Kiran Bedi, Tihar Jail : Learn English (US) with subtitles - Story for Children & Adults
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Kiran Bedi gets a 'punishment' posting in Tihar jail, where some of the most dangerous convicts are imprisoned. She transforms this hell on earth into a veritable Ashram.
Translator/Author : Kiran Bedi
Narration : Bernadette Joseph
Music : Acoustricks
Illustration : M Karthiravan
Animation : BookBox
Tihar Jail
The jail warden led me
through a dark winding passage.
I was almost suffocated
by the humid stench
of the open gutters
that lined the walls.
Soon we came to an opening
where hundreds of people,
all dressed in striped rags,
stood looking at me
in wonder.
The warden
suddenly broke the silence
by yelling some commands
at the crowd.
Where there was space
for 2,500 prisoners,
more than 10,000
were herded together
within the walls of Tihar jail.
I thought to myself,
if there was a hell on earth,
this was it.
That very moment
I realized
why I had been posted
as the Inspector General,
or IG,
of the infamous Tihar jail
in Delhi.
I had to do something
to improve the condition
of the prisoners.
I knew that it would be
the toughest challenge
in my career.
I began to visit the prisoners
every day.
I was told that the IGs
posted there before me
never set foot
inside the jail premises.
In the beginning,
the prisoners
would crowd around me
and not speak much
because they feared
the wardens.
I would sit among large groups
and discuss their problems.
I knew that
apart from improving the hygiene
and general condition
of the prison,
I had to also
keep the prisoners busy
so that they would not have
any time to get into trouble.
I started
by introducing some simple
but effective routines for them
such as walks around the prison,
sporting events
and cultural events
like singing and acting.
I soon formed
a group of trusted officials
who helped me.
A major problem
that my team and I faced
was that of religious groupings
and enmity between them.
To put an end to this danger
we began to celebrate festivals
from all religions,
such as Rakhi, Holi,
Ramzaan and Christmas.
This helped the inmates
to accept each other’s
religious practices
and even feel good
about participating in them.
I also made sure
plenty of books were available.
Soon, many universities
began to offer courses
for the prisoners.
We introduced meditation
and helped them think positively
and plan their life after prison.
I was posted in Tihar Jail
between 1993 and 1995.
Those two years
were the most fruitful years
of my life.
On my last day,
as I went on my usual round
of the prison,
I saw what could only be described
as an ashram of Indian rishis.
Hundreds of hardened criminals,
who had committed
the worst of crimes,
were sitting peacefully
in meditation.
The grounds were green
and filled with sunlight.
Inmates were either
preparing for exams
or learning a craft
that they were passionate about.
BookBox
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