From a life behind bars to a life enriched

By Ganesh Anil

Mysuru Central Jail has proven that incarceration is not just about punishment but also an opportunity for transformation. Many former inmates have turned their lives around, emerging as role models who contribute meaningfully to society.

The jail offers extensive training programmes in pottery, weaving, small-scale industries, bakery production and electrical work. Recognising the power of theatre in personal transformation, it also provides theatre training, which has helped many inmates undergo profound change and actively participate in social causes upon release.

Often, impulsive decisions and uncontrolled anger lead individuals down a path of crime, landing them behind bars. However, many inmates have embraced the training provided, acknowledged their mistakes and reformed themselves.

Upon release, they have built dignified lives, taking up self-employment as electricians, weavers and bakery entrepreneurs.

Some, inspired by their passion for theatre, have dedicated themselves to raising awareness on social issues, education and organic farming. Among them are Anburaj (a former associate of slain forest brigand Veerappan) and Baagali Mahadevaswamy (jailed for murder), who shared their journey of transformation with Star of Mysore. —Ed

Anburaj: From Veerappan’s aide to a social crusader

Once an associate of forest brigand Veerappan, who terrorised Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Anburaj has undergone a remarkable transformation after serving 20 years in prison. Today, he stands as a beacon of change and a role model for society.

Anburaj, seeing severe harassment and brutality by the Special Task Force (STF) on the gang members of Veerappan, joined the outlaw from 1994 to 1998. After Anburaj’s arrest, he was sent to a Tamil Nadu prison and later transferred to Mysuru Central Jail.

One day, while contemplating scaling the prison walls, his gaze met that of renowned theatre artiste Hulugappa Kattimani of ‘Sankalpa’ troupe, who had come to conduct theatre training for jail inmates. Anburaj asked Kattimani about his identity and when the latter told him about his visit, Anburaj saw an opportunity to escape. Initially joining the theatre group with ulterior motives, he soon found himself immersed in the art, which became a turning point in his life.

Performing in various plays, he discovered a new-found passion for theatre. Having been associated with ‘Sankalpa’ while in prison, Anburaj has acted in over 20 plays, including some based on Shakespearean classics and scripts written by Girish Karnad.

At that time, male inmates had to take on female roles too. During this phase, Mysuru-based theatre artiste Deepak Mysore of ‘Sanchalana Mysuru’ (theatre troupe)  arranged for female inmates from Bengaluru Central Jail to act in plays. One of them was Revathi. Through their shared love for theatre, Anburaj and Revathi formed a deep bond. After being released on good conduct, they got married and now lead a happy life with their two children.

After his release, Anburaj started an oil press business in Erode, Tamil Nadu. His interactions with farmers led him to advocate for organic farming, opening an organic products store to promote sustainable agriculture. He takes no profit from this venture, seeing it as a means to spread awareness about healthier farming practices.

Despite having only a 6th grade education, Anburaj continued his studies in jail and earned a BA degree. Deeply inspired by the works of Kuvempu, Poornachandra Tejaswi, Dr. R. Ananthamurthy and Dr. J. Chenni Kumaran, he realised the power of education and founded the Tribal Foundation to support the education of tribal children and school drop-outs. His Foundation has helped 83 students complete their degrees.

I have experienced the prison systems of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka during my 20-year sentence. Among them, Karnataka stands out for its approach to transforming prisoners through education  rather than mere punishment.

Every prison should prioritise education over retribution. True transformation happens through activities like theatre, music and crafts, which reshape a prisoner’s mind. I am a living proof of this change — thanks to the education I received in Mysuru Central Prison, I have emerged as a better person and most importantly, a good father to my children. —Anburaj

Baagali Mahadevaswamy: A voice that found freedom

Mahadevaswamy was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of one of his relatives during a family dispute. While serving his sentence, his melodious voice caught the attention of theatre artiste Hulugappa Kattimani, who encouraged him to explore theatre and folklore.

As he acted in plays, his talent stood out. In 2013, during a visit to Mysuru Central Jail, Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar was captivated by Mahadevaswamy’s soulful singing. Upon inquiry, Dr. Parameshwar received positive feedback from the jail authorities, leading him to recommend Mahadevaswamy’s release on good conduct. On Republic Day 2016, Mahadevaswamy walked free, ready to start a new chapter in his life.

Post-release, he joined a theatre group and dedicated himself to street plays, raising awareness about Government schemes, education and superstitions. His singing talent earned him a place on a TV reality show ‘Kannada Kogile,’ where he impressed both judges and audiences.

Despite financial struggles, Mahadevaswamy refused to seek help, earning a living through masonry while continuing to perform. Recognising his perseverance, H.R. Ranganath, the head of Public TV, gifted him an autorickshaw to help him sustain.

Today, Mahadevaswamy makes a living as an autorickshaw driver while actively participating in singing programmes and street plays, using his talent to uplift society.

Society must embrace those who have made mistakes and served their time. Having repented and gained education while in prison, they emerge with a renewed purpose. However, re-integration is not without challenges and they must confront and overcome the obstacles that lie ahead. —Mahadevaswamy

The remarkable journeys of Anburaj and Mahadevaswamy underscore the transformative power of rehabilitation. Mysuru Central Jail has not just confined criminals; it has reformed lives, proving that with the right guidance, even those who once walked a dark path can become beacons of hope and change.

Prison-made products worth Rs. 2.38 lakh sold at Dasara Exhibition

The Mysuru Central Prison offers professional education programmes to inmates, equipping them with vocational skills. Through handloom and electric handloom training, inmates manufacture durries, khadi cloth, towels, lungis, bedsheets and white uniforms for fellow prisoners. The bakery division produces a variety of baked items.

In wood-working, inmates craft furniture such as dewan cots, study tables, teapoys, sofa sets, dining tables and chairs. “These factory divisions collectively generate an annual revenue of Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh,” said P.S. Ramesh, Chief Superintendent, Mysuru Central Prison.

At this year’s Dasara Exhibition, products made in prison, including khadi cloth, towels, lungis, bedsheets, study tables, teapoys, sofa sets, dining tables and chairs, were sold for Rs. 2,38,571. Similarly, at the 87th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Mandya, these products generated sales worth Rs. 53,476.

Education is a key focus within the prison. A total of 22 inmates have completed their BA, 10 have obtained their MA, two have pursued postgraduate degrees and eight have earned diploma certificates. Additionally, through the adult education programme, 456 illiterate inmates have attained literacy. This literacy initiative continues to be actively implemented, he added.