital staff is providing
weekly dental services in Jail. More than 150 den-
tures have been replaced.
Besides, medical camps de-addiction camp, cloth
distribution are also held from time to time.
A large hall named by Guruji as “Athreya Kutir” was
developed within the Jail premises as a center where
programs and camps are organized. Agnihotra is being
conducted regularly and some useful medicines are
also being formed out of its ash which are used to treat
inmates. An exotic Rock Garden has been developed
with almost 1600 plants (including rare species).
The AOL team has ensured that the element of fun and
entertainment is maintained in the Ashram. All festivals
and birthdays of inmates and staff members are cele-
brated with lot of gaiety. In such an environment, new
welfare ideas are emanating from the inmates them-
selves. The 18 new Yuvacharyas have practically taken
over from AOL teachers and are holding regular
“Navchetna Shivirs” for new convicts. The released pris
oners are in touch with AOL fraternity and are
often assisted in finding jobs.
GIRDHARI JI WITH Ex-DIRECTOR GENERAL
OF RAJASTHAN PRISON, MR PK TIWARI
Garg, a scientist with a government department, was
recognized by Guruji for his efforts. He has inspired
many a teachers, volunteers and philanthropists to get
involved with the Jail activities. “This project is a dream
come true. Things happen on their own,” he says,
humbly. Always bubbling with new ideas, Garg has
proposed a Teacher’s Training Course for inmates
across some 20 jails in Rajasthan. He is also pitching
for a videoconferencing facility within Udaipur Jail so
that inmates could interact with Guruji. Garg is now
keen to work in rural development to find linkages be-
tween Jail improvement and rural upliftment.
Where there is a will, there is a way.The Udaipur Jail’s
success story clearly exemplifies this famous saying.
Issue 1, Vol. 1
YES PLUS IN TIHAR
AOL’s Stress Management and Rehabilitation Train-
ing (SMART) program was introduced in Tihar jail in
1999. In Tihar Jail alone, 48,000 prison inmates have
benefited from the program. Special courses have
also been conducted for the prison staff to cope with
the stress owing to the nature of their job. Every
year two courses are conducted for the prison staff
and almost 130 staff members have done the Art of
Living Introductory Course.
A recently conducted course that has made tremen-
dous impact on the youngsters in the Jail No 5 of
Tihar Jail Complex is the Youth Empowerment &
Skills (Yes+) course. Spread over five days, the
course was conducted by 12 teachers in May, 2010.
The participant strength was 200. Of the 9 jails in
Tihar complex, Jail No 5 inmates are youngsters be-
tween the age group pf 16 to 25. They are infamous
for being adamant, rude and non-complaint.
Though initially reluctant, the participants started
exhibiting tangible changes from Day 3 onwards.
They slowly began enjoying the course so much that
they started offering themselves for volunteer work
during the course. On the last day, they cried whole-
heartedly, opening themselves and sharing their per-
sonal experience without any hesitation.
Says Karan Nijhawan, a “Yes Plus” teacher present
during the course, “Initially, it was difficult to ask
them to do anything but with passage of time and
after experiencing Sudarshan Kriya they exhibited
tangible change. The experiences shared by them
can make one cry.”
Page 3
Says another teacher, Rohit Ranjan about the prison-
ers, “Initially, it was quite challenging to hold their at-
tention. But after the Sudarshan Kriya, it became easy
to connect with them”.
One participant Ajay (name changed) shares, “I never
felt my breath this light before in my whole life. Today,
I am feeling so much peace and silence than I never
felt before”. Another 22 year old participant, Sayeed
(name changed) who was in Tihar for the third time,
was found smoking during the course. To relieve him
of his habit the teacher challenged the ego in him and
asked “ Are you so weak that you cannot quit smok-
ing”?. This worked! He quit smoking from that very
day. The various processes of our program are so cus-
tomized that they work in every situation. Sayeed also
initially expressed that he wanted to be a notorious
person since his childhood, but later during the course,
he vouched to leave criminal life.
An 18 year old boy, Jolly (name changed) in the Jail for
the fourth time, did not participate in the processes of
the course and would do his own thing when the ses-
sions would be on. On the last day of the course, how-
ever, he volunteered to organize the next course in
Jail. Jolly also went on to convince his friend in another
ward of the Jail to do the course as it was life transfor-
mational.
The jail staff also felt that the course had a tremen-
dous positive impact. S C Bharadwaj, the Superinten-
dent of Jail No 5, complimented the AOL team by say-
ing that it was a well-organised course which has
benefited the inmates immensely. He said: “The
breathing techniques helped the inmates to release all
their negative emotions and start life afresh. All hidden
talents of the inmates were exposed especially during
the last day,”
Indeed. Especially designed for the youth, the Yes Plus
course came across as a breath of fresh air for the
young participants of Tihar jail.
Issue 1, Vol. 1
Picture Gallery
WOMEN INMATES OF RAJAHMUNDRY PRISON
IN ANDRA PRADESH EXPERIENCING RELIEF
THROUGH THE PART I COURSE WITH VAISHALI
VENKATANARAYAN.
Fa;dgjad’gjad’gjadjgaekraw;elkrw;el4k’opcvi’ockvl;klv
Fa;dgjad’gjad’gjadjgaekraw;elkrw;el4k’opcvi’ockvl;klv
FIRST YES COURSE FOR CHILDREN IN BAL
SUDHAR GRAH, JUVENILE HOME, INDORE
WITH SHRESHTHA TIWARI.
GURUJI BEING WELCOMED DURING HIS
LAST VISIT TO TIHAR JAIL.
Page 4
FIRST PART II PRISON COURSE IN ANDRA
PRADESH WITH SANJUKTA MOHANTY JI IN
RAJAHMUNDRY PRISON.
Guruji’s Inspiring Words
Inside every culprit, there is a
victim crying for help. That person
is also a victim of ignorance, small-
mindedness and lack of awareness.
It’s the stress, lack of broad vision
about life, lack of understanding,
and bad communication that leads
to violence in society.
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,
AOL and IAHV Founder