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Nirvana Behind Bars

In the Tihar prison, dangerous criminals have been softened by way of meditation.

By Sudip Mazumdar

Mr. Bhupinder Singh, of 23 years of age, was sent to the Tihar prison, located outside New Delhi, about three years ago. He was accused of murder. When he arrived he was irascible and violent. But, in 1999, he became part of a meditation program that took place in the Institution. "Today Mr. Bhupinder is completely changed. Not only is he friendly, but he cooperates with all others", this is confirmed by Sunil Gupta, warden of the prison.

Tihar, with its 11,000 prisoners, is the biggest and most dangerous prison of India. There reside hardcore criminals that practice the traffic and consumption of illegal drugs, sexual abuse, and gang violence. However, in the last few years it has experienced an amazing transformation. Thanks to a police officer named Kiran Bedi-who was in charge of the center in the middle nineties and introduced the Vipassana techniques of meditation to the prison population-as a result the prison has been pacified. What in other times were very dangerous convicts, now they preach peace, love and compassion.

Hundreds of prisoners meditate daily and confirm to be changed men. Their violent instincts have been substituted by an almost spiritual serenity. Instead of fighting, many prisoners plant flowers inside the Tihar complex. A civil servant working in the prison, Mr. V. P. Garg ratifies this: "The techniques of meditation contribute to calm down the minds of the prisoners and change their vision of things."

The 28 year old Mr. Praveen Chawla, condemned to life for rape of his ex-girl friend, is a typical example of the new population at Tihar. He affirms that he was much troubled when he came into prison, and felt that he was sentenced in error. But, he took a series of course in meditation and now points out that:-"Now, I don’t fight with anyone. I know that peace can be achieved and a more profound feeling of freedom within the boundaries of this prison. Never did I think that meditation could be that liberating." Mr. Chawla is now a meditation instructor.

Among the four types of meditation that the trained volunteers offer, the Vipassana method is the most demanding. Its name means: "to see things as they really are", and it is one of the most ancient techniques of meditation in India. The person that meditates is trained in observing the narrow interconnection between thoughts and corporal sensations. The prisoners of Tihar start with courses of ten days, during which they practice self-control, abstain from speech, sex, drugs, and sit in a quiet room for long periods of time concentrating their attention in their breathing. On the fourth day they learn not to react to their physical or emotional urgencies. The result of such a discipline, as confirmed by the exponents of Vipassana, is equanimity.

The government, impressed by the positive results in Tihar, has solicited that all the prisons of the country to introduce meditation in the programs.

Singh said: "When I hear that my request for a bail bond has been postponed, I don’t get annoyed." He considers himself very fortunate for being able to spend more time in jail, where he can continue in his journey of self-knowledge.

(Newsweek en Español, 27 Sep., 2000)