Reform measure: Mahatma’s autobiography for TN prisoners

Inspired by the story of Laxman Gole, a former prisoner who reformed after reading Gandhi’s autobiography and later, went on to spread Gandhian philosophy in jails across the country, a city-based trust is experimenting with the concept in Tamil Nadu. 

P Maruthi, Convenor, Gandhian Integrated Forum Trust, said Gandhi’s teachings can be an agent of change. “The story of Gole shows the way. Gole was a prisoner and after reading the autobiography, he became a Gandhian. The book is a huge volume, but we have divided it into 121 chapters, and can be read within a short time every day. 

There are 138 prisons in Tamil Nadu — 125 small prisons, nine central jails and four all-women prisons. The books will be made available in all the prisons: one book will be allocated for the all the small prisons, the central jails will have 20 books each and the all-women prison will have five books each,” he said. 

The 138 prisons in the state house 14,000 inmates, said C Sylendra Babu, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons). “Around 6,000 inmates are enrolled in courses in the open universities. 

Reading can have a positive impact, especially autobiographies of legends such as Gandhi. It can motivate them to read and turn over a new leaf and lead a better life,” said the official. Maruthi pointed out that their aim is to take Gandhi’s teachings through his autobiography to a large audience, before 2019, which marks the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma. 

“Through our project titled ‘Gandhiji-Sarvodaya: Within you-to know’, we are reaching out to educational institutions, government organisations, corporates, gated communities and slums. Each family can read a chapter daily and discuss the same. Despite our fast-paced lives overrun by technological advancements, Gandhi’s teachings are relevant even today,” he said.