Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SHS)
Mangalore, Mar 28: Feelings of vengeance, sorrow and guilt took a backseat as jail inmates were treated to a cultural feast interspersed with humour in the premises of the district prison here on Friday March 28.
The occasion was a personality development programme, 'Vikasana' hosted by the mass communication and journalism students of St Aloysius College in association with the state prison department. The passionate students came forward to impart personal development lessons to jail inmates in a bid to provide awareness on the good sides of the outside world.
Well-known writer Bhuvaneshwari Hegde who was the chief addressing the programme said, "Attaining peace is the key goal in society. One should spread love and peace not hatred."
She further said, "I write humour stories to make people laugh, a prime factor that facilitates healthy life."
"The only animal on earth which enjoys the bliss of laughter is man. These days there are a lot many people who can laugh, but not many who can make others laugh," she said.
"One should be able to sleep peacefully. Rich people are deprived of sleep as they have many tensions and fears that their material possessions would be looted. "But looking at you, I feel you enjoy better sleep than rich people," she told the jail inmates.
"The mind says, in other words mind lures you, towards negative things, while heart and wisdom tells you not to be driven by the mind. Develop wisdom and go by your heart not by your mind," she advised.
She suggested the jail authorities to purchase some humour books to help jail inmates to have a more lively life reading the books. "To make others laugh is a serious business," she added.
She even cracked some jokes, which evoked laughter among the inmates.
Ramesh P S, superintendent of jail speaking on the occasion quoted D V G’s line from 'Mankutimmana Kagga', and asked the jail inmates to be one among others. He lauded the students for taking the initiative to mingle with the jail inmates.
A dance programme held after the formal inauguration enthralled the jail inmates.
Dr Rajaram Roy, retired medical officer and lecturer of mass communication Lakshmi Shenoy and others were present on the occasion.