14/04/2026
Once a Jail, Now an Ashram 😯❗
“Violence ends where love begins.” – Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji
The village of Senari in Bihar was once infamous for frequent massacres carried out by Naxalite groups, leaving villagers in constant fear. Indu Sinha, a teacher with The Art of Living, gathered the courage to step into this violence-affected region to sow the seeds of nonviolence.
In August 2000, she read a newspaper report about a brutal massacre in Senari where around 67 people were killed. Such incidents had become almost routine in parts of Bihar, and many had begun to accept them as a way of life. Deeply moved, she decided to take action.
How it began
During a meeting with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Delhi, she shared her concern about the declining human values in these regions. Gurudev encouraged her to start a school in Senari.
Reaching the village was not easy. After hours of difficult travel, she arrived at a place already visited unsuccessfully by many organizations. Convincing parents to send their children to school was extremely challenging, especially since many men had either been killed or were imprisoned. Slowly, through personal care and persistence, she gained the trust of the villagers, and the school began to take shape.
The next step
After establishing the school, Indu Sinha decided to extend her work to prisons. She believed that transformation was possible even among hardened criminals. This led her to start a Prison Program at Beur Jail.
Despite initial hesitation from authorities, she began sessions under tight security. The program introduced inmates to yoga, pranayama, meditation, and Sudarshan Kriya—a powerful breathing technique developed by Gurudev. These practices helped reduce stress, a major root cause of violent behavior, and supported rehabilitation.
The mantra of love & transformation
Indu Sinha emphasized that human beings are not inherently violent; rather, their environment shapes them. Echoing Gurudev’s words, she shared that behind every culprit is a victim. With love, compassion, and patience, change is always possible.
She encouraged inmates to let go of hatred, focus on the present, and bring peace and love into their lives.
A visible change
Gradually, transformation became evident. Even some of the most feared inmates, once involved in constant violence, began to soften and change. They started calling her “Didi” (sister).
The jail authorities observed remarkable improvements in behavior and attitude. Prisoners who once spread fear became calm and cooperative. Many expressed gratitude and committed to leaving behind their past.
A new beginning
When the program ended, the inmates were reluctant to let her leave. Deeply moved, she stayed an extra day. The farewell was emotional—prisoners who once appeared hardened now had tears of gratitude in their eyes.
Since then, similar programs have expanded across many prisons in Bihar, benefiting thousands of inmates. These initiatives have brought about profound transformation, turning places of punishment into spaces of healing.
It would not be wrong to say: “Once a jail, now an ashram.”
