In Tihar, fasting for Ramzan is not restricted to religion. Irrespective of their personal faith, each prisoner has their own reason for keeping a fast during the month-long festival. A 45-year-old Hindu woman, serving time for kidnapping, prays for her son’s well-being, another prisoner is fasting for an early release. A 21-year-old is fasting just to participate with fellow inmates.
According to Hindustan Times, 59 Hindu prisoners in Tihar jail have been observing fast along with 2,299 Muslim inmates. Special arrangements have been made by the jail officials for everyone observing Roza. The prison’s director general, Ajay Kashyap, says an inter-jail coordination meeting was held prior to the beginning of the month-long festival to set out provisions for those fasting in the scorching Delhi heat.
The jail has also made certain modifications for those keeping the fast. Credit: The Indian Express
Every jail superintendent has been instructed to participate in iftaar, when those who observe roza have the first meal of the day after sunset. The jail has also made certain modifications for those keeping the fast. “Across all jails, officials have put up boards which display the sunset timings every day. We have ordered dates and roohafza (a beverage) for all the fasting prisoners. There is also a special arrangement to make space available for them to observe namaz in the morning hours. The jail timings have also been relaxed for prisoners who are fasting,” said Kashyap.
Prisoners are not allowed to wear watches, so an officer has also been deputed to inform them about the time to break their fast.
Right-wing groups took to the streets on Friday afternoon and disrupted a namaz being read near Cyber Park, dispersing worshippers in Gurugram on Friday
Tihar jail has often presented the perfect picture of communal harmony during holy occasions. In 2007, over 300 Muslim inmates reportedly observed the nine-day Navratri fast along with the Hindus. Prison officials claim this way the inmates reciprocate their feelings for each other and the respect for each religion.
“Inside the prison the one thing that the prisoners have is time. Each of them is troubled in their own way. Many of these prisoners try to change their ways and seek the end of their trouble in religion. Inside the prison, we see many cases of prisoners either finding a newfound religious connection or, in some cases, losing whatever little faith they had,” said a Tihar jail officer.
(Written by Shreya Bansal)
