Imprisoned, Abandoned & Desperate
Prashanthi (all names in this true story have been changed) was just eighteen years old when she given in marriage to Lokesh, an alcoholic. His drunkenness and irresponsible attitude made life miserable for Prashanthi. Even the basic needs of their little son, Anand, were not met. Lokesh came home drunk every day, beating her for no reason, so much so that, when she would see him coming home, she trembled with fear and hid behind the door. One night, he started thrashing her as usual. The two-year-old child was in her arms. Lokesh dragged his wife into the kitchen and battered her fiercely. In self-defense, she pulled out a log of firewood and hit him on the head. He dashed against a wall and dropped dead. Terrified, she ran to the police station with the child in her arms, and admitted to the involuntary murder of her husband. She was arrested and sent to prison along with the two-year-old Anand.
At the age of six, Anand was shifted to Kolbe Home in Bengaluru, a rehabilitation centre for prisoners’ children run by Prison Ministry India. With tears rolling down cheeks, Prashanthi told me, “If Anand had grown up with us, he would not have become the smart and intelligent boy that he is now. His talents in singing, dancing and in sports have also bloomed only because he has been under your care.”
Prashanti, now released from prison, and her son are two of the forty beneficiaries of the “Housing project” launched by Prison Ministry India (PMI) as part of the Ruby Jubilee celebrations (1981-2021). PMI is a national voluntary organization under the Justice, Peace and Development Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), working for the integral human development of prisoners. Bishop Allwyn D’Silva is its Chairman, and Fr Francis Kodiyan MCBS the National Coordinator.
Sr Lini Sheeja MSC
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