One can live their life in their own bubbles with their own expectations and perspectives of the world. One can judge a criminal whether the verdict is out or not as per their liking. One can easily forget the human behind the bars and picture a cruel man who deserves nothing but pain. Such a view of prisoners is not new and happens all too often. I too used to have such beliefs till a certain level. These lines of thought make sense as a third person from outside the crime. Having entered the jail as a researcher with a plan in hand, I certainly gained way more knowledge than I had intended.
My research required me to visit the Dasna jail for data collection from 100 female inmates. Anyone who knew about my research was worried about my safety at first. Will I be safe sitting, interacting, and eating with all the inmates? Even though I had a few reservations but I have a job to do and so I did. Once I entered the jail, on my first day there, I was surprised by the warm welcome I got from the prison staff and the inmates as well.
There is a sense of community among the inmates who must survive together irrespective of their crimes. There is pain in the atmosphere but there is also hope, hope to be released one day, hope to be better than they were before, hope to return to their families and hope to be respected members of society again. I wasn’t expecting any sort of hospitality inside the prison walls, I was quite surprised to see the warmth with which I was accepted. The peer leaders were considerate enough to help me throughout the process of data collection. Without their help, I would have been lost. We both were helping each other, they helped me find the inmates as per my requirements and I believe my work gave them a small change from their routine. I began my collection with all the peer leaders only. Sitting alone face to face with individual inmates gave me a chance to not just get my data but to also know their stories, their troubles, their families, their aspirations and most important their hope and will to live and change for the better.
The questionnaire I chose for my research did not pertain to any personal questions or answers that needed to be told in many words. Yet, so many inmates gave me so much more information than what was asked.
They found a listening ear for their feelings. Talking to someone from outside the jail gave them a chance to have some catharsis however less it may be. I met a few women who truly impacted me. Even though they are criminals and considered a nuisance to society, I met some of the strongest females I have ever seen inside the jail. Talking with them, listening to their thoughts and their will and strong natured attitude and their toughness has resonated with me. On my first day in there, I stopped looking at them through the lens of a criminal but through the lens of a human being.
I was present in the Dasna Jail for more than 2 weeks. During these two weeks, I met all kinds of people. While some are going through depression and sadness, some are cheerful and hopeful to get out. A few common factors that I found among these women is how all of them are so much more worried about their families outside or their children way more than for themselves. All of them were putting the needs of their families before theirs. While this looks like an extremely sweet gesture from mothers and wives, I wonder if this can also be seen as ignorance of their own well-being and regard. How can one help or be there for others when they can’t help themselves? There were exceptions to such beliefs as well. The younger inmates still aspire to do well for themselves and not just for their families. Their bright smiles truly lit up the black walls of the barracks. It was extremely refreshing to see such faces even through adversity.
While interacting with the female inmates, I could sympathize with a lot of them. For the children inside the jail, I could empathize with them. Even with the availability of a creche and resources such as toys, books, clothes etc., it is heartbreaking to see such young souls inside jail. No child deserves to be confined within 4 walls limiting their senses and upbringing. Yet what I saw with these children was how well-behaved they are. How happy and contemptuous they are with all the things they have. What made me very happy and excited to see was how each one of them would shake my hand daily like professional adults.
They found a listening ear for their feelings. Talking to someone from outside the jail gave them a chance to have some catharsis however less it may be. I met a few women who truly impacted me. Even though they are criminals and considered a nuisance to society, I met some of the strongest females I have ever seen inside the jail. Talking with them, listening to their thoughts and their will and strong natured attitude and their toughness has resonated with me. On my first day in there, I stopped looking at them through the lens of a criminal but through the lens of a human being. Even though they are inside prisons, their attitude is still positive and childlike, the way it ought to be. My experience in the Dasna jail has been enlightening for me. I entered the prison walls with doubt and fear but left the prison with gratitude, understanding and empathy. Having people worry about me for my safety to realizing that I am the safest inside than outside the jail was astonishing to me. I could not have imagined that my outlook towards law, justice and the prison system would change so drastically within two weeks of interacting with the inmates. I am grateful to India Vision Foundation to provide me with this life-changing opportunity and for the tremendous learnings that I have gotten here
About the authors:
Ms. Girika Batra, a Forensic Psychologist, completed her MS.c from National Forensic Science University, and is currently working as an Associate psychologist. She has always had a keen interest in studying criminal behaviour and trying to uplift the inmates and helping them have a brighter future ahead. With the help of India vision foundation, she was able to complete her research in Dasna jail and gained a lifetime of experience and learning.
