He looks more like a hero (monarch of what I survey) than an ex-convict .His six-foot well built, frame, enigmatic handsome features, and long hair captivate you. I had an opportunity to observe and listen to this extraordinary young man, the modern day Valmiki from close quarters this week. He has become a poster boy for reformers and is the face of prison reforms.
It takes extraordinary courage and deep inner strength to mentor and transform a hardened criminal like Nigel. Teaching a man, who had never cried even when his nails were ripped away and fingers broken during police interrogation, to cry and to make a non-believer pray and read scriptures , is like a fantasy being enacted in a make-believe world. Alakananda Ray is truly a blessed woman.
It was wonderful to listen to the tale live. Nigel spoke about prison life. For many of us it was the first view of a returned convict. I picked up quite a few interesting terms. A “late lockup” means permission to stay extra hours beyond the scheduled time outside the cell. “Medical diet” is a special diet with fruits and other goodies, the difference between a “lifer” and “UT”. I got a brief glimpse of a distant and unfamiliar world- of the brutalities faced by convicts during the interrogation process , the point of no-return reached by innocent undertrial victims ,the world of contract killers hired by businessmen who refuse to give them honest work later but are willing to pay them monthly allowances instead more out of fear than out of sympathy, that reformed boys never ever break your trust if handled with feeling, that faith heals , that unconditional love crushes even a hardened criminal ,that convicts need support to come out of the vicious circle, that even the most ordinary human being can slip in life .
As I collected a visiting card from Nigel who runs a facilities management company now I realised that it is not easy to look into the eyes of a murderer and I only marvelled at the courage and spiritual strength of a beautiful lady who could do it so effortlessly thus transforming so many lives
The media is fascinated by this human drama and you can read hundreds of stories around it . Ref to links below
http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/industry-updates/iim-calcutta-hold-swami-vivekananda-memorial-workshop-presence-danseuse-alokananda-
http://business-standard.com/india/news/road-to-redemption/451784/
It takes extraordinary courage and deep inner strength to mentor and transform a hardened criminal like Nigel. Teaching a man, who had never cried even when his nails were ripped away and fingers broken during police interrogation, to cry and to make a non-believer pray and read scriptures , is like a fantasy being enacted in a make-believe world. Alakananda Ray is truly a blessed woman.
It was wonderful to listen to the tale live. Nigel spoke about prison life. For many of us it was the first view of a returned convict. I picked up quite a few interesting terms. A “late lockup” means permission to stay extra hours beyond the scheduled time outside the cell. “Medical diet” is a special diet with fruits and other goodies, the difference between a “lifer” and “UT”. I got a brief glimpse of a distant and unfamiliar world- of the brutalities faced by convicts during the interrogation process , the point of no-return reached by innocent undertrial victims ,the world of contract killers hired by businessmen who refuse to give them honest work later but are willing to pay them monthly allowances instead more out of fear than out of sympathy, that reformed boys never ever break your trust if handled with feeling, that faith heals , that unconditional love crushes even a hardened criminal ,that convicts need support to come out of the vicious circle, that even the most ordinary human being can slip in life .
As I collected a visiting card from Nigel who runs a facilities management company now I realised that it is not easy to look into the eyes of a murderer and I only marvelled at the courage and spiritual strength of a beautiful lady who could do it so effortlessly thus transforming so many lives
The media is fascinated by this human drama and you can read hundreds of stories around it . Ref to links below
http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/industry-updates/iim-calcutta-hold-swami-vivekananda-memorial-workshop-presence-danseuse-alokananda-
http://business-standard.com/india/news/road-to-redemption/451784/
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