Lucknow: In the silence of prison barracks, where time often stands still, some inmates in Uttar Pradesh are turning to books to rewrite their future — one page at a time.In Varanasi Central Jail, Dheeraj Maurya, serving a life sentence in a rape case, scored an impressive 82.5% in the Class X examination, emerging as the top-performing inmate in the state.Jail officials recall how Dheeraj spent long hours with his books inside the barrack, often studying late into the night. “He rarely spoke, but he was consistent — quietly focused on his studies,” an official said.For Dheeraj, education became more than a routine — it became a way to cope, reflect and reclaim a sense of direction within the confines of prison life.In another jail, Nari Bandi Niketan of Lucknow, Mamta Kumari, accused in a murder case, topped among inmates in the Class XII examination with 73.2%. Officials say Mamta initially struggled to adapt to prison life but gradually found stability through education. “She began attending study sessions regularly and started encouraging other inmates as well,” a prison staff member said. “Her result is not just her own achievement — it inspired others around her.”Their stories are part of a larger shift unfolding across Uttar Pradesh’s prisons. This year, 67 out of 68 inmates cleared the High School exams, while 114 out of 135 passed the Intermediate exams — figures that officials say reflect growing participation in prison education programmes.Not just Mamta and Dheeraj, but others also scripted history in different jails of the state.At District Jail Etawah, Vikas Saxena — an inmate booked in a murder case — scored 67.83% in the High School examination, securing a first division. For Saxena, prison life became an unlikely classroom. “Assigned clerical work in jail, he would finish his duties and then quietly sit with his books for hours,” a senior jail official said. “It was clear he was trying to rebuild something within himself.”In District Jail Saharanpur, similar stories unfolded. Abrar, lodged under the POCSO Act, and Raza Abbas, accused in a dowry death case, both secured first division in Intermediate exams. Another inmate, Aman, also booked under POCSO charges, passed his High School exam.Jail superintendent Satyaprakash, who congratulated them, said, “Education gives them a sense of dignity they had perhaps lost. It tells them their story doesn’t have to end here.”At Central Jail Varanasi, Bharat Rajbhar (65.5%), facing rape charges, cleared with first division in Class X. Rajendra Singh (72.17%) and Rampher (61.67%), both accused in separate murder cases, also passed with commendable scores in Class X.Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) PN Pandey said these achievements carry deep emotional significance. “These marksheets are not just results — they are signs of change. When an inmate chooses to study, it shows a willingness to move forward,” he said.Officials say efforts have been made to create study-friendly environments inside prisons, including access to books, designated learning spaces and academic support.
