Library at Hubballi Sub-Jail keeps inmates engaged, peaceful

Hubballi: Enrichment of the mind appears to have ushered in peace at the Hubballi Sub-Jail, where incidence of clashes among inmates has witnessed a sharp slide after a library was unveiled on its premises. The authorities at the prison decided to open a library on the premises as part of the measures to reform the inmates. The response from the inmates has been overwhelmingly positive, with many of them spending hours together, immersed in the wondrous world of books.
The sub-jail in Hubballi houses 120 prisoners, among whom more than 20 are students. These inmates, prone to getting involved in clashes and altercations with each other, are now putting their time to better use by browsing through magazines and newspapers to stay abreast of the latest developments across the world, reading fiction and the various genres of books that the library has to offer.
Superintendent of Hubballi Sub-Jail Ashok Bhajantri said that the library, opened to the inmates in April, housed more than 1,000 books. “Inmates who were students prior to their brush with the law, seem inclined to read books on competitive examinations, while the elderly prisoners are understandably drawn to spiritual titles and myths including the Ramayana, Mahabharata, et al,” Bhajantri said.
He said that the staff at the prison had observed a visible change in the behaviour of the inmates following the opening of the library. “Jail personnel ensure that the inmates get any book they want regardless of the hour. The inmates borrow books in the morning and spend the better part of the day reading,” Bhajantri added.
Among the notable titles available at the library include works of Kuvempu, Da Ra Bendre, Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar, SL Bhyrappa, Devanooru Mahadeva and Chandrashekara Kamabra.
The prisoners appealed to Judge KN Gangadhar to help set up a library at the sub-jail, when he had visited the facility on the occasion of Human Rights Day last December. Based on his directions, the jail superintendent allotted space for the library on the premises, and it was opened to the inmates in April.
‘Keeping inmates engaged key to their mental health’
Lack of activity drives the inmates to boredom, making them irritable. Activities such as reading not only ensures they are engaged, but it also helps distract them from their present situation, and keep disturbing thoughts, be they about the past or the future, at bay. Additionally, information gained from self-help books will offer them unique perspectives, which can help them improve their life. Engaging inmates in such activities is vital to their mental wellbeing.
- Dr Sahitya BR | Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences