Saturday, July 11, 2009

My experience in jail...

Her name is Angel... Couldn't forget her! She just completed one year when I first went to that jail... Her mom asked me to take chocolate, very candidly, who was a prisoner there... I didn't know why initially; couldn't managed to find out as the "Isha inner engineering class" was about to start in a couple of minutes.

Well, that's the reason I went there. When Swami Vishnu called up and said the previous night, 'why not you come as a volunteer for organizing the Isha yoga class?'... I immediately said 'yes'. But there were some slight discomfort in me. How will the people be in jail, will they be harsh, cruel, dishonest! Will I return safe? All these questions just surfaced in my mind... But I am not a person to give up new experiences for socially inflicted fears! Somewhere in the corner of the mind, I probably knew this was false fear! So I managed to get up early the next day and headed for the 'Puzhal' jail, where Isha Yoga conducted a Yoga program for Women! Inner Engineering program for women in Jail!

Angel's mom Julie was one of the many participants in the yoga program. She handed over the kid to one another volunteer(Naga akka) and attended the class. She managed Angel quite well... However I couldn't resist taking care of Angel as kids are inseparable part of my life! So, went there, relieved Naga akka and I took Angel in my arms! She's falling asleep as I rocked her gently! Finally she dozed off and I managed to return to the program class!

When the 3 hours class was over for the day, kid woke up. I thought Julie will run to pick her little one. Much to my surprise, she was not anxious and I found her playing volleyball! I was stunned for a moment and quite didn't understand what was going on there...

Julie is an excellent volley ball player and when she found the ball there (which was brought there for Isha games), she couldn't but play it!
Angel was born in jail, she was brought up by e'one there! She belongs to e'one. She's brought up in such a big family. She takes food from e'body there. She easily get along with strangers! My heart sank when I came to know that Angel was born in there, she's even having her first b'day there... I don't know why, because both mom and kid seemed to be happier than many people I see outside.

May be because, Angel doesn't enjoy a life that Isha enjoys (my 2 year old daughter)! I dont know exactly... But the pain continues to be there...