From a bad past to a glorious future

[1]

Even political prisoners concede that life behind bars is tough and can break you.

But Mr C. Ravi, 50, who served 14years’ rigorous imprisonment in Coimbatore Central Prison for abetting to the suicide of his wife, found only care and love that changed his life forever.

It transformed the man to such an extent that his heart became big enough to adopt two abandoned children and work hard to make their life comfortable.

When he came out in 2007, his new family members — his second wife Ms Vani Sri, 45, and his daughter Ms Keerthana, 19, — who understood his problems, welcomed him home. A Class VII dropout, Mr Ravi shaped his life behind bars.

He did B.A. in Tamil Literature and completed M.A. in History via the distance education programme offered in prison.

“The prison life taught a new meaning to me. The social workers and prison staff treated us with dignity and always told us to improve our qualifications to face the tough life outside,” he said. The 14 years he spent in prison flew by because he was involved in yoga and special classes for his degree .
Mr Ravi got a truck driver’s job, driving 400 km every day for construction companies.

“When my husband found two children abandoned by our relatives, he decided to take care of them. In course of time, the children became very close to us and are now part of our family,” said Ms Vani Sri, who works with a voluntary organisation for women’s empowerment. The couple has been investing in insurance plan for the children, Akshaya (4) and Siva Balaji (1).

Ravi sleeps just four hours a day. He works hard to give a comfortable life for his children. “I have to work without rest now. I have enrolled Akshya in an English medium school. I had a bad past, but now I can see a glorious future for my children,” he smiles.